6 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid this Fall: Read this before leaping into a pile of compost!

The “dog days of August” will end next week whether we are ready or not. Some of us will feel the need to sniff out a new job after Labor Day You can waste a lot of time and miss out on opportunities, though, by making the same errors jobseekers have been making for generations. So, before you start that fall job search, give some thought to our list of six common mistakes:

1. Looking for a job instead of planning a career,
2. Not establishing your job target,
3. Not making it easy for an employer to see how you match their needs,
4. Leaving your job before you find a new role,
5. Forgetting what worked for you in previous job searches, and
6. Applying through traditional means.

Are you looking for a job instead of planning a career?

Wait, I shouldn’t look for a job? Don’t just look for a job — look for a career. Look for a calling. What are you meant to do? How can you use your skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? While you may not see that position posted online, that does not mean it doesn’t exist.

What kinds of problems have you solved for an organization? What kind of company needs those problems solved? Investigate how you could solve that problem for that kind of company.

We realize that you have to earn a living now. It’s okay to find a “day job” while you seek your dream job. Nonetheless, you’ll want to select an opportunity that matches your knowledge, skills, and abilities so you do not make yourself miserable, or make your co-workers unhappy.

No job target will lead to disappointment.

 What kinds of jobs are you interested in? What kind of company do you want to work for? If your answer is, “I don’t care, I just need a job,” your job search could be unsuccessful. I’ve spoken with jobseekers who have searched for years because they have no target and don’t know what jobs match their skills and abilities. You would not start a project at work without a goal, so why would you start a job search without a goal?

You have not made it easy for an employer to see how you match their jobs.

 Generic resumes don’t grab employer’s attention. Instead, you need to show an employer how you can add value to their company. What business problems or opportunities have you addressed by taking what actions to yield what quantifiable results?

Additionally, you should not use the same resume to apply for vastly different jobs — for example, an elementary teaching position and a job as a sales assistant. Figure out what the key components of the job are, and then showcase how you do those things in your resume.

Leaving your job instead of keeping it while you find a better one can be costly.

 Maybe your Mom gave you this advice: “Don’t quit your job until you have a new one.” Mom was correct. It’s controversial, but hiring managers and recruiters confirm that it’s easier to find a job when you’re employed. Jobseekers who have a job are more attractive candidates. Maybe it’s because unemployment can make you (seem) desperate. But studies show that employed candidates are hired more frequently than unemployed jobseekers. Research shows that it is especially tough if you have been out of work for six months or more.

While the unemployment rate is still low in most major cities, do not assume that a new job will materialize right away. That may happen in today’s job market, especially if you are widely recognized as a healthcare or cyber-security expert, but most of us should not count on landing a job instantly.

Even worse, you usually will not collect unemployment compensation benefits when you quit a job. You may not be offered severance pay either. As a result, your financial loss will be substantial if you do not get another job quickly.

You are not paying attention to what worked for you in previous job searches.

Your goal is to achieve the same result you had in previous searches — a great job. Look at what worked for you the last time you landed the job you wanted. Were you networking at a professional association meeting? At your child’s basketball game, did you start a conversation with the person next to you? Or did you apply on a company’s website? Consider doing more of what worked for you last time and see if it works for you again.

For example, I landed my first career advising job by volunteering for several months at the organization that hired me, so I tried the volunteer strategy again when I relocated. This time, I landed a job offer after doing just one volunteer presentation at a job club.

Applying through traditional means can be ineffective.

 You see a job posted on Indeed.com for a job you’re interested in. Do you click “Apply Now”? First, look to see if the job is advertised on the company’s own website. Applying on the company’s website is generally preferred to applying through a job search portal, even if the application button takes you to the same form. (That way, your prospective employer will see the source of the application as the company website, and not Indeed.com.)

After you apply online, don’t stop there. Use LinkedIn and your own contact lists to see if you are already connected with someone at the company. Reach out to him or her and see if you can find the name of the hiring manager. Connect with the hiring manager directly via LinkedIn or their email address.

Job search is like any other business process. You should set a goal, and adjust your strategy when your plan is not working.