16 Job Search Errors You're Probably Making

Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is.

You know what these blunders are. We've told you several times. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.

From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid -- and some of them may surprise you.

1. You don't keep your options open
"Candidates tend to think that if they interview for a job they will get an offer, so they do not apply and interview for multiple positions," says Joanie Spain, director of public relations and career services, School of Advertising Art, a graphic design college. "They wait until one plays out completely, putting their job search on hold until knowing for sure they didn't get the offer."

Read More

5 Classic Interview Questions Updated For Today's Job Search

Going into a job interview, you know the standard questions to expect. "What is your biggest weakness?" "What interests you about this position?" and "Why do you think you'd be a fit for this role?" often rise to the top of the common interview questions list.

While these queries are important to today's hiring managers and recruiters, many employers are updating their customary questions to include ones that refer to new trends, address the current economic situation or gauge a candidate's commitment to the company and position in question.

Here are five questions that job seekers may be asked in today's job hunt and what they should address when responding:

1. Have you used social media in your current job? If so, how?
Unless you've completely sworn off new technology, you should be very aware by now that social media are a part of the fabric of society and are well-ingrained in most companies' communication practices.

Read More

Top 3 Priorities For Your Job Search

Priorities aren't what they used to be. When people use the word these days, they often mean something like, "yet another item on a long list of things I have to do." But a priority should really be an activity that takes place instead of another activity. You prioritize to help you focus on the most important tasks, not to add to an already-existing pile of them.

On the job search, distinguishing between essential and nonessential actions is especially important, because looking for employment is taxing and time-consuming. Whether you spend one hour a day or eight looking for work, spinning your wheels on the wrong activities can leave you discouraged and exhausted. That's why your first order of business when looking for work should be to set priorities.

Here are three to get you started:

1. Turn connections into opportunities
It may seem counterintuitive to make following up your first priority, but any connection you've already made should take precedence over attempts to gain new contacts. It's much easier to ask for help from someone who already knows you than from a stranger.

Read More

Online Job Search 101

The Internet has completely transformed the job search, with job seekers moving from circling newspaper ads to searching online job boards and using social-media tools. In addition, many companies now recruit and research job candidates using online resources. But the new online job-search process can be intimidating.

While the World Wide Web may seem like the Wild, Wild West, there's actually order and reason to it. There are also job opportunities aplenty. Learn the basics of online job searching here, and you'll be applying for jobs in no time.

Create a plain-text version of your résumé
Upload your résumé to a résumé database, where submissions are pooled and organized so employers can search for viable candidates. If your résumé has images or sophisticated formatting, create a text-only version that can be uploaded easily as a Word document, text document or PDF. If the résumé has too many bells and whistles, it won't upload properly or be formatted correctly -- major turnoffs to potential employers.

Read More