If you are looking for a job actively or hiding behind your office laptop, please stay clear of these mistakes. I am sure most you don’t do some of these, but there are some that you do. Stay confident, keep your head high, maybe 9 to 6 is not meant for you, their alternates read on:
1. Stalk
I understand as soon as you apply for a job, you start thinking of the outcome. In absence of news, you tend to start searching for your LinkedIn connections in that company or maybe find the recruiter and you look into their profile and send a connection request. All is good up until now, I have seen a lot of job seekers then start stalking (yes stalking) the recruiters online. They continue visiting their profiles or continue trying to reach them. Stop, just stop doing this. Find another way to engage with the company, the brand, and if you are really interesting someone will reach out to you. It’just not a good use of your time and energy
2. Threaten
Well now that you heard from the recruiter, who promised you to reply by a certain date, and that certain date is past… Do not threaten to escalate. Imagine they were to send you an email later in the day and they get this stinker of an email from you. Your effort goes down the drain, there is no coming back from there… and 9 out of 10 recruiters remember such candidates. I certainly do.
3. Bribe
Well yes, I have seen, heard this happening and managed it first hand. There is no quid-pro-quo, do not offer anything (except heartfelt thanks) to a recruiter to hire you. First, if the recruiter is the only one who is taking the decision on your hiring, it’s a first red flag. Second, even if you pay, there is no guarantee that you get that job. Third, did someone say its illegal?
4. Random Apply
Well, here I give my famed metaphor, you often go out to buy footwear, let’s say you are size UK 8. You go around and see your favorite brand say ASICS, you find the make you wanted, say GT2000, and you ask the salesperson, do you have size 8? And he responds, sorry, but we have a 9 or a 7… Would end buying one size smaller or one size bigger? If you care about yourself, I am sure you will not. Job search is same, do not settle less, you know your worth, you know what kind of jobs you will fit and what kind of jobs you will not. There is no hit and try always, if there is 80/90% match between your experience and the job then apply, clarify the leftover 20/10% during the interviews and if it is not size 8, probably time to look up another store.
5. Not thinking of free-lancing
Gig economy has taken off and now it is at cruising speed, the shared workspace, the technology, the internet is all there… the ecosystem is ready. Evaluate can you do your job as a freelancer? Do you have the skill to set-up your own shop? Do you have the right attitude to run a business? Do you have the art to build from scratch? It’s an era of start-ups, if you are out of job, the only reason that you are out job because you chose to. Think about it.
6. Lie
Well, I have seen candidates lie, cheat and fake in desperation to get a job. Sooner, if not later your lie will fall flat, and you will circle back to where you started, this time with big black spot. Don’t get tempted by so-called resume makers, to exaggerate your experience, education or skills or interviewing posts, that that says its okay to fake. A lie is a lie, small or big, it will cost you big.
7. Not Negotiate salary and benefits
Well now that you have crossed all the hurdles, awesome, you get a call from the recruiter. Hey, we are ready to offer, we looked at our budgets and blah blah, we can offer you a 10% raise. This what you should reply… “I am so excited, can you send me the details so that I can review and come back to you”. You must not accept instantly. Go back and to do your research, see if it’s worth, check with your mentors, coach, or friends. See if the associated incentives and benefits work for you? If yes then by all means, go and accept. If you have doubts, just negotiate. But in a positive manner, do not haggle, you are better than that
8. Accept and disappear
Well, now you accepted the offer, to Size 8 job, and negotiated it to 20% raise, well done. Eh, what, your company just counter offered? The fact, people who accepted the counteroffer are back in the job market in less than a month fishing for more. Don’t fall into this trap, there is more to a job than the $$$ attached to it. Even if you have to do it, be graceful, just don’t disappear. Remember we, recruiters have a memory of an elephant.
I am sure, this going to help you with your current job search or in future, if you are interested to know more, then jus reach out to me and I will be happy to be your guide.
And if you are looking for What you should DO as a job seeker, then wait for my next blog… All the best.
Stay awesome
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