JOB SEARCHING 101: WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN APPLYING

 

"I have applied for different job roles, and still, I have not received an email or any response." "I have tried multiple times to position myself for a role or job, but something just doesn't seem right."

"I need help. I have been looking for a job for five months; I am a data analyst.”

These are common complaints among job searchers. How about getting rejections several times? Imagine attempting to find positions to apply for, or the stress of creating and revising resumes and cover letters that are ideal for securing your dream job.

It can be extremely difficult, challenging, and annoying. All of this is to demonstrate that finding a job can be as difficult as hunting for a lost fortune.

Let's get into the world of job hunting, explaining what you should do to land opportunities and what you should avoid doing.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A JOB SEEKER?

Many things occur during the job search process that may add interest in different ways. Whether you are an undergraduate just starting out, leaving a terrible workplace, quitting due to personal reasons like pregnancy, or getting fired off, the search starts. You are most likely looking for job for a variety of reasons.

 Then you proceed to the real world of searching. Sometimes you get recruited within a week, but weeks can develop into months, and months into years.

 It's funny how simple it is to declare that you are no longer employed, yet it can be challenging to enter the workforce again.

 Therefore, it is necessary for you, as a job seeker, to position yourself in a way that boosts your chances of being hired.

 

DO'S AND DON'TS OF JOB SEARCHING

Job hunting is a process that, if not done correctly, will result in you not getting what you desire. Keep in mind that there are some things you must do and avoid.

This is how it works: If you do everything appropriately during your job search, you have a good chance to secure an interview. What happens if you don't take the proper steps or are doing the wrong things? 

You may not receive any interview invitations, and even if you do, you are unlikely to be called back for a second round.

WHAT TO AVOID DURING THE JOB SEARCH

As previously stated, these are things to avoid when looking for a job. These factors might have a big impact on the success of your job search. They range from utilizing a generic CV to poor communication skills, among other things.

The Following are mistakes you must avoid while applying for a position.

FAILURE TO MAKE PLANS AND SET GOALS

Starting a job search without a clear plan or purpose hinders the process. Without a plan, you lose focus. This causes you to apply for any job position, and you may even accept any salary out of desperation. It demonstrates that you don't know what you desire.

Additionally, it makes it difficult to keep track of the positions and organizations to which you have applied. You may even apply to the same organization numerous times. Recruiters perceive persons like this as lacking ability.

What to Do

Set SMART goals and good job search pattern. Do not dive into job hunting without a plan or pattern for your search. As a job seeker, you have to be proactive.

Practical Tips

Set Career Goals: Establish either long-term or short term goals to give you focus. Ensure they are realistic and achievable. You can plan to apply for 2 to 3 jobs per week.

Know what you want to get from each application, including the work environment, location, and salary.

Organize Your Goals: Put your goals in order. You can categorize similar jobs and add timeframes to each goal to keep you conscious of time. 

This could also include working on your LinkedIn profile and connecting with people.

 Keep track of Your Job Search: Make a spreadsheet to  monitor the jobs you want to apply for, the ones you've already applied for, and your interview status. 

This allows you to track your progress and identify areas where you should put in more effort. Use websites such as Google Sheets to do this. 

 

EMPHASIZE MORE ON ACHEIVEMENTS RATHER THAN ROLES

As addition to your duties at past positions, recruiters want to know what you accomplished there. If you cannot articulate your achievements, the innovations you brought, and the ways, in which you applied your creative ideas, recruiters will never be able to determine whether you are the ideal candidate for the position.

What to Do

It is a good idea to imagine you in the position of the recruiter. Think about the following scenarios where there are two resumes:

Former: "I spent three years managing projects for XYZ." I was able to efficiently handle a lot of work. I oversaw project schedules and made sure that deliveries were made on time.

Latter: "I successfully completed over ten projects on schedule, achieving a customer satisfaction rate of 70%."

The former clearly focuses on the function itself, whereas the latter stresses accomplishments within the role. You can conclude that the second candidate has a better chance of being hired than the first.

Clearly express your achievements on your CV utilizing bullet points.

AVOID APPLYING FOR EVERY JOB

This is generally the result of desperation and a desire to demonstrate your abilities. When you apply for every job you see, you don't have time to focus on the ones you might have a decent chance of getting. You may not vet your resume and cover letter, resulting in several submissions of the same documents. Recruiters recognize this when they see it.

What to Do

You can't be good at everything, and not every employment situation is right for you. Just because you need a job does not imply that you should apply for every open opportunity. 

Only apply for positions for which you are fully qualified. If you have the majority of the necessary skills, go ahead and apply.

Carefully choose roles that match your skills as indicated in the job description. Know your priorities, stick to your career goals, and approach your job hunt strategically. 

To distinguish yourself from the competition, tailor your CV by including relevant abilities for the position you are applying for.

NOT MAKING GOOD USE OF YOUR NETWORK

Many people do not do this because they are embarrassed to admit, "I need a job." As a job seeker, you should not be ashamed of this. Ignoring your network will not help you with your job search.

What to Do

Inform and involve your connections in your job search to make the process easier. Tell individuals that you're seeking for job; you never know who will refer you. Develop relationships, attend job-seeking activities, and strike up talks.

Remind them to notify you of any employment openings in their organizations. You might have a friend or relative who can introduce you to someone, and you could get hired as a result.

 Related article: Why Networking Matters: 6 Essential Strategies for Building a Strong Network

MAKING MISTAKES ON CV AND COVER LETTER

This problem develops in two ways. First, typos demonstrate a lack of attention to detail and may infer that you are not grammatically correct. Such oversights can jeopardize your application procedure.

Using a generic CV and cover letter is another issue. Using the same CV and cover letter for every application is ineffective. 

For example, if the job description calls for a digital marketer but your CV highlights your talents and expertise in content writing, your application would most likely be rejected as irrelevant. This is when you cease receiving responses from companies.

What to Do

 Proofread your resume and cover letter several times. Share them with friends and family to get feedback. You can also use Grammarly and ChatGPT to check for spelling, typographical, and grammatical issues. Tailor your CV to the position, adding abilities that match the job description.

Related article: How to Write a Winning Cover Letter

SPEAKING NEGATIVELY ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS JOB

If you left your prior work due to miscommunication or other challenges, recruiting managers would most likely inquire about why you left during the interview. If you begin speaking negatively about your previous company, it indicates unprofessionalism and provides recruiters a million reasons not to hire you.

What to Do

Be deliberate and cautious in your comments. Recruiters want to see that you are professional. Always make suitable and honest responses, avoiding negative comments whenever possible while exhibiting enthusiasm for joining their group.

For example

Interviewer: Why did you leave your previous job?

You: I enjoyed my former job, but I left to pursue new challenges and prospects for advancement. I believed it was time to broaden my talents and expertise.

Alternatively

You: I decided to leave my former employment to pursue my health and work-life balance. I recognized I needed to make a change, and I'm thrilled to be joining a business that prioritizes employee wellness.

NO SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE

In today's digital age, many recruiters look up job candidates' profiles to discover what they've accomplished, their personalities, and what they do. Consider not having a profile or not updating it; this can limit your chances of being hired, particularly for specific roles. Furthermore, not having a social media profile can complicate your job hunt even more.

What to Do

Make sure you have an internet profile, and it should look professional. Regularly monitor your social media profiles to erase any personal information. LinkedIn is an essential asset for all job seekers. Update your profile and seek suggestions.

Related article: Why Building an Online Presence is Important for you Business 

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE JOB SEARCHING

1.      START BY VOLUNTEERING AND INTERNING

Take up volunteering or internship to increase your chances of receiving job offers, particularly for entry-level roles. This helps you to get the necessary skills and competence in your field, acquire contacts, and form professional relationships.

If you perform extraordinarily well, you may be retained. This demonstrates dedication to self-improvement and your work.

2.      TAILOR YOUR CV TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

 If you continue to send out the same CV for different positions, you may receive repeated rejections. Customize your CV for each role to make it easier to get through applicant tracking systems, which are used by a large number of firms. 

To accomplish this, thoroughly review the job description to determine the requirements. Match your skills to the job description and share your resume with others.

3.      DEVELOP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Develop a professional online presence. It is important to emphasize that LinkedIn is essential for all job seekers. This gives you a competitive advantage by helping recruiters to better understand your experience and skills. 

Update your profile on a regular basis with new skills, achievements, and experiences, and engage others' posts.

 

4.      UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK

Use networking to discover job opportunities. It extends beyond physical meetings. Attend webinars, seminars, and professional organizations to network with experts in your field. 

This is the ideal method to learn about diverse industry trends, acquire insights from others, and discover in-demand skills in your field of interest.

Remember, don't just network; engage with your connections. You could take someone out to lunch just to connect better. Inform them that you are seeking for a job; someone may share a job vacancy with you or perhaps recommend you.

Stellar Careers, for example, provides access to new employment vacancies and connects you with others who share your interests.

5.      CURATE A PORTFOLIO

Create a personal portfolio for your field that highlights your abilities and experiences. A writer, for example, should have a blog where they may post what they have written. You can also construct an online website to promote your work. Attach your portfolio to your social media platforms so that it is immediately accessible. For instance, Framer, , Dribble , Google drive, Notion and Google sites are free sites that you can use to build your portfolio.

6.      DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF TO JUST ONE PLATFORM

Expand your job search strategy over many platforms. Do not rely entirely on one method. There are numerous ways to access job opportunities, and focusing on just one will not speed up your job search.  Explore other platforms. Opportunities can be found through webinars, seminars, career fairs, non-governmental organizations, personal networks, conferences, newspapers, social media, and freelance sites such as Fiverr and Upwork. Use job search sites such as: LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Googlesites, ZipRecruiter, CareerBuilder, Jobberman, and Michael Page.

7.      BUILD YOUR SKILLS

To stay competitive in the job market, you must constantly upgrade your abilities. Learn new skills related to your field and improve those you currently have. Consider taking new classes, obtaining certificates, or attending boot camps. Coursera , Udemy, LinkedIn, and HubSpot all provide free courses.

8.      GET READY FOR INTERVIEWS

To succeed in an interview, you must thoroughly prepare. To learn more about it, review the job description and conduct research on the organization. Practice potential questions and responses. This preparation reduces anxiety during the interview.

Overall, make sure to follow-up following the interview. Send follow-up messages, such as emails, to find out where the organization stands in its decision-making process.

JOB SEARCHING IS A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Seeking a career is crucial, and taking the appropriate procedures helps. Sometimes you look to be the ideal candidate for the job but do not receive a response. As a job seeker, view this process as a learning experience.

Seek feedback during your job hunt to find areas for development, and use the tips listed above to help you. The process may be difficult, but do not give up; stay self-motivated and be you.