How To Avoid Some Common Missteps When Looking For Employment

By Craig Calvin

No one likes to be unemployed. There are many different reasons that people don't find jobs right away, but making the most common mistakes is what usually holds people back. Read on to learn how these three mistakes are critical to your job success every single time.

Before you do anything else, make a plan. It is very easy to quickly become overwhelmed by all of the negative consequences that come with being laid off. You start to worry about medical insurance, bills, and providing the essentials for you or your family. This worry can cause you to start applying for jobs without coming up with a plan first, and this can be counter-productive to your success. You need to stop and think about your resume, your training, your qualifications, and what other tools you have available to help you find a job. You also need to think about what types of jobs you should apply for, in what fields, and how far you could travel to work if necessary. Another important part of your plan is networking, not only to try to find individuals who may be aware of available jobs, but to provide references as well.

Do not limit your search to the internet. If you want to find a job quickly you need to explore every possible job opening available. While there are certainly many jobs that can be found online, either using a job finding site, or going directly to company's web sites, not every job is posted on the internet. If there are local companies where you think you would be qualified to work it may be worth while to contact them directly, talk to someone face to face, and provide hard copies of your resume. This human interaction may help when you are competing with many other people for a limited number of jobs.

Do not stop looking until you have accepted a job. As we mentioned earlier, being out of work is a horrible feeling, and trying to find a job is difficult and stressful, so it is easy to understand why someone may get over-excited if a company shows interest in you. When this happens you may think that you have reached your goal, and found a job, but a company showing interest is not the same as them formally offering you a position. If you stop searching for a job, just because you are hoping that this opportunity works out, you may miss out on a better job, or be even more disappointed if the company decides to hire someone else. Until you have officially accepted a job offer you should not stop looking for other opportunities.

These are the three most common missteps that individuals can make when looking for a new job. You can't rush right into to applying for a job, you need to stop and make a plan first. You should try to look for jobs anywhere you possible can, do not just search on the internet. Finally, until you formally accept a position, do not stop looking for job opportunities. If you follow this advice you will put yourself in a better position to find a job, which is so important in these tough economic times.

Six Sigma Online is a leader in career information and business productivity, as well as Six Sigma Training techniques. Visit them today at http://www.sixsigmaonline.org. - 32179

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