Four Worst Mistakes You Can Make

1. Using general job boards. One study says 2/3 of job seekers' time is spent with ads and sending applications. What a waste.

I don't know of any study that shows the effectiveness of general job ad sites at better than 10%. Most estimates are much lower. So people are spending 66% of their time on a method that doesn't work 90% of the time. This makes sense?

For a start, get off the job boards and onto these web sites where people can see you.

2. Using a cookie cutter résumé. This suggests you think McDonalds has the same problems as Red Robin because they both sell burgers. This is like telling a girl you love her green eyes when you have no idea what color her eyes are (really not recommended.)

Every company has unique issues. If you don't know what they are, you're wasting your time showing them your résumé.

A better approach: You know the company's web site better than their webmaster does. Their newsletter shows up in your email--as well as Google or Yahoo alerts when something new happens to them. They didn't have a Wikipedia page--you wrote one. "Forbes" or "Fortune" has covered them? The company has blogs? You've read them all.

Why? You need to know the company that well to figure out what they need. And how you can supply what they're missing.

Your résumé has one purpose--to show the employer you can solve her problems. To do that, your résumé needs to be unique and tailored.

3. Going into the interview blind, not knowing anyone or the company. Building on the first two steps, you need to be on those websites mentioned in #1 looking for the people you found in #2, watching them, asking questions, contributing where you can.

Ideally, you've interacted with somebody important on LinkedIn. "I'm applying at your company. May I use you as a reference?" That's not a question you can ask the first day--or month--you've been on the site. It's the product (pay off?) of a lot of give and take.

4. Waiting for the phone to ring. Remember the phone not ringing in high school? Same story here. It probably won't, left to its own devices.

You need to out there hustling, doing the Job Searching Checklist.

---More tips at How to Find a Job
Available for just $1.25 from Kindle or Nook or instant PDF download
Job hunting expenses may be tax deductible. Check with your accountant.

Image courtesy of savit keawtavee