The 5 biggest mistakes that job seekers make

Research back in 2020 indicated that the average person changes jobs 10 to 15 times (with an average of 12 job changes in total) during a typical career. When you consider that the average job search takes 43 days that means you are likely to spend 516 days or 1.4 years of your life looking for your next job.

Bearing in mind that The Great Reshuffle bought on by Covid may have increased these averages in terms of how many jobs people apply for and considering the time and energy that goes into a job search, it is still something that we can feel really unprepared for. Add into that the fact that for most of us, job searching will be carried out whilst we are holding down a full-time job, there is a real need to find the most full-proof way to get results and make our efforts pay off.

So if you are in the middle of a job search or you know you are likely to have one coming up soon, I wanted to share the 5 biggest mistakes that job seekers make to save you time and effort. The thing is that with a little time and attention it’s relatively easy to avoid repeating these mistakes and in turn take some of the pressure off finding your next role with less stress.

Mistake #1 - Job searching without a plan

Failing to plan is planning to fail right? I am sure that I am not the only one who has jumped headlong into looking for a new role without stopping to think and taking the time to do the planning first. Start by asking yourself if you are looking for a new job because you hate your current sector. Or is it because you no longer feel challenged in the role that you are currently doing and you need to find something more stimulating. Think about what you are looking for - even if you are looking to make a move quickly you should at least pause to consider the sectors you are interested in and what types of roles you are a great match for. Taking some to do your initial research to see what opportunities are on offer can be very helpful when it comes to targeting your search and making the most of the time you have to apply for roles. Think about organisations you are interested in and see what might already be on offer either on their website or job boards. It’s also good to scan your existing network and see if you know people who are already working in any of these organisations who may be able to point you in the right direction about roles that are yet to be advertised. Spending time to get organised at the start of your search can really pay off later.

Mistake #2 - Thinking that one size fits all

When it comes to your CV, an element of tailoring is always going to be required when you are applying for multiple roles. Get the CV basics right and this shouldn’t take too much additional work. Start by reading through the job description and person specification and highlight relevant keywords that stand out. Keywords are words or short phrases that relate to particular requirements for a job. They are the skills, abilities, and credentials that a hiring manager is looking for in a candidate, and using keywords wisely will help your CV stand out for the right reasons. You are also helping the recruiter match your skills to the skills they are looking for. Try to pick a few keywords and use them throughout your CV - don’t just chuck them in for good measure, always provide context! An example could be someone looking for a social media role “Leveraged social media to market xxx organisations brand, increasing Instagram followers by 10,000”

Mistake #3 - Not maximising your online presence

Lack of networking can hold your job search back. And by this, I don’t mean that you just need to focus on attending lots of in-person events. The more people that know you are actively looking for a new job, the better chance you have to make connections with people and then network with their connections. And don’t forget to give your social profiles a spring clean too so they are working as hard as possible. LinkedIn is a great place to start if you haven’t been particularly active of late and can be an excellent complement to your CV with more room to showcase recent achievements and projects. Recruiters are increasingly utilising LinkedIn when it comes to advertising and receiving applications for roles so it has an additional benefit too.

Mistake #4 - Being unprepared

Preparation is everything when job searching and never more so than if you get a call to say you made it to an interview. Take time to research the company. What are their current projects? Have they been in the news lately? Who are their clients? Who will be interviewing you? Take time to review websites and social media - LinkedIn can be especially helpful here if you have the names of panel members. Then try to ease your nerves by considering the questions you could be asked together with some possible answers. Looking at the job description and skills required for a role is always a good starting point when it comes to this and if you can find a friend who you can do a practice run with. Take a look at my free download on using the STAR technique in interviews to help you formulate possible answers. You can find it here

Mistake #5 - Forgetting to follow up

After an interview, always be sure to follow up with a simple email or message to thank people for taking the time to meet. Along with expressing your appreciation it can be a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and highlight anything that didn’t come up as part of the interview. Never forget that when you are shortlisted for an interview, it means you are in the running to get the job offer. That’s why it’s important to take the time to follow up after every single interview you attend to create a lasting impression. If nothing else this may create an opportunity for the future even if you don’t get the role this time around - who knows what opportunities could come up with the same organisation in the future. A brief thank you email sent as soon as possible after your interview is perfect - jot down some notes very quickly once your interview is done to remind you of anything specific you would like to include.

The search for a new job is not easy and the most successful candidates will always be the ones who stand out from the crowd. With the right strategies, you can maximise the time you spend on your job search to be sure of a return on your efforts.

If you could do with some help to get your job search back on track why not take a look at my career power hours - you can find all the details here