4 Ways To Ruin Your Job Search (and Even Your Career)

The job market is making a slow comeback, but still many people are finding it hard to find a good job. Sometimes it's because there just aren't many openings in their area and sometimes it's because they are guilty of making a few mistakes that really hurt their prospects. Especially for those who haven't been in the position of having to look for work in the last few years, the new way of finding work can be confusing. Rookie mistakes are nothing to be ashamed of, all you can do is try to self-correct and move forward.



There are four things that many (and I mean, Many) people do, or fail to do, that really hurts their job prospects. If you're wondering why you're having a hard time landing the job you want, it's a good idea to make sure that you aren't doing any of these things.



Having a sloppy or too long resume - If you've sent out hundreds of resumes and haven't gotten much more than a few nibbles, maybe there is something wrong with your resume. It could be poor spelling, multiple errors, bad formatting or maybe it's just too long. These days, a resume is much more than a standard work history. Instead, it is a marketing tool that should capture the reader's attention. It should give a clear picture of who you are, what you're good at and why hiring you is a sound business decision. You should only highlight the main points of your career and make sure that your resume tells a story. You don't have to list every job you've ever had, especially if the work experience is unrelated.



Not knowing what you're good at - This one is really difficult for some people. When you're trying to build a career, you have to be able to do some tough self reflection to determine where your strengths lie. Maybe the career you want isn't what you're good at. One of the best things you can do for your career is to do a strength analysis. By having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, you'll know how to move your career, and your job search, forward.



Not caring about your online presence - Do you have personal photos of you partying with friends on your Facebook? Do you frequently use social networking sites like Twitter to complain about your life, your boss, your parents or life in general? Do you get involved in flame wars on websites? If so, you should know that most employers do a web search on you in order to get a better idea of who you are. If they see that you like to party, are quick to complain about everything and frequently attack those who have different opinions, they aren't going to be in a rush to hire you. You might not think that it's fair, but it's still true.



Poor communication skills - In the workplace, how you talk and how you carry yourself are very important. If you sound unprofessional, most employers will assume that you are. It might not be fair, but people develop an opinion about you after only 30 seconds. Make those seconds count by taking and behaving in a professional manner. Make success your image. If you aren't sure about how you are presenting yourself, ask a couple close friends whose opinions you trust to give you an honest critique. You might be surprised at what they tell you. Don't take it personally and use the information to grow and move forward in your career.



If you are still struggling to find work, look at every step of the process and honestly assess which things are working and which are holding you back. It's a difficult process because the truth hurts, no matter how thick-skinned you are. The key is to move past it and use the knowledge as a platform to jump forward.



What do you think about these mistakes? Have you been guilty of any of these? Please share your thoughts in the comments.