Job Hunting Pitfalls

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1.800. 973. 1177

CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Job Hunting Pitfalls [Laura K. Gabel] Watch your step when looking for your next position by reviewing these five job search “don’ts.”

There are five important steps to take in

career’s worth of job security, setting aside

people don’t give themselves enough credit

preparing for a job search in today’s highly

advancement opportunities. Accept the fact

in the skills area because they seem to have

competitive market:

that career entitlement no longer exists

tunnel vision about themselves and focus

and that it’s up to you to manage your own

on only one thing when, in truth, they really

Make a commitment to change;

career. Abdicating your career’s manage-

do have transferable skills valuable in the

Decide what you want;

ment to an employer, supervisor, or human

marketplace.

Identify your marketable skills;

resources department is the same as en-

Understand the marketplace; and

trusting your fate to someone who, by nature,

3. Don’t Ignore Your Packaging. An easy way

Invest in your future.

simply cannot put your best interest in top

to understand this is to think of a common,

priority position. After all, it’s your career

everyday item, something like toothpaste. If

and your life, not theirs.

you go to the store and you’re going to buy

Now, let’s take a look at five employment search Don’ts. These are things which

toothpaste, you typically see a generic or

should always be avoided regardless of your

2. Don’t Shortchange Yourself. Often people

store brand and an array of heavily promoted

immediate status. If you are employed, un-

think, “What could I possibly do? I’ll never be

brands. Which one will you buy? Chances are,

deremployed, or unhappily employed, these

able to get the kind of job I want. I’m stuck

you’ll probably buy the one you think has the

are pitfalls which will limit your job hunting

for good.” This sort of reasoning just isn’t

most “zing”: A catchy jingle; an eye grabbing

success.

true and can easily become a self fulfill-

box; testimonials, studies, and surveys; and

ing prescription for failure. Take a school

promises of a brighter smile and a fresher

1. Don’t Be Casual About Your Career. Take

teacher who wants to make a change. Well,

breath.

charge of managing your career instead

such a person has a lot to offer: Teachers

of leaving it to your supervisor and the

like to work with and help others; they are

It doesn’t matter much to you that the brand

company’s human resources department.

educated and experienced in solving prob-

you selected costs more than the store brand

While harsh, it is an economic reality that

lems; they are good trainers and motivators;

even though there is little, if any, real dif-

they consider you as a resource to be

and they are good communicators accus-

ference between the two. Price didn’t make

used in providing goods or services to the

tomed to speaking in front of groups as well

the difference; rather, it was the overall

marketplace. If there is a way to get things

as one on one.

promotional package. The same thing holds true in packaging yourself to succeed in

done more efficiently without you or if your employer encounters adverse conditions or

Now, let’s transfer these sorts of skills and

just decides to make some organizational

see what happens. An expanding and always

measured accomplishments and remem-

changes, the company’s interests will neces-

important area is that of customer service.

ber that your resume is your box label. You

sarily be served rather than yours.

It’s not easy to keep customers today so

need to separate yourself from the crowd of

there are lots of organizations out there in-

competition by promoting yourself. Identify

The days of relying on an employer to satisfy

terested in customer service types of people,

organizations you feel could use your skills

job needs, let alone career needs, have long

those who can communicate intelligently

and tell them what you can do.

since passed. People can no longer count on

and like to work with others and be helpful.

beginning and 40 or 50 years later ending a

Later, follow on avenues include customer

Think of yourself as a valuable product in

career and retiring with the same company.

service supervision or training where skills

the market, a product that will benefit from

No employer, even the federal government,

like group presentations, motivating, and

good promotional packaging. Overcome any

can begin to pretend to be able to provide a

problem solving are essential. Too many

feelings of rejection because each “No” only

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the job search market. Try to highlight your

continued on back


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