20 common job search mistakes

Common Job

Search Mistakes (that are really, really easy to fix)

www.thehbcucareercenter.com

Not following up with

recruiters or networking

contacts about job leads.


Not creating a professional LinkedIn profile. (www.linkedin.com and join The HBCU Career Center group)


http://www.linkedin.com/

Not cleaning up your social media profiles. (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Periscope, Vines, YouTube or…)


Not showing connections to

industry or career through

memberships or affiliations.


Not showing strong writing

skills through resumes, letters,

applications or emails. (poor grammar can kill a job search fast!)


Not showing practical

application of learning,

knowledge and skills. (What can you do? What have you learned? What do you know?)


Not using a current

RESUME customized for

each opportunity.


Not showing any focus for

preferred roles, careers or industries. (“I will take any job,” doesn’t inspire confidence in the employer.)


Not using a Thank-You

letter for interviews or referrals. (Gratitude goes a long way in a successful job search)


Not researching

organizations before

the job interview.


Not developing a portfolio of

work or accomplishments.


Not doing practice

interviews.


Not using niche job

boards and only using the

mega job search sites.


Not aware of the 3 C's of

Interviewing: Using excellent

Communication skills to speak

with Confidence about your

Competencies!


Not considering relocation as a

viable career option. (Spread your wings beyond your current location)


Not seeking current advice on

what employers are looking for

in new hires.


Not using the career center on your college campus. (Your biggest career advocates for resume critiques, mock interviews, career assessments, career fairs, campus interviews…)


Not being clear about what

YOU want or what YOU are

looking for in your next

opportunity.


Not being involved in any

internships, leadership projects,

study abroad or volunteer activities. (“Stuff” to fill a good new-grad resume and talk about in the interview)


Not lining up awesome professional references. (Do this before you leave campus or before you end your internships)


Connect for more…

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TheHBCUCareerCenterTwitter – http://www.twitter.com/HBCUCareerCntrWebsite – http://www.thehbcucareercenter.comNiche Job Board – http://www.jobs.thehbcucareercenter.com

http://www.thehbcucareercenter.com/