Unemployed Workers Making 6 Big Job Search Mistakes

Aug. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Unemployed workers have it tough.  After all, finding a job is hard.  With hundreds of other people competing for every job out there, you need to avoid certain job search mistakes.  If you don’t, being unemployed may last longer than it needs to.

1.  Taking rejection personally.

It’s something that many unemployed workers do – take it personally when they don’t get a job offer or a call-back.  It’s one of the worst job search mistakes you can make.  Instead of being devastated when you don’t get the job, use your experience to learn from.  Honestly assess your interview, resume, and cover letter to see what you could have done better.  Not getting a job offer doesn’t mean the company didn’t like you; it simply means there was a more qualified candidate.

2.  Depending on only one search job search technique.

If you just hit up online job search sites or only head to Twitter and LinkedIn, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities.  The best job searches are well-rounded.  Potential employers still post jobs in the newspaper.  Potential employers still respond to cold calls.  Take advantage of every opportunity – not just the ones online.

3.  Focusing on yourself, instead of your potential employer.

Anytime you talk to a potential employer, you need to stress what you can do for them, not the other way around.  Many unemployed workers are so consumed with getting a job to pay the bills that the first question they ask is about the salary and benefits.  If you don’t focus on what you can bring to the table, you won’t get job offers.  Wait until there’s an offer on the table to see if the salary and benefits match what you’re looking for.

4.  Focusing too much on the news.

Times are tough.  There are millions of unemployed workers out there.  However, reading every news story about it isn’t going to make you feel better.  Instead, you’re only going to feel worse.  There’s nothing you can do to solve the plight of other unemployed workers.  All you can do is take proactive steps to make sure that your time being unemployed is short.

5.  Not accounting for your time.

If you have been unemployed for awhile, potential employers are going to want to know what you’ve been up to.  Simply saying that you’ve been looking for a job isn’t going to cut it.  Instead, show a potential boss that you haven’t let being unemployed turn you into a hermit.  Volunteer, sharpen your skills, take classes, head to free seminars – show that you’re proactive and not just biding your time.

6.  Not following up.

Unemployed workers do not have the luxury of just mailing a resume and waiting for the phone to ring.  Follow up by calling the company and making sure that the right people are seeing your resume.  A quick phone call or email can get your resume to the top of the pile.

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