Job hunting can be a full time gig. It’s not something you take lightly, nor should it be something that’s done in panic mode. For the average job seeker, the search brings much stress and uncertainty, and even dampens the spirit. When a job seeker is ill prepared to find a job, they find themselves making lots of mistakes that prolongs their job search.

Here are six common mistakes that job seekers make over and over and never seem to learn from.

Applying to every job just to get in front of recruiters or hiring managers. I know unemployment mandates that you apply to a certain amount of jobs per week. But that doesn’t mean you apply to every single job you see. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t put you in front of a recruiter or hiring manager faster. It irritates them and shows that you have no idea what you’re looking for nor did you bother to read the job listing to see if you’re qualified. Take the time to read each job listing and match them up to your skills and experience. If they match, apply, if not, keep it moving. What I suggest is submitting a cover letter that clearly outlines your related experience and mentions your interest in other positions that may be suitable. It is perfectly fine to list the additional positions in the cover letter, but make sure you show why you’re a fit. You’ll have a better chance of being considered.

Failing to customize the resume to match the job you want AND for which you are qualified. I see so many candidates make a one size fits all resume and submit it for every job. The problem is that sometimes you might be a fit, but because of the wording of your resume, the recruiter may not see the fit right away. If I don’t see relevant experience, I’m going to pass on you as a candidate, and so do a lot of other recruiters; especially if you don’t have a cover letter attached. Please make sure you highlight the comparable skills and experience for the position so the recruiter doesn’t have to play mind reader. It’s perfectly OK to have different versions of a resume, but make sure you keep track of them and label them by your name (not Resume-Engineering1, or Tom’s Resume Backup).  And don’t send multiple versions of a resume to the same recruiter!

Neglecting to network. it pains me when people complain that networking doesn’t work for them, yet all they’ve done is attend the local meet & greet and pass out a few cards. That’s not networking! It is building real relationships and leveraging them for a give and take, mutually beneficial proposition. You have to get to know people (preferably key players in your industry and community) to get places. Focus on the people you know, then expand out and ask for introductions to the people who are successful in your industry. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people or ask for introductions as long as you’re willing to provide value. It has to be a mutual relationship and you can’t just turn to people when you need something. You should be working on these relationships all year long, not just when you are in need. If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.

Not taking advantage of social media to market their brand and message. We live in a socially viral world. Almost everyone is online. Social media isn’t just for kids and college students. Recruiters and decision makers use it. And while they may not be actively involved, believe that they are watching. Use the medium to refine and promote your brand. What are you an expert in? Whatever it is, you should be using tools that allow you to share this knowledge. Podcasts, videos, blogs, online magazines, online discussion forums, etc are all great tools to use to get your brand in front of people. If you don’t know what to use or how to use it, get help. And be sure that your audience (influencers, recruiters, decision makers) are using or have access to the medium. Create your strategy then get to work. You’ve got a brand to build and market.

Not learning the proper way to work with recruiters. Not every recruiter is meant to help you, and not every recruiter wants to help you. First you must learn the difference and their functions. In house or corporate recruiters work for the company directly. They are charged with filling positions for their hiring managers with ideal talent. They must get it right and are held to a high standard when finding talent. Retained or Executive Search recruiters are hired or contracted by companies exclusively to work on specific jobs. They are the only recruiters working on these positions and have taken over where in house recruiters couldn’t deliver. They are specialists and usually work with high level and hard to fill positions. And Contingency recruiters (which a majority are) work for recruitment firms who are asked by companies to find talent, but they aren’t exclusive. They are one of many firms and they only get paid if they are the one who delivers a hire. They work more on volume instead of quality. And they are not usually specialists. They happen to cover different industries for their agency. They get paid by the firm so there is no loyalty to candidates. The key to working with a recruiter is understanding what they specialize in and keeping the lines of communication open during the process. A recruiter relationship will only go as far as they will allow it.

Failing to follow up (or following up too frequent). Some people apply for or interview with companies but never follow up to find out the disposition or even to let them know they are still interested. They figure they’ve done their part and either they’ll hire them or not. Wrong attitude. You must keep the lines of communication open as long as that position is not filled. Checking in is not a crime, in fact, it should be a crime to NOT follow up. Candidates who disappear are thought to be uninterested in a position. So make sure you follow up. Alternatively, following up too much can get you labeled a pest. It is not necessary to follow up every week. As a recruiter their preference on following up and then respect that.

If you make a conscious effort to eliminate these six mistakes, you’ll have a better job hunting experience. Good luck!

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle!

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Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.