You know the friend who constantly dates the wrong kind of person? The one who's endlessly frustrated that he or she is going to die alone because all the good ones are taken?
After enough venting sessions, you realize something your friend doesn't: He or she is the common thread tying together all of these -- let's just say it together -- losers. Someone needs to speak up and say, "You're doing this to yourself."
You'll find this same pattern can be true in a job hunt. Granted, we're in tough times and plenty of reasons out of your control can keep you from getting hired. But that's just one more reason to do everything within your power to be the best job seeker you can.
With that in mind, look over these 25 ways you might be unknowingly sabotaging your job search:
1. Assuming you'll never need to look for another job
You love your current job and that's great. If you're happy there and see a promising future, I hope you never have to leave. Nevertheless, you should always be prepared for the day you have to move on. Even if the boss loves you, things can change. Buyouts, economic disasters or changes in leadership can affect your employment. Continue to update your résumé while you're employed so that you have an accurate record of your accomplishments.
2. Burning bridges
We love the scenes in movies where the disgruntled employee finally tells off the boss and storms out of the office, only to live a happy, fulfilling life. In real life, these idols are probably unemployed because they don't have good references, and no employer wants to hire someone with a tarnished reputation.
3. Keeping mum on your job search
Most people aren't keen on being unemployed, and if you were laid off it's understandable that you don't want to spend all your time talking about it. But you need to network; it's one of the most effective ways to find a job. A friend of a friend of a friend often gets you the interview that lands you the job -- but that won't happen if no one knows you're looking for new career opportunities.
4. Looking for "The One"
Although you want to conduct a focused job search, you need to keep an open mind. With any luck, you'll land the perfect gig but sometimes you have to take a job that possesses most of the qualities you want -- not all of them. If the pay is right, the requirements are in line with your experience and the opportunities for promotion are good, then you might have to overlook the fact that you have to wake up 30 minutes earlier than you'd like.
5.Not searching at all
This mistake probably seems obvious, but as anyone who's been on a lengthy job hunt can tell you, discouragement is easy to come by. A few weeks or months without a job and enough news segments on layoffs are enough to convince you that no one is hiring. Without question the market's competitive, but if you're not actively looking for work, don't expect it to fall in your lap.
6. No cover letter
Including a cover letter is an easy way to play it safe during a job hunt. Although not every employer wants one, surveys continually find employers who automatically remove job seekers from consideration if they don't include a cover letter. Why would you give any employer a reason not to hire you?
7. A generic cover letter
The only thing worse than no cover letter is one that could be sent to any anonymous employer. Starting with "To Whom It May Concern" and filling the page with phrases like "hard working" will signal the reader that you're blindly sending out applications to every job opening you see. Hiring managers are looking for someone who fits their needs, and their needs are different than another employer's. Don't treat them the same.
8. Typos
If you received a wedding invitation full of misspelled words and poor punctuation, you'd probably wonder why these two people didn't take the time to proofread the page. After all, it's an important event and a lot of people will be reading it. Employers will wonder the same thing about a résumé or cover letter filled with errors.
9. All "me" and not enough "you"
Your cover letter and résumé are definitely about you, but they're not for you. Employers are only interested in you in the context of what you can do for them. Whenever you reveal information about yourself, use it as proof that you offer something to the company that no one else can.
10. Giving bad contact information
When hiring managers like what they see on your résumé and cover letter, they're going to look for your contact information. If they see that your e-mail address is BeerFreak80@email.com or your current work number is the best way to contact you, they're going to think twice before reaching out. The only thing worse is forgetting to include your contact information at all.
11. Running late
Every boss wants an employee who is dependable and a good representative of the company. Someone who's tardy to an interview is neither.
12.Dressing for the wrong job
Appearances matter in an interview, and you should dress for what's appropriate in your field. Find out what the dress code is before you show up so you fit in with the company culture. Wearing a suit when you're told jeans are the norm can make you seem stuffy; wearing shorts and sandals when everyone else is wearing suits makes you look oblivious. You're better off erring on the side of too professional than too casual.
13. Griping about past employers
Keep in mind that you're not guaranteed to be with any company forever. When you talk trash about your last company, your interviewer's thinking, "What are you going to say about me once you leave?"
14. Not asking questions
One quintessential interview question is, "Do you have any questions for me?" Sitting there silently suggests you're not invested in the job. When you go to a restaurant, you probably have a few questions for the waiter. Shouldn't you be just as curious about a new job?
15. Not doing your research
Research for a new job involves two important subjects: the position and the company. Find out as much about the position as you can so you can decide if you even want it and you can position yourself as the best fit for the job.
Knowing all you can about the company will help you decide if you like its direction and share its ideals. Plus, when it comes to the all important "Do you have any questions for us?" portion of the interview (see above), you have plenty of material to cover.
16.Thinking the interview starts and ends in a meeting room
The formal interview occurs when you shake hands with the interviewer and ends when you leave the room. The full process begins when you're called or e-mailed to come in for an interview and it continues every time you converse with someone at the company. Were you rude to the recruiter or the receptionist? You never know what gets reported back to the hiring manager.
17. Talking about money too soon
As eager as you are to land the job and cash your first paycheck, let the employer mention salary first. Broaching the subject first implies you're more eager about money than about doing a good job.
18. Acting cocky
You never want to beg for a job, but you should act like you care about it. If your confidence level spills over into arrogance, you'll guarantee no employer will want to work with you.
19. Being so honest you're rude
Not every job will turn into a lifelong career, and you might have no intention of staying at the company more than a year or two when you interview. Still, hiring managers don't want to hear that you're just taking this job to pass time until you find a real job that you care about. You don't need to commit yourself to the company for a decade, but don't make yourself sound like a flight risk, either.
20. Forgetting your manners
Common courtesy can get you far, and in a job hunt you'd like to get as far as possible. After an interview, send a thank-you note (via e-mail or regular mail) to show your gratitude to the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. This will leave him or her with a good impression of you.
21. Stalking the hiring manager
If the interviewer gives you a deadline for hearing back from him or her, go ahead and call to see if a decision has been made. Do not call, e-mail and visit every day until you finally get a response -- which will probably be, "You definitely did not get the job."
22.Not keeping track of your applications
Because a job hunt can be a lengthy process, you should have a running list of where you've applied and whether or not you've heard back. Although you don't think you'll forget where you applied, after a dozen applications your memory can get fuzzy. Sending multiple applications to the same employer says, "I'm either disorganized or I'm just sending out bulk applications."
23. Not learning from mistakes
You're bound to make a mistake here and there during an interview. If a question trips you up, think about what went wrong and prepare for it the next time. Don't forget mistakes from your past, either. Look back at jobs you hated and try to avoid landing one of those jobs again.
24. Assuming you got the job
Don't ever assume you have the job until you actually hear the hiring manager say, "You got the job." Several factors can complicate whether or not you get hired, so don't halt your job search until you receive an offer. Keep searching for work because the deal might fall through at the last minute or you might find an even better job.
25. Forgetting the lessons you learned during a job search
When your hard work pays off and you do land a job, don't forget all the trials and trouble you went through to get it. Just because you have a paycheck doesn't mean you've looked for your last job. Remember how important it is to maintain a network, keep track of your achievements and have good references. If you do find yourself looking for work again, you'll have a much easier time.
你有這樣的朋友嗎,他(她)不斷地約會,卻總是碰到錯的人;他(她)為將孤獨終老而倍感沮喪,因為不錯的男女都已經找到了另一半。
他們抱怨過后,你意識到了他們沒有意識到的問題:他(她)不去努力,卻怨天尤人--我們把他們統(tǒng)稱為-失敗者。需要有人站出來,告訴他們:"你這樣是自找的。"
在求職的過程中,你會發(fā)現(xiàn)同樣的問題。就算是我們身處苦難時期,就算是有很多你不能控制的理由,讓你找不到工作。但是,有一個理由,在你的能力范圍內做一個做出色的求職者。
抱著這個想法,對照下面的25種做法,它們可能在你不知道的情況下破壞了你的求職生涯。
1.認為永遠也不會再去尋求另一份工作
你熱愛現(xiàn)在的工作,這很好。如果你工作快樂,且前景光明,我希望你永遠不需要離開。不過,你應當總是要做好更換工作的準備。即使老板很器重你,但一切都可能發(fā)生變化。收購、經濟危機或者高層更迭都會對你的工作產生影響。不斷更新你的簡歷,這樣會對你的工作成績有一個準確的記錄。
2. 不留后路
我們很喜歡電影中這樣的場景:氣氛的職員炒了老板的魷魚,然后沖出了辦公室,得到的是幸福、充實的生活。在現(xiàn)實中,這些受人崇拜的人可能會找不到工作,因為他們得不到好的推薦信。沒有哪個老板愿意雇傭名聲不好的職員。
3.在求職過程中保持沉默
大多數(shù)人在失業(yè)時都很不活躍,這是可以理解的,沒人愿意在解雇后還到處對人喋喋不休。但是你需要人際網,這是幫你找到工作的有效途徑之一。你朋友的朋友的朋友介紹你去面試,然后你得到了那份工作-如果沒人知道你在尋求一個新的工作機會,這一切就不會發(fā)生。
4.尋找最合適的工作
即使你想進行有目的的求職,你也需要把眼界放寬。如果一切順利,你能找到最合適的工作,但是很多時候,你必須得接受一個大多數(shù)條件讓你滿意的工作-而不是全部。如果薪水合適,職位要求和你的工作經驗相符,也有不錯的晉升機會,你就可以忽略掉要早起半小時的事實。
5. 完全不尋找工作機會
這種錯誤可能看起來很明顯,但是那些經過漫長尋找的求職者可以告訴你,沮喪失望輕易便來。數(shù)周、數(shù)月的處于失業(yè)當中,加上解雇員工的新聞報道很容易讓你相信沒有人要招聘。毫無疑問,市場處于競爭當中,但是如果你不主動地找工作,就不要指望天上掉餡餅。
6.沒有求職信
附上求職信是很簡單的一個做法,可以讓你的求職過程很謹慎。雖然并不是每個招聘者都需要求職信,但是調查不斷發(fā)現(xiàn),那些招聘者篩選簡歷時總會考慮他們是否附有求職信。為什么要給招聘者一個不雇用你的理由呢?
7. 不變的求職信
比沒有求職信更糟的是,求職信是可以發(fā)給任何一個招聘者的。以"致相關人士"這樣的句子開頭,并且在文中充斥著 "工作勤奮" 這樣的詞匯,會給閱讀的人這樣一個信號,你是盲目地向看到的所有職位發(fā)送簡歷。招聘經理是在尋找適合他們需要的人,而他們的需要是有別于其它公司的。不要一份求職信走天下。
8.草稿
如果你接到一份結婚請?zhí),上面都是拼寫和標點錯誤,你可能會想為什么他們不花點時間校對一下呢。畢竟,這是個重大的事情,很多人都會看。招聘者在看到有錯誤的建立和求職信時,也會這樣想。
9. 都是"我",但"你"卻不夠
你的求職信和簡歷當然是關于你的,但它們不是給你的。招聘者只關注能為公司做什么這樣的前提下的你。無論什么時候,當你透漏有關你自己的信息時,把它當作你能為公司做出不能替代的貢獻的證據(jù)。
10. 提供錯誤的聯(lián)系方式
當招聘經理對你的簡歷和求職信感興趣時,他們會注意你的聯(lián)系方式。如果看到你的電子郵箱地址是啤酒愛好者80@email.com, 或者最佳的聯(lián)系你的方式是通過你現(xiàn)在的工作電話,他們會在發(fā)出邀請前再考慮一下。當然,更壞的情況是你根本忘了留你的聯(lián)系方式。
11遲到
每個老板都希望自己的員工可靠,能夠很好地代表公司。那些在面試中遲到的人做不到這一點。
12.著裝不合適
著裝在面試中至關重要,你的著裝應該適合你所處的環(huán)境。在面試前,詢問一下公司的著裝標準,以便使你的著裝符合企業(yè)文化。人家告訴你都穿牛仔褲的時候,你穿西裝會看起來很沉悶;人家告訴你要穿西裝時,你穿短褲和涼鞋會讓你不被重視。還有,穿得太正式總比太隨便好些。
13.抱怨你的前任老板
要記住,你不能保證永遠呆在一家公司。當你講前任老板的壞話時,招聘者會想,"一旦你離開后會怎么說我呢?"
14.不問問題
面試中的一個經典問題是,"你對我們有什么問題嗎?"坐在那不出聲說明你對這份工作不感興趣。當你去餐館的時候,你大概也會問服務員一些問題。你不應該對一份新工作有點好奇嗎?
15. 沒有提前做功課
了解一份新工作包含兩個方面:職位和公司。盡可能多得了解這個職位,然后你可以決定是否接受,你也可以以最適合這份工作的人來定位自己。
完全地了解這個公司可以幫助你判斷是否喜歡它的發(fā)展方向、接受它的發(fā)展理想。另外,當你遇到面試中最重要的"你對我們有什么問題"的環(huán)節(jié)時,你就足以應付了。
16.認為面試只局限于會議室
正式的面試從你與面試官握手開始,在你離開的時候結束。實際上,面試的全過程在以電話或郵件通知你來面試時就已經開始了,一直持續(xù)到每次你和公司的人員交談。你對招聘的工作人員、接待員態(tài)度粗魯嗎?你永遠也不會知道招聘經理會得到什么樣的反饋信息。
17. 過早談論薪水
即便你很急切地得到這份工作并拿到第一個月的薪水,還是要讓招聘經理首先提到薪水。首先談論薪水暗示你對金錢要比做好工作更急切。
18.表現(xiàn)得很自大
你不愿意去乞求一份工作,但是你應該表現(xiàn)得很在乎這份工作。如果你的自信心太過高漲,變得自大,可以保證,沒有哪個老板愿意雇傭你。
19. 太過實在
不是所有的工作都會成為終身職業(yè),在面試時你可能沒有打算要在這個公司待一到兩年,即便這樣,招聘者也不愿聽到,你只是拿這份工作消磨時光直到你找到一份真正你喜歡的。你沒必要向公司承諾效力十年,但是也不要把自己說成是不安分的人。
20. 忽略禮節(jié)
一般的禮節(jié)可以幫助你很多,在求職的過程中更會讓你走得足夠遠。面試過后,發(fā)一封感謝信(通過電子郵件或是信件)來表達你對面試官花時間見你的感謝之情。這樣你會給他或者她留下非常好的印象。
21. 纏著招聘人員
如果面試官給你一個得到回復的最后期限,你可以打電話去詢問結果。不要每天都打電話,發(fā)電子郵件甚至上門去問,不然你最后大概會得到一個答復:"你肯定得不到這份工作了。"
22. 對于你的申請不做記錄
因為求職的過程很長,你應該做一個記錄,你已經申請哪家公司的職位了,哪家公司還沒有給你回復。雖然你認為自己不會忘記所申請的職位,但是在多次申請后,你的記憶會變得模糊。給同一個招聘者發(fā)送多份申請表明"我要么是做事雜亂無章,要么是在'海投'".
23.不從失敗中吸取教訓
在面試中難免會犯這樣那樣的錯誤。如果你犯了一個錯誤,想一想哪里出了問題,在下次面試時要準備好。也不要忘記你過去所犯的錯誤;叵胍幌履銖氖逻^的令人討厭的工作,盡量避免再次從事那樣的工作。
24.以為自己得到了工作
在確實聽到招聘經理說"你得到這份工作了"之前,永遠不要以為自己已經得到了工作。一些因素會使聘用變得復雜,所以在得到聘用通知前不要停止求職。繼續(xù)求職,因為理想工作有可能在最后一刻化為泡影或者你可能會找到一份更好的工作。
25. 忘掉求職過程中的經驗
當功夫不負有心人,你找到了一份好工作時,不要忘了求職過程中的考驗和困難。僅僅因為你得到了薪水并不意味著你找到了最后的工作。要記住保持人際網、記錄你的工作成績、擁有好的求職信的重要性。如果你再次求職的話,會容易得多。