7 deadly mistakes women

You’ve been looking for a job for several months without much success.

Now you’re wondering, “Will I ever get another job?”

7

DEADLY MISTAKES OF JOB HUNTERS

2

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

You haven’t assessed what drives you in your career or what your specific skills, knowledge and key motivators are. You may be applying for roles that are not suited to you.

To make successful applications you must know what makes you tick and the reasons why a role appeals to you. As you go through to the interview process, employers will want to know how close a ‘fit’ you are to their needs, their corporate culture and team environment.

You need to prepare well so that you can eloquently communicate your value, key drivers and be authentic in your responses.

3 1

POOR RESUME & COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

You’re sending out the same generic resume and cover letter for every application.

You’re sending out dozens of applications online and not getting much positive response.

YOU’RE NOT READY

Perhaps you’re looking for a new role due to a redundancy, or perhaps you quit because you couldn’t stand it any more or perhaps you were let go for a multitude of reasons. You’re still hurting from being in a difficult situation.

A big mistake is to market yourself when you are still feeling emotional and your confidence is at low ebb. It’s best to market yourself after you have acknowledged the change, acknowledged that there are some things you cannot change and identified the things you can.

The key is to remember you are still the same competent professional you’ve always been and you have a mountain of value to offer the right employer in the right environment. If you don’t’ believe in yourself, who will?

Employers are looking for professionals who believe in their abilities and know that they can hit the ground running without any emotional baggage.

Take time to rebuild your self-confidence and get into the right frame of mind for the job search.

Your resume and cover letter often are the first point of contact with the screener. If it is generic and the reader has to search too hard for what they are looking for, or they can’t find what they require in your resume, it will probably end up in the ‘no’ bin.

Take time to tailor your resume and cover letter effectively for each and every role. When people ask you how they can help you, you communicate ineffectively because you haven’t thought about how you are going to position yourself.

Create a strong positioning statement and know what you will say when you are asked, ‘So why are you looking for a job?’

4

YOU DON’T LOOK THE PART IN PERSON OR ONLINE

5

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE JOB SEARCH METHODS

You haven’t thought enough about the image you are projecting to others.

Before they even meet you they may be able to view your LinkedIn profile and other social media sites and they will form an opinion of you before that first handshake.

You have been focusing mainly on advertised roles and missing out on expanding your network to uncover the hidden jobs. Learn how to use the online job boards most effectively – there is more to it than just clicking on the ‘Apply’ button.

Have you positioned yourself honestly and professionally? If you haven’t done your research to find out what will be appropriate attire for the interview and on the job you won’t present yourself appropriately for the job.

You don’t know how to network effectively, what to say and what to ask for. Develop your pitch and tailor it for different situations so that you can leverage your professional relationships for advice and guidance effectively.

As first impressions are so important and you only get a few seconds to make a first impression, understand what others want to see when you walk into a room so you position yourself visually as the ideal candidate.

You are getting frustrated with recruitment consultants, as you don’t know what they are really looking for. Learn how to gain the interest of recruiters and develop strong working relationships with them so they remember you and what you have to offer.

You are on LinkedIn but you’re not using it to your advantage. Set up a powerful LinkedIn profile and learn how to promote your skills and expertise to those who need you.

7 6

YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO CONVEY YOUR VALUE IN INTERVIEWS

YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR WORTH OR HOW TO SETTLE INTO A NEW ROLE

When the offers come in, you haven’t researched what the market rate is for the role and you don’t know how to negotiate for the best outcome for you and the company. You lack the confidence to ask for what you know could be a good outcome for both of you.

If you accept a new role, when you begin you are not aware of how to settle in, develop good working relationships and get some wins on the board without looking like the ‘eager new employee’ during the crucial first 90 days in the role.

You have not been preparing for your interviews effectively. Or you’ve prepared and when you start talking you oversell and come across as overly confident.

The key to successful interviews is to prepare, prepare, prepare! Employers are looking for someone to provide the functional skills they need, with the soft skills required for the role. They need someone who is willing to work they way that fits with the organisation’s requirements and fits the culture of the team.

In order to convey your suitability you need to research, practice your interview techniques, listen carefully to the questions, answer with examples of your successes and follow up with an effective ‘thank you’ email after the interview.

Find out about Jane’s 7 Steps CAREERS program which guides you through the entire job search process and provides you with clarity, confidence and all the tools for an effective job search. www.janejacksoncoach.com

JANE JACKSON

Career Management Coach

Career Management Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author of #1 Best Seller on Amazon Australia ‘Navigating CAREER Crossroads – How to Thrive When Changing Direction’, Jane specialises in leadership, career management and communications training.

For over 14 years she has successfully coached over 1,000 executives across Australia and Asia Pacific to find and follow their true passion and career direction.

Jane’s training workshops and seminars enhance the skills of executives so they become more effective leaders.

Jane’s corporate clients include Rio Tinto, Optus, Credit Suisse, Westpac, BT Financial, Parramatta City Council, Australian Graduate School of Management, Chicago Booth Graduate School of Management and the University of Singapore.

www.janejacksoncoach.com call +61 (2) 8076 4808 email: jane@janejacksoncoach.com