Looking for a job

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Are you in the process of searching for a new job but can't seem to get the callbacks you want? You could be making some big job search mistakes.

Don't worry, though! We can help you identify what you're doing wrong in your job search, and teach you how to fix it. Here are seven common mistakes job seekers make:

1. The Aimless Search

If you're sending out resumes without knowing what your ideal job is, you're wasting your valuable time. So, before shipping off another application, be sure to sit down and define what type of job you're looking for. Try to make an interview bucket list. This way, you'll have a more focused search and can create a customized resume to match.

2. Bad Interviewing Habits

Woman answers a question during a job interview

Do you have bad interviewing habits? In other words, do you assume you're on a first-name basis with interviewers? Or do you slouch in your seat? If so, be sure to learn about appropriate body language and ways to address interviews so that you can always come across as a confident candidate with plenty to offer.

3. Bad-Mouthing A Previous Employer

Many interviewees get stuck with the question, "Why did you leave your previous employer?" While you may want to say that your previous boss was a jerk, this is not the time or place to mention it. So, if you're asked this question, just say you are looking for new opportunities that align with your career goals.

4. Not Attending Job Fairs

While job fairs may feel like impersonal functions for individuals who are desperate for work, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, some great networking opportunities can be found at job fairs, not just with company representatives but with other job fair attendees.

5. Wearing Unprofessional Attire

Man dresses casually for a job interview

When interviewing, company representatives are watching your every move, including how you're dressed. If your attire is too casual, sexy, or plain outrageous, your amazing resume or interviewing skills may do little to get you hired.

6. Forgetting To Follow Up

Woman on laptop follows up after a job interview

Another mistake to avoid is not following up with an employer after your interview. To make sure you remain on the employer's mind, send a follow-up email of about three or four paragraphs that summarizes your skills, reiterates your eagerness to be hired, and thanks the entire staff for their time.

7. Sending An Ultra-Long Resume

Hiring manager reviews a job applicant's resume

Although your professional history may be so amazing that you want to share every piece of it, it's important that you avoid creating a resume that stretches out too long. By focusing on related positions and highlighting the top moments in your career, you can easily reduce your resume to two or three pages.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to make mistakes when conducting your job search. The good news is that these mistakes are avoidable if you are aware of them. By following the tips above, you'll find job search success in no time!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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7 Mistakes Job Seekers Make

Baby On Board! How To Job Search While Pregnant

Job searching for two? Congratulations! As a pregnant job seeker, you're likely experiencing a myriad of emotionsâexcitement, happiness, fear, and stress. Taking on a job search while pregnant can be a challenge. Fortunately, we've got some great tips that will make your job search a little easier.

1. Understand What's Important To You

âAs a brand-new mother, I can say with overwhelming certainty that having a child will change your lifeâand your priorities," says Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume. âWhen you're evaluating different job opportunities, consider what's most important to you when it comes to the role and the organization."

Consider what kinds of things you'll need in order to both perform your best on the job and support your growing family. What kinds of benefits are going to be important to you as a mom?

Here are a few things you should consider when researching companies and roles:

Competitive Compensation Package
Quality of Insurance/Benefits
Parental Leave Policies
Flexible Work Arrangements
Ability to Telecommute

Augustine also recommends checking out Seramount's 100 Best Companies List when building your list of companies to target.

2. Focus On What You Have To Offer

âDon't begin each job interview (or job application) by mentioning your pregnancy," says Augustine. âRemember, the focus should be placed on learning more about the position and communicating your interest in the role and your qualifications, not your family plans."

Employers are looking for great candidates. Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you're not a great candidate. Instead of focusing on your pregnancy, showcase why you're the best person for the job. In fact, if your pregnancy isn't visibly obvious yet, there's no need to mention your pregnancy during the interview at all, according to Augustine.

3. Be On The Lookout For Illegal Questions

Pregnant woman waits for her job interview

Employers aren't allowed to inquire about your marital status, children, or your future family plans during the hiring process. Watch out for seemingly innocent questions that stem from a casual conversation such as, âSorry I'm running a little lateâhad to drop the kids off at soccer practice. Do you have any kids? Love 'em, but they're taking over my life with their activities!"

The truth is, your interviewer might not realize that these questions are inappropriate. He or she might just be inexperienced or extra friendly. However, it's important to tactfully avoid answering these questions because the wrong answer can impact your future at the company.

As a result, it's important to handle the situation tactfully. Remember, your goal is to make a great impression. Calling out an interviewer for asking an illegal question is, unfortunately, not the best strategy when trying to accomplish this.

4. Don't Talk About Maternity Leave Until You've Gotten The Offer

While it's tempting to ask about the company's maternity leave policy during the hiring process, Augustine strongly recommends holding off until you've been offered the jobâin writing.

âWhenever possible, save this conversation until you're ready to negotiate your compensation," says Augustine.

Instead, do your homework. Research the company's parental leave policy on sites such as Glassdoor and Comparably. Doing a little detective work beforehand can save you some major headaches down the road.

5. Think Ahead

âKeep conversations about your maternity leave to a minimum with the employer," says Augustine. âRemember, it's only a temporary absence and shouldn't impact your performance."

However, you will need to give your employer a heads up on a few things, so think ahead. When it comes time to discuss your pregnancy plans with your employer, be prepared to answer questions like...

âWhen do you anticipate going on maternity leave?"
âWhen will you return to the office?"
âHow do you plan to cover your responsibilities to ensure a smooth transition?"

âWhen you take the time to prepare thoughtful responses," says Augustine, âyou're showing your new employer your commitment to the company's success and also demonstrating your value as a long-term employee."

As a mother-to-be, you've got enough on your plate these days. Don't make your job search more stressful than it needs to be. Instead, take these tips and apply them to your search today!

Job searching while pregnant isn't easy, but we hope these tips will help you successfully find a job if you're expecting. If you need more help finding a job while pregnant, we're here for you.

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Baby On Board! How To Job Search …

It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is constantly stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give any more thought to the world of work. Unfortunately, most new jobs don't just fall into your lap—you have to go out and get them.

Approaching your job search as strategically and as systematically as you would approach your next business deal can help keep the process manageable. Here are three keys to a successful job search:

1. Initiation

If you were going to start a huge new project at work, would your first step be to just sit down and start the project? Of course not! A lot of planning and preparation go into any major project, and your job search should be no different. Therefore, the first step is NOT to sit down and start sending out dozens of generalized resumes to any job that sounds like a relatively good fit.

Your first task should be to determine exactly what you're looking for in your next position. Just like you can't write a project plan until you know what the project is, you simply cannot write an effective resume or cover letter without some idea of where you'd like your career to go. You may find this part of the process to be the most time-consuming, as it requires some soul-searching. However, it's an essential step in the process that must not be skipped.

2. Planning

Once you've determined your professional goals, you're ready to spend some time assembling your marketing tools—a cover letter, resume, and any other pertinent documents that support your message (like an optimized LinkedIn profile). This is essentially the same process as setting up a project at work; you need both plans and human resources for an effective job search.

It's important to tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job that you're applying to. In order to have a powerful resume, you have to lead with results and quantifiable accomplishments. This process takes time, so plan your schedule accordingly.

3. Execution

Only when you've established a goal and pulled together the tools needed to accomplish it should you actually start looking for and applying to jobs. Setting up email alerts through sites like Glassdoor.com or Indeed.com can save you hours of scouring through online job postings.

If you tackle your job search in a strategic and systematic manner, you should soon reach a place where you can go to your inbox, look through positions that may be a good fit for you, and then simply customize your polished resume for each application. Consider each quality job application you send off as a deliverable in the project of finding yourself another job. Whenever you successfully land your next position, you'll be able to close out this project and move on to the next one!

The job search process can be incredibly frustrating and stressful, especially if you're feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career. If you're struggling to find a job that's right for you, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Keys To A Successful Job Search

6 Ways To Deal With Family Asking About Your Job Search

If you're in the middle of a frustrating job search, the holidays can be the worst time of year for you. It may not exactly bring out the best in you when old Auntie June keeps asking why you haven't found a job yet. So, what should you tell your family and friends over the holidays (or at any get-together) when they badger you about your job search?

Before you pull out your hair, check out these tips from our experts:

1. Move Away From The Subject

When you're visiting with an old relative, there always seems to be that uncomfortable point in the conversation when you're asked about your "situation" with work. Instead of grinding your teeth and getting upset, politely tell Uncle Roy you appreciate his concern, assure him you're continuing your search, and tell him you'll let him know when you're situation changes for the better.

"Since it's the holiday season, [tell them] you would prefer for the time to enjoy their company rather than focusing on job search activities," says professional resume writer, Debra Wheatman.

"You can move away from the topic by shifting to something related to how they are doing and what is going on in their lives." Lisa Adams, job search strategist and speaker, says to go about changing the subject gently, as they are only asking about your search because they care. Here's how she handled the situation while her husband was in transition:

"I so appreciate you asking. We are doing fine. We have some things in the works but we are choosing not to discuss them at this time. When we have an offer and know where we will land, you will absolutely get the word."

Then, Adams suggests tactically moving on to asking about them. "Talking about light-hearted topics that make everyone laugh or smile is always good," she says. "Who couldn't use that? I'll tell a funny story about my youngest son who is a comedian by nature and is always doing something humorous. Give it a try."

2. Realize They Do It Because They Care

Woman announces her husband is looking for a new job

After being asked about your job search efforts for the fifth time, it can be hard to remember that your family is just trying to help. "See the question for what it truly is: care and concern for your well-being," says Ben Eubanks, founder of UpStartHR. "I remember getting tired of answering the question for people when I was job searching, but they only ask because they care about your career success. Use it as a chance to practice your elevator speech and enjoy the time with family and friends." So, even if it's hard, try to be patient and treat them with respect.

3. Make Them Feel Helpful

Family members ask about man's job search

Your friends and family probably have the best of intentions by asking about your job search, but it can be frustrating when they continue to badger you about your employment prospects. To keep the peace, thank them for checking in with you, but let them know that your job search is proving to be more challenging than you had hoped.

Amanda Haddaway, author of Destination Real World: Success After Graduation for New and Soon-to-Be College Graduates, suggests using their concern as a positive and asking them if they have any contacts in your field or know of any openings that might be in line with your skill set. "Chances are good they really do want to help, but don't know how," she says. "If you can engage them as a 'job search helper,' it might turn out to be a win-win situation."

4. Keep Your Answers Short, But Positive

When we say "short," we don't mean snappy, one-word answers. You can craft a short, to-the-point response that will satisfy most family members.

Leadership and management career coach Dorothy Tannahill-Moran says to keep your responses short and upbeat or they may slip into "problem-solving mode" if you aren't careful. "If they continue to probe after your short answer," she says, "remain consistent with short, upbeat responses. We often think under these circumstances that we need to get detailed but if you think about many other conversations, especially around Thanksgiving time (with loads of people), they are usually fairly superficial and short."

Don Goodman, a certified resume writer, suggests saying something like this: "It's going well, but I am being choosey about who I join next and I haven’t found the right firm yet."

5. Set Boundaries

Woman talks to her family about her job search

"The most important thing is to recognize you don't owe an explanation to anyone but your spouse about how your job search is going," says executive job search coach Cheryl Simpson. "You can and should set boundaries with your extended family and friends by making clear what you will and won't talk about." Simpson suggests saying something along the lines of: "I appreciate your concern and interest about my career search. I don't wish, however, to burden this gathering with details. Suffice it to say that my search is going well and I am pursuing a range of exciting opportunities."

6. Think About It from Their Perspective

"Questions like these can be frustrating to answer," says Kristin Johnson, a certified job search coach. "You probably feel as if you sound like a broken record." Once you think from their perspective, you'll be able to answer the question with a genuine, appreciative question in return. It might sound something like this (using an admin position as an example):

"I'm looking to put my support skills to use in an office setting in the automotive industry. I have been looking at ABC and XYZ companies. I'd love to talk to someone at either of those. Do you have any contacts there? What suggestions do you have for me?"

"Eliciting specific information from your family will give you something to talk about and help them help you," she says. "Definitely something to be thankful for!"

Looking for a job can be an incredibly frustrating and stressful experience, and feeling like you have to explain yourself to others only adds to it. Remember these six tips the next time your family or friends ask about your job search. You'll successfully avoid any unpleasant conversations—or at least shorten their duration!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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6 Ways To Deal With Family Asking …

We all make mistakes—that’s what makes us human. But when you’re looking for a new job, it’s important to minimize those job application mistakes because they may cost you the position.

Here are some of the biggest application mistakes candidates make (and how to avoid them):

1. Spelling/Grammatical Errors

These types of errors, although they seem small in nature, can be a major red flag to employers. It shows you lack attention to detail, and many hiring managers or recruiters will think you rushed through your application.

How to avoid this mistake: Take your time filling out job applications and have someone else look them over if possible. This includes having someone proofread your resume and cover letter. You can also read your resume, cover letter, and other job application materials aloud to catch anything you may miss while scanning through on the computer.

2. Not Following Directions

This is something everyone learns in grade school, but it’s amazing how many people STILL don’t read directions! Every application you fill out will be slightly different or require a different response—so it’s important to read through each step.

How to avoid this mistake: Pay attention and slow down during the job application process. If you’re feeling rushed, it’s probably because you’re applying to too many openings that you may not be qualified for (or genuinely interested in), so you may want to rethink your job search strategy.

3. Submitting A Resume You Haven’t Tailored To The Position

Man writes his resume for a job application

This is a big no-no. It shows you don’t really understand what the employer is looking for and are just hoping your resume fits some of the criteria. Not tailoring your resume also makes it harder for it to get past the ATS.

How to avoid this mistake: Carefully read through the job description, qualifications, and education requirements. On your resume, show the employer how you're qualified through your previous experience, skills, and expertise. Quantify your work experience and accomplishments, and make sure your resume is optimized with keywords so it can actually get past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.

4. Writing A Generic Cover Letter

Woman thinks about filling out a job application

Your cover letter should tell a compelling story and make the hiring manager interested in moving on to your resume. It should also address the hiring manager by name and describe exactly why you are the best candidate for the position. Not doing these things will communicate to the hiring manager that you're not that interested in the position you're applying for. You won't stand out from the other candidates and will be less likely to land a job interview, even if your resume is tailored to the position.

How to avoid this mistake: Write a disruptive cover letter for each position you’re applying for. Although there may be similarities between positions, always customize your cover letter for each job opening. Focus on your connection story. Why do you want to work for this specific employer? What part(s) of this company are you passionate about? Why do you feel connected to their products or mission? Your disruptive cover letter should answer these questions.

5. Not Going Beyond The Job Description

It’s imperative that you research the company you’re applying to. You need to know what they do, how the company is structured, and their mission, values, and goals in order to determine how you fit in. Should you move on in the hiring process, these things will be vital to a successful interview—and you’ll be one step ahead. Failing to research the company before submitting your job application will result in an ineffective resume and cover letter. If you do manage to land a job interview without conducting research on the company, you'll be scrambling trying to prepare for interview questions, and you might fumble your answers if you don't do enough research.

How to avoid this mistake: Perform a simple Google search on the organization. Look through their company website and social media profiles. Also, read reviews of the organization and its products, and browse recent news articles that mention the company.

What are some other major job application mistakes you’ve made and/or witnessed?

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How to optimize your LinkedIn profile
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Biggest Job Application Mistakes

Why You Should Stop Looking For A Job On Fridays

On Fridays, you’re probably thinking, “Screw work! TGIF! I am done with this job.” Or, if you’re unemployed, “I’m done looking for work. It’s my weekend. I’m going to blow it up and I’m going to have the time of my life.” You know what? You should. But here’s the problem… I’ve been a career coach for 20 years and, […]

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship