Top 10 Job Search Mistakes (and how to avoid them)

September 6, 2009 By 8 Comments

By Mark Gonska

Finding a job in a recession is not easy.  Even in good times, a successful job search requires time, patience, and creativity.  These days, hiring managers and executives are choosier than ever and looking for reasons to screen people out, i.e., they are looking for reasons not to hire you.  However, if you’re able to avoid the most common job search mistakes, you can still land your perfect job, even in this tough market. 

Here are the 10 most common job search mistakes, and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Thinking it’s all about YOU.  Few people outside your family are concerned that you don’t have a job. Employers want to know what you can do for them.  What’s in it for the employer if they hire you?

The job search is about YOUR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER – your prospective employer’s needs, their problems, their issues.  Not yours. What’s keeping THEM up at night?  What’s waking THEM up too early in the morning?  THEIR problems and issues are the only reason or justification to hire YOU.  If you don’t know what these issues are, you could find out by asking some people in your target industry, by reading trade magazines, or by connecting with a relevant professional association.  

2. Living in the past. Yesterday is in the past. Today is a new day, and the time for action is now.

Many who are guilty of this mistake are living in the past in thought, word, and deed.  They don’t just think old, look old and sound old—they are continually asking themselves “why did this happen to me?”  They talk exclusively about how things “used to be” in the good ol’ days.  Instead you should: 

  • Update your attitude – Give yourself a “check-up from the neck up”.  Get excited about your future.  Go to the library and check out some motivational CDs that you listen to in your car between appointments.  This will help you get motivated, and when you speak to people you’ll sound like you are WORTH a Million bucks.
  • Update your appearance – try a new hair cut or a new hair style.  Treat yourself and get a pedicure, manicure or massage.

 

3. Defining yourself based on your old job. Your old job does not define you. Many of the old jobs are gone, and “they ain’t comin’ back”.

Unless your last job was your perfect job, you need to redefine yourself based on your skills and desires inventory, and what you’d really like to do now and in the future.  When you find and capture your perfect job—the job you can’t live without—everybody wins.  Maybe it’s time to update your skills along with your resume.  In the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, you should be constantly investing in yourself, acquiring new skills and learning new things.

 4.  Being undecided. It’s your life and your future. How long can you be undecided?

Your career, depending on your timeline to retirement, represents thousands of hours, and hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Either all your dreams fulfilled or a shipwreck on the shoals of life. If you are not really sure what to do next, you need to do some real soul-searching.  Being reactive and answering ads in the newspaper or responding to job opportunities on the job boards that “seem interesting” will get you nowhere fast. Instead you need to:

  • Take responsibility for your job search and your life – What makes you unique?  What is it that you can do that few other people can do?  This is where you will find your next big opportunity.
  • Be decisive and take action – at least identify what you think you MIGHT want to do and pursue it. Start moving in that direction. Talk to people about it.  It may open the door to discovering your real calling.
  • Identify 10 people who are doing your target job RIGHT NOW – call them up, tell them you’re evaluating career options, and ask them if you could buy them a cup of coffee.  When you meet them, come prepared and ask them good questions that will help you gain a better understanding of their problems, putting yourself in a better position to solve them.

 5. Procrastinating. Your job search is a full-time job, and you should treat it as such.

 You need to plan your work and work your plan.  Plan your time in advance.  Who are the most important people you hope to connect with tomorrow?

  • Create a ‘Job Search Success Calendar’ with nothing else on it except your job search efforts.
  •  Decide in advance how long you will spend on doing “research” on the Internet… how long you will take on other tasks.  Write down your estimate and compare your actual results.  Know what your time is worth and treat it that way!
  • Do the most important things and most difficult things first.  Even if you get a “NO” Rejection often paves the road to success.

 6. Finding a convenient excuse. Einstein was thought to be mentally challenged.  Sandra Day O’Connor was home-schooled. Abe Lincoln lost more races than he won. 

Are you too old? Too short? Too female?  If you give up before you’ve even started, you don’t stand a chance.  Acknowledge your shortcoming and decide you can overcome it.  Turn that blemish into a beauty mark.  You can do it.  You have no excuse that someone else hasn’t already overcome.  If someone hasn’t, you can be a pioneer!

7. Spending all day on your computer.  Spending your day on Linked-in and Facebook is an ineffective form of networking.  Nothing replaces the real thing.  Avoiding all human contact and building a relationship with a new web portal each day won’t help you get any closer to a paycheck.  Instead you should: 

  • Seek out opportunities to hone your networking, interviewing and sales skills,
  • Plan one or two major job-seeking activity out of the house each day, Engage others in conversation where you’re asking them questions about them and learning more about what they do.  Remember this is not about you, and
  • Make a list of 10 people you could talk with each day.

 8.  Being a wallflower.  Employers do not need people to punch in and collect paychecks.  They’re looking for leadership. Employers want people who can manage themselves and others, and people who will make things happen without being told exactly what to do.  Even if there is a hiring freeze, most people are interested in talking with an experienced professional who understand s and brings workable solutions to their biggest problems, i.e.  top line revenues or cutting costs.  With this in mind you need to be prepared to show:

  • How you are going to add value?  Show how you’ll pay for yourself and provide a return on investment to the company.
  • Many employers do not realize that doing nothing can be their most expensive option.  Help them calculate the cost of NOT HIRING YOU.
  • Be a business person, not a job seeker.

 9.  Failing to take care of yourself.  People who exercise are more relaxed and confident, and it shows.  You need to take care of the physical you to look and feel your best.

  • Go for a daily walk in the early morning or at your lunch hour.  
  • Ride a bike on the towpath or in the MetroParks on the weekend.
  • Join a gym or a yoga studio, and work out at least 3 times a week.
  • Take an exercise class at your local YMCA or community center.

 10.   Not networking enough.  Networking is the fast track to a new job.  Statistics show that 4 out of every 5 jobs are found through networking.  Disregard the want ads and focus exclusively on building your network.  Try to have conversations with as many people as you possibly can.  And you should:

  • Be prepared – Business cards, resume, and elevator speech.
  • Set goals — each day you should talk to 10 new people on the phone, and set one new in-person appointment. The interviews will follow.
  • Evaluate the results – take a look back and see how you did. What can you do better next week?

Finally, the biggest and most common job search mistake of all is not asking for help.  Everyone needs a helping hand every now and then. Asking for help can be a courageous act – and you shouldn’t view it as a weakness.  There are times when you just don’t have the expertise, such as doing a skills and desires inventory, doing a career assessment, or updating your resume.  If you let your pride get in the way and refuse to ask for help, you may just lose the opportunity you were seeking.  Asking for assistance is sensible, and will help you overcome obstacles in your career search.  Don’t be afraid to ask.  You may even recognize other areas of your life where an expert’s help will save you time, money, effort and energy.  Making your life easier by asking for and using well-informed experts is a smart thing to do.

Times are tough.  Jobs are harder to come by.  But, by avoiding common job search mistakes, you will be closer to finding the job you really want.

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

Filed Under: Finding-the-job-you-can't-live-without Tagged With: ,

Just say "NO” to Mr./Ms. kNOw-it-All

July 14, 2009 By 1 Comment

Combat the negative person in your workplace

By Mark Gonska

Do you know anyone who is always looking for advice? But as soon as anyone offers up an idea or suggestion, his or her common response is: “NO – that won’t work!”

Do you know anyone who wishes they could be recognized for their brains and creativity, but have “NO ideas ” about how they could add value?

Do you know anyone who constantly complains about personal problems, the economy or global competition.  Yet, when it comes to professional development, additional training or any improvement that requires additional effort on their part, they have “NO interest”?

When asked to consider new people, new ideas, new line extensions, diversification – you guessed it… their answer is “NO!”

“Mr./Ms.  kNOw- it-Alls” are particularly common in today’s tough economy. 

Although doing exactly the same thing and expecting different results may seem unlikely, “Mr./Ms.  kNOw- it-All” sees NO need to entertain other possible solutions.  Because everyone “kNOws” they won’t work.

How do you combat the Mr./Ms.  kNOw- it-Alls? Just say “NO” to their negativity.

  • Challenge pessimistic thinking and negative beliefs. Don’t let assumptions go unchallenged.
  • Avoid negative people. They are their own worst enemy and could become yours.
  • Avoid being sympathetic. If you are forced, through your position in the company, to work with a negative person don’t buy in to their road to NOwhere.  Tough love for tough times.
  • If all else fails, talk to your own supervisor or human resources staff about the challenges you are experiencing in dealing with the negative person. Your supervisor may have ideas, may be willing to address the negativity, and may address the issue with the negative person’s supervisor.  

Note: Negative people will not bother to read this blog.  They already kNOw it’s just common sense.

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

Filed Under: Leadership, Managing Change Tagged With: ,

How to Fireproof Your Career in These Tough Economic Times

April 13, 2009 By 4 Comments

Become your company’s MVE – most valuable employee

By Mark Gonska

With the grim unemployment news splashed across the headlines, it is understandable that you may be concerned about losing your job.

According to Traci Bell-Thomas of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, “The unemployment claim systems in Ohio and other states buckled this week under an onslaught of telephone calls and website hits.

With the number of people being laid off at the end of the year, the systems are just being overwhelmed.  The telephone hotline generally receives about 7,500 calls a day, but has been getting around 80,000 calls each the past two days (January 6, 2009).” 

Business as usual isn’t. 

So, what can you do, as an employee, to ease your anxiety and protect your position with your employer?  Here are some tips to fireproof your current employment by working toward becoming your boss’s Most Valuable Employee:

Make an honest appraisal of your job situation

Do you get along well with your boss?  What are you doing to make your workplace run better, faster and cheaper?  Do you bring solutions or complaints to your boss and co-workers? 

Make sure you are doing the best job you can be – and that you are the best employee you can be.  Identify three improvements you can make at work and DO them. 

You need to take action to make things better.  Don’t wait.  Waiters are for restaurants.

Put yourself in your employer’s shoes – and walk around

What is keeping your boss up at night?  Find out.  Have a discussion with your boss and find out what you can do to help in these tough times.  Simply ask, “what’s the most important thing I can do to help our business in these tough times?  What can I do to make things better for you?”

Ask, “What do you see that’s working – that I should CONTINUE to do?  What’s not happening that I should START DOING and what’s really bugging you that I should STOP doing? 

Take immediate action on your employer’s recommendations. 

Let your yes be yes

Deliver what you promise.  Don’t wait to be reminded – you need to bring solutions, not problems and complaints. 

If you make a promise, you need to follow through on that promise.  Is your plate already full?  Clarify your priorities and determine what is most important to you. 

What should you purposefully neglect to get this done?  We all need to make sacrifices right now – and you might have to say “yes” more often. 

You now have several tools in your tool belt to help you keep your job.  Act on your fear about losing your job and use that energy to fireproof your job. 

Go into work each day and focus on how you can be the best employee you can be. 

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

Filed Under: Leadership, Managing Change Tagged With:

It’s an employer’s market. Or is it?

December 19, 2008 By 3 Comments

If you don’t know who you’re looking for, you’ll easily find him (or her)

The unemployment rate rose from 6.5 to 6.7 percent for the Month of November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—the economy shed 533,000 jobs in one short month. That’s up 2% from the same time last year.

So, that must mean it’s an employer’s market. Or is it?

On first blush it seems like it is.

The law of supply and demand tells us “the more candidates you have to choose from, the greater the choice you’ll have among candidates, and it’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel.”

Unfortunately, recruiting is not so simple.

In a time of uncertainty, with lots of people on the job market, calculating what they’re going to do next, there are many people to choose from who are “almost-good enough” to take your company to the next level.

But “almost-good enough”–is that good enough?

After you factor in the expense of the search, their orientation and training, having to put up with sub-standard performance and results for a period of time, and if it doesn’t work out, the severance you have to pay the employee to leave, it all adds up.

Real costs plus opportunity/lost productivity costs.

For a six-figure salary executive, the average mis-hire runs in the millions of dollars.

When you’re in survival mode, can you really afford to make a mistake that costs millions of dollars?

Out of all the people out there looking for jobs, there is one out there that is perfect for you.

One who has all the skills you need. One who is a match for your corporate culture.

One who’s able to do more with less people and less money.

One who can do things better, faster, and cheaper.

The real “A” player.

The question is “How do you know how to find him or her?”

Are you going to wait for this person to knock on your door?

If you don’t know who you’re looking for, you’ll easily find him (or her).

There are many people out there who are almost good enough.

Getting the wrong one could be a costly mistake.

The original premise is correct. It is an employer’s market—the employer is in the driver’s seat.

But the job of finding the right person just got harder not easier.

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

Filed Under: Filling key positions, Hiring trends Tagged With: ,

Psssst! Hey you…, buddy…, get out of the way…

September 28, 2008 By 1 Comment

 What’s the #1 thing holding you back? Could it be your leadership style?

By Mark Gonska

Any time I get the chance to sit down with an executive, I ask: “What’s the biggest obstacle to taking your business to the next level?”

Typically I’ll get a variety of very serious responses: “We’re not in alignment”. “We’re not hiring the right kinds of people.” “Turnover is really high.” 

And invariably, I respond: “Wow…, that sounds like a leadership issue.”  Because if you really take time to think about it, at every level, problems can be traced back to leadership, or rather, the lack of leadership.

In other words, if you’re like 99% of other business owners, vice-presidents, or group heads out there, you’re overworked, stretched too thin, and either unable or unwilling to take your business to the next level. 

And I’m sorry to say it, but most times the biggest obstacle to business growth is leadership itself. 

Here are the three of the most common, and most natural pitfalls of leadership, and what you can do to avoid them: 

Micromanagement— If you’re micromanaging every jot and title of your business, you’re the greatest contributor to your own mediocrity. Micromanagement is antithesis of leadership. Your best people will leave you, and you’ll be stuck with mediocre players, and a mediocre organization. 

The solution: BE A LEADER: Articulate your vision…. “A computer on every desktop”, and align your systems and your resources. Empower others, and celebrate their successes—and your people will help you fulfill your vision.

Poor delegation—you think you’ve delegated a task, but if the job you’ve delegated is not completed correctly, or in a timely fashion, it ends up coming back to you. That’s not delegating. That’s relegating yourself to quality supervisor, and backup quarterback.

The solution: LEARN TO DELEGATE—when you commit or trust a task to a subordinate, be specific about the outcome and the timeline, and let them know they’ll be held accountable. When the task is complete, give them feedback, and let them know if there’s room for improvement.

Shooting down ideas—if you become known as someone who is not open to new ideas, your people will stop offering them. This leads to the “I tried to tell him, but he didn’t listen, so he can go fly a kite” syndrome, where your people emulate your leadership style, and work to actively shoot down good ideas for you. 

The solution: SHOW YOU LISTEN—Learn the value of “appreciative inquiry.” For example, ask your shop foreman: “What was it like here when things were really running like a top?” Listen to the response, and say: “What would we need to do to make that happen again?” Implement a few of the ideas you hear, and it will have a ripple effect throughout your organization.

The average executive has 37 hours of work on his or her desk. So how would it ever be possible to go in on a weekend to “catch up”? “Catching up” is a fallacy. The truth is you need to learn to be choosy. Concentrate on what your job is… on leadership.

Steven Covey said: “Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.”

Accordingly, you need to learn to recognize the things that are really important, work on your ability to prioritize, and steer your people so you’re moving in the right direction.

Finally, don’t take yourself too seriously. Many of the leaders I’ve met with are the most insecure people in their organization. And they compensate for it by being overly decisive or pushy (benevolent-dictator-style of leadership), or too out-of-touch and anesthetic (shut-door-policy-style of leadership).

Just be yourself, and get out of the way. You won’t be sorry—I promise.

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

 

 

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: , ,

Are you "over-qualified" or just too old?

July 2, 2008 By 1 Comment

Often, “over-qualified” is code for something else.

 

By Mark Gonska

 

“You’ve got very impressive credentials, and your experience is wide-ranging, but…” the hiring manager says: “We really think you’re overqualified.”

 

If you hear the words “over-qualified”, your job is to figure out what that something else is…, and overcome it just like you would any other objection.

 

Being old, or seeming old, has less to do with your physical age than it does with your attitude, outlook, and ability to articulate and add value. If you were invited to the initial interview, apparently you had all the skills to meet their job specifications, so what happened?

 

If you’ve gotten the “we love you, but you’re over-qualified” could it mean you are “too old”, “you wouldn’t fit in”, “you’re too expensive”, or “I know you’re going to leave us when that better opportunity comes along”?

 

While many people may not be candid about the real reasons they don’t want to hire you, you may be able to do some savvy detective work.

 

ASK!  “Is the reason you’re saying that I’m over-qualified because you think you can’t afford me?”  You could respond, “let’s calculate what it costs each week you DON’T hire me.”  Use your numbers and let’s write it down.  (This is the basis of a cost vs. benefit approach.)

 

 Approach every interview with the answer to the question: 

 

“Why should I hire YOU?”

 

If you’re older, specifically you should be prepared to present: 

 

  1. How does your potential contribution/value compare to a 25 year old??  How about two (2) 25 year olds?
  2. Name three (3) specific benefits you can bring to the target employer
  3. Name three (3) specific reasons why you are worth the money and benefits the target employer will pay you.

Bottom line, older workers must show they’re with it and worth it.  Those who can articulate and calculate their value have a better shot of landing a great job.

 

Aim to solve bigger problems! Make sure you stack the odds are in your favor by figuring out what you need to do to connect with the hiring manager, and show them you’re still young in terms of attitude.

 

 

Or, if you’re too old, just disregard this.

 

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President of Career Transition Services for Dise & Company. You can contact Mark directly at the People Page on Diseco.com

 

Filed Under: Finding-the-job-you-can't-live-without Tagged With: ,