I've identified five major mistakes that job-seekers are making based on a quiz on my website that job seekers can take to see how well prepared they are to start their job search. While this isn't a random sample, it's interesting to look at the results of the quiz to see what people are doing right and wrong. Each one of these mistakes represents a missed opportunity to make contacts or make an impression. And none of them is very hard to correct. Are you making any of these mistakes?
On the positive side, here's what job-seekers are doing right:
- 72% have resumes that are up to date
- 48% have contacts at companies of interest
- 70% have been a member or leader in a club or professional org
- 88% have searched for themselves on major search engines
This is all good news, especially that almost half have contacts at companies of interest. The best way to find a job is through networking and contacts, and half the people in our survey have an inside track.
On the flip side, here's what people are doing wrong:
- 54% haven't done a single informational interview - It's well known that most jobs are found today through contacts and networking. Informational interviews are an important part of finding out what a job is really like, what skills are needed, what the career path is, and what company cultures are like. My advice: do at least five before you really start your job search.
- Only 20% have a professional webpage or blog - If you are looking for a job and you want to differentiate yourself from the crowd, you should start with a webpage. It's a great way to go into more detail about your experience and skills than you can fit on your resume (and be sure to include a link to your website on your resume!). And a professional (not personal) blog will help you to establish a presence on the web. A couple of posts a month on news about your industry, comments on new products or services, even relevant projects and classes if you are still a student, will show interviewers that you know what's going on.
- Only 42% have checked out a college career center or web-based counseling site - This amazes me. For job hunters who are still in college, or have graduated recently, your college career center is a huge resource. They talk directly to the recruiters and so they know what skills and experience the market is looking for. Many have resume review services and interview training. Check out heir web-based help. If you don't want to use the career center for the 'strategic' issues (like what career to pursue), at least use them for the tactical points like how to write a resume for a specific industy.
- Half haven't joined a college alumni association - Again, this makes no sense. Many alumni associations have free or discounted memberships for recent grads. What's the best way to contact people at companies in cities of interest to you? Join the alumni association! Even if you don't go to the social functions (which you should as part of networking), alumni association websites will provide you with great information and contacts in local job markets.
- While 88% have googled themselves, amazingly 12% haven't! - How can this be? You have to know what information is out there about yourself. I assure you before an offer is made, someone is going to enter your name in a search engine to see what pops up. If there is anything embarrassing or unprofessional, see if you can delete it.
