5 Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make When Job Hunting

Ever wondered why you haven’t heard from almost all the recruiters you sent your CV to? You could be making these five mistakes

With unemployment statistics sky-rocketing it’s easy to lose hope, especially when you are job hunting. Most of my acquaintances say that they work in jobs or industries they are not passionate about because of the financial demands that they have. It’s a reality for many graduates, especially for those who spend months, and even years desperately looking for something… anything to do to earn a living. If you are wondering the possible reasons you are not getting that job, make sure the following mistakes aren’t the reason:

You only rely on advertised posts: You are among thousands of applicants for that single post and if you are lucky enough to get an interview, you only have one shot to nail that interview, coupled with your lucky stars to get that job; because the sad reality is that some recruiters already have a candidate they want in mind when they do the recruitment formalities. Network as much as you can in the industry you want to venture into and don’t be shy to ask for referrals.

You don’t come across well prepared or clued up for the particular job: Make sure that your CV really matches what a particular company or job post wants. Realistically you will not tick every requirement the post needs but ensure that you include skills that you know that the company needs. When it comes to interviews bear in mind that recruiters analyse everything to the detail, from your punctuality, to how you dress and especially what you say. Make sure that you are clued up on what the company does and how you can be an asset to them.

You don’t follow up: I am naturally curious and I have found that it helps to follow up after an interview. Sending a ‘thank you’ e-mail to potential employers at least two days after the interview and asking for the next process is the best way to ease curiosity. They will sure let you know, and if you didn’t get the job always ask for feedback to use to your advantage for the next job interview.

You don’t seem hungry enough: One of the ways I was able to set foot in my industry and in the job market after college was that I used to volunteer, a lot. It has helped me build contact and relationships with people. Posts might not be available immediately, but imagine getting a call from a contact who thought of you when they heard of a job offering. I can attest to this.

You take references for granted: I have a friend who lost out on a job opportunity because her reference did not have anything nice to say about her. It was shocking because we thought they had a good working relationship. Recruiters rely on your reference to make that final decision, make sure that you include in your CV people who genuinely want to see you succeed in your career.

What other mistakes do people make when job hunting?