3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard Way

3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard Way3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard WayA lot of emotions go into job search and usually, theyre the negative emotions. You can start to feel desperate after submitting dozens or hundreds of resumes, only to be rejected. And its confounding that no one can seem to see that youre perfect for a role, especially when you meet all the qualifications listed in the ad.To minimize the negative emotions, lets avoid 3 key job search mistakes so you can turn your job search journey into a series of wins, up to and including an offer for the job you ideally want.Mistake 1 Keeping Your Options OpenThis week a candidate told me, So far Ive been applying for about 8 or 10 different job titles, a variety of things, because I figure I can adapt to pretty much anything.Me And how long have you been in active job search mode?herbei About 7 months now.Its time for a better strategy. I realize it seems counter-intuitive, but casting a wide net and k eeping your options open will only get you exactly where you are right now nowhere.Consider the prospective employers point of view they have a position to fill. It has a job title. It has a specific set of duties. Youre being hired to do, literally, ONE job. With the jack-of-all-trades approach, the only thing youre telling the employer is that you can do some of the job he wants done, and by the way you can touch on all these other things he didnt even ask you to do. Thats not an attractive package from the employers perspective.Heres what to do instead identify what you do excellently, and pursue that. That means other opportunities will pass you by. Get okay with that. Not every opportunity is for you. But the one that is for you is where youll excel.Mistake 2 Replacing Tried & True Methods With The netzThe Internet seems like a blessing so many opportunities at your fingertips, so easy to apply, and as LinkedIn continues to evolve, so many ways to reach out and touch the real human being you need. But there can be a bit of a curse when the Internet comes into play as well it can make you lazy, real quick.The Internet doesnt replace tried and true methods. It just augments them. You are unlikely to land your next 6-figure position 100% from the comfort of your bedroom, with your laptop open. Its just like dating. You can have all the online profiles on all the sites that you want, but at some point, you literally need to get up and get out there.Regard online searching as a fast track. You can network with an exponentially higher number of people online. But nothing rings truer than a nice phone call. Informational interviews still work. Showing your face means showing the real you, and differentiating yourself from the sea of competitors (who stay hiding behind their computers).Mistake 3 Networking In A Way Thats Not WorkingOn a date, if all the other person does is say, Me Me Me Then YOUprobably wont be too terribly interested in seeing them again. Whe n it comes to job search, you cant approach a networking situation with your hand out immediately asking for something. Flip the script. In fact, discard your script. Networking works best when you actively listen, add value, then have that move reciprocated.When the opportunity naturally arises for you to speak, make koranvers that what you say is specific. Stating, So, if you know of any contacts doesnt inspire anyone to do anything. People know a lot of contacts. But they can be more helpful to you and they want to be helpful to you you just have to zero in on specifically what you need.An effective statement in a networking scenario is, Ive been in project management for 12 years, and right now I have my eye on US Foods, Kraft, and Tyson. If you or a contact of yours knows the Project Management Office Directors or VPs of Operations at any of those places, that would actually be fruchtwein helpful to me.Specifics get results. A specific request when youre networking tickles pe oples memories and they will come up with names more often than not. Aiming for a specific role, as opposed to taking shots in the dark at 8-10 different titles, can land you in that role significantly faster.Theres another specific approach to keep in mind. Its mapped out in our Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet. Find out the exact language you need in order to instantly connect with a real human being who can move you through the interview process. This is the one strategy you need to pull your resume out of the online black hole, make sure it gets in front of someones eyeballs, and increase the likelihood that youll get a 70% response rate. Download The Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet today.