Joyce Richman: Don’t make these common mistakes
Joyce Richman: Don’t make these common mistakes
I’m often asked to describe some of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make. Here are just a few to avoid:A telephone voice that sounds depressed. If you come off as if you’re really feeling down about your job search, that’s a red flag to networking contacts, references or potential employers. They want to talk with people who sound positive, energetic and ready to work, no matter how desperate their situation may be.
A telephone voice that sounds like you don’t have a clue what you’re looking for. If you don’t know what you want, prospective employers don’t have time or the inclination to figure that out for you. They want to talk with people who know who they are, what they do and how they can make a difference to employers where they work.
A voice that sounds annoyed. If you’re frustrated that you’re not getting calls back, irritated that you’re disrespected and angry that you’re even in this situation, don’t take it out on the person who answered the phone and is in a position to help you. If you’re in that sorry state of mind, get out of it before you make a call, go to an interview, or even so much as send an e-mail.
A single search strategy that limits your options. If you work one strategy at the expense of another, then you’re restricting your options instead of expanding your reach. Combine networking with an online search, which will help you identify more opportunities and uncover people who can show you the way to them.
Commiserating while networking. This is a bad idea unless you need sympathy more than you need a job. When you start your conversation by swapping “ain’t it awful” stories with job leads, you’re sending a very clear message: You’re not ready to work. Your networking contact, in an effort to be sympathetic to your situation, might unwittingly invite that negative discourse. Don’t go there. Once started, it’s a spiral that’s hard to reverse. Instead, take the lead and talk about how well you’re doing and how excited you are about working where you can really make a difference. Not having a Plan B. If all you have is Plan A, you’re likely to finish short of the goal. Plan A is what you want most: a job you want to do at a place you want to be. Plan B is a job you want to do at a place you’ve yet to discover.
Looking clueless. If you’re lucky enough to land an interview, get there on time with your briefcase or portfolio, your résumé, and a notepad and pen. Leave your lunch, your water bottle and your best friend in the car.
Acting over the top. Being assertive is good, but being aggressive is bad. Being persistent is good, but being relentless is bad. Being persuasive is good, but being manipulative is bad. Having confidence is good, but showing arrogance is bad. Know the differences.
Joyce Richman is a career coach and author of “Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job” and “Roads, Routes & Ruts: A Guidebook for Career Success.” Read her blog at www.richmanresources.com and watch her latest career advice Wednesdays at 6:35 a.m. on WFMY News 2. Contact Richman at 288-1799 or JERichman@aol.com.
