Epic Fail: 5 Bad Ideas to Avoid When Looking for a Job
Negative Self Talk
We all know that if we keep telling ourselves that there are no jobs available, there’s no way we can make our way into a particular employer, or we don’t have the right skills that eventually the bad mood with suck us in. We know better, but we still like to indulge ourselves and continue in this destructive pattern. STOP RIGHT NOW! Hiring managers can smell bad attitude miles away. Do yourself and your job search a favor and get those negative thoughts out of your head. I think Peter Pan said it best, “Flying is easy, “JUST THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS”.
Not Dressing for Success
First impressions are often lasting impressions. Dressing too casual is a bad idea especially when working your search. No matter what the occasion—networking, interviewing, or just dropping off a resume—you need dress professionally. Business attire (yes, that means a suit), no extreme hairstyles, tats and non-traditional piercings either covered or removed, and light fragrances. If that scent you’re wearing reminds the hiring manager of an ex, do you really think you’ll get the job?
Waiting for that Internet Ship to Come in
You’re feeling pretty good about your search since you have all of those job agents searching for you on all of those Internet sites. All you have to do is sit back and wait for the job offers to roll in, right? WRONG! Effective job searches are interactive! You need to actively participate which means you need to be networking, attending career fairs, going to workshops and conferences to generate leads. Those Internet job boards are a great tool and generate great leads but they should not make up the bulk of your search.
The Dog Ate My Homework Excuse
Have you ever blown off the night’s homework thinking that watching TV was more interesting than doing algebra? You’re basically doing the same thing if you don’t learn as much as you can about a potential employer before you go in for the interview. The Internet makes researching a company and its leadership so incredibly easy, there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing something about a company that you’re interviewing with. By knowing something about the company, you can interact with the interviewer on a higher level and better demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate.
Throwing Away All of those Networking Contacts
You grab your suit jacket and shove your hand into the outside pocket only to discover that pile of business cards from the last industry event you went to—a few years ago. It may be too late for some of those contacts to be of any use, but the next time you’re out and about meeting people, take a few moments after the event and organize the business cards that you collect. Whether you organize them in a box, or enter the information into your Outlook, make sure the information is easy for you to retrieve when you need it.
As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.



