The Job Seeking Mistakes We Make - Copeland Coaching

The Job Seeking Mistakes We Make Job searching is hard work. That saying getting a job is a job couldnt be truer than it is right now. I hear from job seekers every day who are struggling, and rightfully so. But, it may not be for the reasons they think. When I ask a job seeker what it is thats causing problems with their job search, they typically know the answer right away. First, theyre over qualified. They are too old. They studied the wrong thing in school. They wonder if they need to get a new haircut, go back to school, and change careers completely. A new haircut never hurt anyone. But, lets take a deeper look. The next questions I typically ask the job seeker are these: How are you applying for jobs? How many jobs have you applied to lately? Very often, I learn that the job seeker is applying online. Its the only way theyre looking for a job, and its the only way theyre applying. So, although ageism is real, its possible the company doesnt know their age because theyve never even seen the persons application. I know that companies tell job seekers, Apply online. If youre a good fit well call you. Its just not true. Sure, sometimes miracles happen. But, its not the norm. Think of it this way. If you were hiring someone, how would you go about finding that person? Would you want to sort through 200 resumes that were submitted on the internet by strangers? I bet that you would ask around. Youd ask the people that you know if they are interested, or if they know anyone who is interested. In order for applying online to work as designed, a number of things need to go smoothly. First, the online system would need to be smart enough to find the best applicants. Then, the HR recruiter would have to be knowledgeable enough about the role to select the best candidates to screen. Then, the hiring manager (the future boss) would have to trust the judgement of the HR recruiter. And, the hiring manager would have to rely on the online process to screen for candidates. This is a lot that has to go right! Instead of relying on the online process, become someone the company knows. Network with people who work at the company. Ask for coffee meetings. Talk to friends who have connections at the company. Locate the hiring manager and send them a message on LinkedIn. And, whatever you do â€" apply to many jobs. The likelihood that youll get hired after you apply for a job is less than five percent. Applying to only five or ten jobs is not likely to result in a job offer. Before you decide why you arent being selected, be sure that you arent completely relying on the online process, and that youre applying to many jobs at the same time. I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here. Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If youve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in iTunes or Stitcher. Happy hunting! Angela Copeland @CopelandCoach