Top 10 Job Search Mistakes

It's tough enough looking for a job in a good economy but in today's tough economy there is no room for error. Below are 10 job search mistakes that can be avoided.

1. Relying too much on the Internet to look for jobs and to network. Everyone should utilize the Internet to help them look for jobs and to network. The mistake many people make is that they depend too much on the Internet. Some people spend the day on their computer sending out resumes and making contacts. This is a good foundation but nothing substitutes for face-to-face communication. It is imperative to set up as many informational interviews as possible so you can get in front of people. Remember-out of sight, out of mind.

2. Not joining LinkedIn. When you do utilize the Internet to look for jobs and to network, LinkedIn should be at or near the top of your list. It is a professional website (with over 100 million members), not social, and once you get a connection, you have access to all of their connections. You can search for jobs and search for people (this is helpful when trying to get the names of people at companies whom you want to send your resume to or perhaps are trying to set up informational interviews with). You can also get recommendations online from supervisors, co-workers, college professors, etc. The more recommendations the better. Why is joining LinkedIn important? Because there's a good chance that an employer will take a look at your LinkedIn profile before considering bringing you in for an interview. Without a LinkedIn profile, you may be invisible to them.

3. Not realizing the importance of your social networking profile. Do you send resumes in but rarely get a response? Yes, it could be your resume that's the problem but it could be something else. Google yourself. What comes up? Anything negative? Take a look at your social networking profile on Facebook. Do you have any unprofessional photos of yourself? Do you use profanity on your home page? Do your friends make negative comments on your page? If so, you can bet that your future employer is taking a look at these things. Yes, there are privacy settings but you must make the assumption that your prospective employer is looking at your social networking profile, so be careful.

4. When networking, asking for help but offering nothing in return. Too many people appear desperate in their job search and ask for help but offer nothing in return. You have a much better chance of getting some good job leads and meeting the right people if you offer your networking contact your help in any way. You may not be in a position to offer much help but the fact that you offered help can go a long way. If you attend a networking event in person, ask them about themselves-what they do, where they're from. Don't make it all about you. Ask them for suggestions and leads but don't ask them directly if they can help you get a job. That's a turnoff for most.

5. Utilizing resumes/cover letters that are too general. I received hundreds of resumes over the years and the ones that were too general in tone were thrown out immediately. Try to find out the name of the person receiving your resume/cover letter so you can address it to them instead of "To Whom It May Concern." Also, don't give the impression that you're looking for any job within that company. Be specific. Since many companies use computer software to track the keywords in your resume/cover letter, match the specific keywords in the job description to your resume/cover letter as much as possible.

6. Utilizing resumes/cover letters that don't tout your accomplishments. Do you utilize phrases like "team player," "results-oriented," or "hard worker?" So does everyone else. As much as possible, try to use metrics to discuss your accomplishments-how much $ you saved the company, how much revenue you contributed to the company's bottom line, or what % increase in sales you've accomplished.

7. Not dressing properly for the interview. It's common sense to dress well for an interview but too many interviewees don't realize the importance of dressing up. As soon as you walk in the door, the interviewer has gotten their first impression of you. I would interview recent college male graduates who came to the interview without a suit or tie and I spent the interview wondering why they didn't dress properly instead of actually listening to what they were saying. That's how important your job interview attire is to many hiring managers.

8. Not asking the right questions during an interview. The interviewer will be asking the interviewee many questions during the interview but it's not all about answering questions. Asking the right questions is just as important. Do your research ahead of time so you know as much about the company as possible. Ask the interviewer specific questions about what your responsibilities are going to be and ask them to show you a hard copy of a typical project that you'll be working on. When the interview is over and they ask you if you have any questions, ask the interviewer about their career path and what they love about their job and company.

9. Not following up with thank-you notes. Whether it's for someone who is offering to help you in your job search or someone who interviewed you for a job, don't forget to send them a thank-you note (even if it's for a job you're not interested in). How important is a thank-you note? Many times when I had a job opening in my department and it was down to two candidates, we discussed who sent us the thank-you note. I'm not saying it was a tie-breaker but it was important. There are three types-a handwritten note which is more personal but has a space limit as to how much you can say, an email which is the fastest but less personal, and a typed business letter which is the most professional looking. Personally, I didn't care which format I received as long as I received some type of thank-you note. Also, you should not only thank the person for their time in the thank-you note, but it's an opportunity to address any concerns the interviewer had that perhaps you didn't address properly in the interview.

10. Turning down unpaid internships. Everyone needs to make money and especially if you've just graduated from college, you probably have a nice fat student loan to pay back. Having said that, don't make the mistake of turning down an unpaid internship. I've even had people turning down paid internships because it wasn't enough money for them. Big mistake. Having an internship on your resume is resume gold. Importantly, an unpaid internship gets you in the door of the company you want to work for. If you do a great job, this will be noticed and you'll eventually move up the ladder and make the money you deserve. Any internship, paid or unpaid, gives you something that every employer is looking for-experience.