Last updated: May 3, 2024
The job market can be highly competitive. That’s why it’s important to be proactive in our hunt, especially because you have a lot to offer, and sometimes you have to be highly confident about that fact to get noticed.
But there’s a difference between taking valid, actionable steps that help refine your skillset and appeal to employers, compared to the smaller mistakes that we may not even realize we’ve made.
For example, if you apply to jobs with your email address that has a somewhat joking or unprofessional profile picture in your user bio, is that going to scupper your chances? It might, and in some cases it could.
Let’s consider if you’re making akin to this in your job hunt, to avoid any possible problems going forward:
Your CV Doesn’t Hit The Mark
Your resume the first impression employers get of your qualifications and fit for the role. But while your CV might have been successful in the past, is it right for this new job or industry? If you study the job descriptions carefully, you might realize your resume isn’t quite up to the mark.
Thankfully, with helpers like CV Experts to guide you, you can highlight certain experiences, avoid mentioning others that are no longer relevant, and develop a more coherent professional package.
You’re A Great Professional, But Don’t Interview So Well
No one is really comfortable in a job interview. That’s half of the point – to see how well you operate under pressure. Yet if you repeatedly fail at the interview process, it could all be for naught. Strong interview skills are crucial for getting hired, as frustrating as that can be.
That’s why practicing answering common questions out loud beforehand, even doing mock interviews with friends can help. You can work on body language like maintaining eye contact and avoiding fidgeting. Oddly, learning to speak less instead of being overfriendly and overly welcoming can show your real and authentic self, instead of putting on a character, which interviewers can see through.
Learn a great deal about the organization before, and don’t be afraid to admit a knowledge gap. This can work better than trying to ace every question or trying to come across as perfect.
You’re Expecting Too High A Starting Salary
Now, knowing your worth is important, but also having an overly high and rigid salary expectation could limit your job prospects. That doesn’t mean you have to accept the worst job salary in the market, but it means that sometimes, applying for roles that pay just under what you hoped and skilling up in the organization isn’t a bad idea, especially if jobs are few and far between.
In addition, you can always negotiate salaries and put your case forward for why you deserve more if offered the role. If you research typical pay ranges for the role and factor in your experience level, then you can try to aim for the median rather than the top of that range when just starting out, or even moving laterally.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to avoid job hunting mistakes preventing that employer interest you could otherwise focus on.
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