When you have to walk through land mines that others have laid it is understandable, but when you have laid the mines yourself, then there is a bigger problem. Land mines are meant to be a surprise for the enemy. Instead, self laid land mines are a surprise for... Well, the person that laid them. Is that you?
Digging up those land mines you've laid will help you in several ways:
You'll be able to keep your job search in control. There are so many things you cannot control already such as, decisions by the employer, salary, personality differences and more. Why not think through potential issues and reconcile them?
The truth will set you free. No need to look over your shoulder.
You want the hiring process and background checks as seamless as possible. If you know there is a skeleton in your employment closet, and it's found out, expect to be disqualified.
It's more than getting out of your own way. People in general lay land mines in their relationships. Job seekers do similar damage to their careers and job search resulting in long and unnecessary durations of unemployment that he or she could control.
Dangerous Job Search Land Mines To Avoid
See if you laid any of these land mines:
1. You Nearly Completed Paper Work
Although a job search is often tedious and grueling, it requires attention to detail and accuracy. Leaving blank spaces on applications or inconsistencies in dates and places is a problem. Whenever the employer has a cause for suspicion, they will likely investigate. The verdict: You're lying.
2. You Didn't Screen References
Are you sure that the people you have listed as references can speak to your competencies? You must know there are areas that your references can speak for you. If they can't, it will be viewed negatively.
3. You Underestimated The Depth Of Background Checks
I had a client who lied to me about her job situation but didn't know I knew at the time. I recommended her to a friend who interviewed her, impressed by her, but the FBI background check was problematic. Not that they were able to verify what was wrong other than many other things that were unverifiable. This grey line is a land mine if too many holes are unfilled or unconfirmed.
This is an old school game where no one really wins. Companies in recent years have passed on verifying this kind of information to protect themselves against defamation lawsuits. You can call your former employer to confirm what they will say about your departure. By law, there are no restrictions in saying you were fired especially in cases of time theft or falsifying information.
5. You Didn't Sell Yourself
If you don't shine the light on your best attributes, then who will? If you are unsure of your best features, then look at your old performance reviews. Starting there will trigger other areas that you excel.
6. You Used The "Me, Me, Me" Networking Technique
No one responds to your requests for help because you offer no value. Are you the same person that keeps saying that my network sucks? You don't give, share, or interact!
7. You Appeared Unteachable
No one mentors you. You lack training. No training or education courses in the last 10 years. You don't discuss new books, seminars, or workshops.
8. You Didn't Listen Well. (Or At All.)
Many people who don't listen well are guilty of misunderstanding the questions being asked. The problem is the intent to receive what they want out of a conversation.
9) You Told A White Lie (It's A Lie!)
A potential client told me, "My title is Assistant Manager, but it's like a Co-Manager position." How many times have we heard that line? Let me tell you how many bumped up his or her position on the resume. Too many? The right questions will reveal your true knowledge about the position. You won't fool many if anyone by misrepresenting your experience.
We all have things that we regret, but why have things that can be researched. Have you Googled yourself lately? You should because there are mistakes that you made in the past that can be diminished or controlled. It is easier to rest and to answer questions when you realize there are issues you know will haunt you. Coaches and mentors can really help with how you appear and come across during the interview process.
Did I leave out anything? What employment skeletons did you have to confront?
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Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.