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Let’s be honest: searching for a job is difficult enough without accidentally making it even harder. In the 25 years I’ve been a career coach, I’ve seen job seekers unintentionally sabotage their own search—not because they’re lazy or unqualified, but simply because they don’t know what they don’t know, resulting in costly mistakes.
If you’ve felt stuck in a job search rut, or if you’re just getting started, be sure to avoid these all-too-common (and costly!) mistakes.
1. Relying only on online applications
Sure, applying online feels productive and is convenient. You can send out dozens of resumés with just a few clicks. But the problem is, everyone else is doing the exact same thing. Most online job postings get flooded with hundreds of applicants.
The other problem is, some of the job ads are ghost posts (fake ads for jobs that don’t even exist). Many of the best jobs aren’t even posted. Instead, they’re filled through networking and referrals.
How to get your foot in the door:
Be intentional about your networking. Reach out to people in your industry, ask for introductions, and don’t be afraid to set up informational interviews.
Resources:
If you don’t know what an informational interview is, or just need some pointers on networking and networking etiquette, check out paNASH’s on-demand video course, The Secrets of Successful Networking.
The cost of this course in both time and money is minimal (only $87) compared to the costly mistake of NOT following the tips in the course. And for a limited time, you can pay what you want for this course. The offer is good until April 30th, 2025. Email me directly for more details on how to name your own price.
Another great resource is my blog post entitled, “What Are the Best Alternatives to Online Job Boards?“
2. Sending a generic resumé to every job
I get it. You don’t have time to write a new resumé for every application. But a cookie-cutter resumé tells a recruiter you’re just going through the motions.
Hiring managers want to know you “get” what their company needs, and you’re the one who can provide it.
How to get your resumé seen:
Tailor your resumé to each job by determining which format works best with your work history, using keywords from the job posting, and highlighting results directly related to the position.
Resources:
In my on-demand video course, Resumé Secrets That Get You the Interview, I share a way to save you time in tailoring your resumé, making the application process less tedious and more efficient.
In this course, you’ll also learn which resumé format will work best for your unique situation. I’ve included resumé samples and downloadable templates to assist you.
This course is also available for $87, and includes several other common and costly mistakes to avoid on your resumé. Email me directly for more details on how to name your own price (offer good until April 30th, 2025).
3. Not being clear on what you want
Many job seekers think they’ll have a better shot if they stay open to anything. But vagueness doesn’t help you stand out. Instead, it makes it harder for others to help you. Also, it makes you look unfocused, which is another costly mistake, and a huge red flag to employers.
The clearer you are about what you want and what you’re good at, the more memorable and referable you become. And, the more attractive you’ll be to potential employers.
How to become memorable:
Get laser-focused on the roles, industries, and environments which match your strengths and values.
Resources:
My book, Purposeful Branding: Discovering How Your Gifts Can Help You Get Unstuck in Your Career and Best Serve Others, includes several strategies and exercises to help you discover your strengths, get focused, and articulate how you stand out above the competition to the right people.
It’s available on Amazon in paperback for $14.99, and on Kindle for $9.99. You can also get it for free with the purchase of the on-demand video course of the same title. This course is $87, and also part of the “name your own price” offer, good until April 30th, 2025. Email me directly for more details on how to name your own price.
4. Ignoring LinkedIn (or not using it effectively)
If you’ve been putting off updating your LinkedIn profile, or if you’re not using the platform at all, you could be missing out on big opportunities.
Recruiters use LinkedIn every single day to find talent. If your profile is outdated or invisible, you won’t show up in their searches.
How to get noticed on LinkedIn:
Polish up your headline and summary with relevant keywords, and make sure your experience section reflects your most recent accomplishments. Also, join groups relevant to your chosen industry, engage with posts, and publish your own posts. Bonus points for securing recommendations!
Resources:
For more tips on how to get noticed on LinkedIn, check out the following blog posts:
- How to Stop Looking Desperate on LinkedIn
- LinkedIn Etiquette You Need to Know When Networking Remotely
- How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out
5. Winging the interview
“Just be yourself” is popular advice, but it’s not enough. Interviews are a skill, and like any skill, they require preparation and practice.
I’ve seen it happen too many times in the mock interviews I’ve conducted where the candidate decided to wing it, and then got the deer-caught-in-headlights look when asked to tell about themselves.
What a costly mistake this would be if it happened in the actual job interview! And it does, all the time, for those who aren’t prepared.
How to give interviews that land job offers:
Research the company, prepare stories of past successes demonstrating your skills, and have questions of your own to ask. In fact, you can win the interview not only with your responses to the interviewer’s questions, but also with the type of questions you ask!
Resources:
My on-demand video course, Steps to Acing the Interview and Reducing Your Interview Anxiety, is a must-purchase for your job search preparation. It covers what you need to do before, during, and after each job interview.
Also, it shows you how to answer difficult interview questions, including behavioral type questions asking you to “tell about a time when…”
Finally, it gives suggestions for the kind of questions you should ask in the interview that will help you win a job offer.
In addition, the on-demand video course, The 3 Super Powers of Successful Job Seekers, is a course on advanced interview techniques rarely taught by other career coaches.
You can get both of these courses by paying only what you want, offer good until April 30th, 2025. Email me directly for more details on how to name your own price.
6. Not following up
Following up after an interview might feel awkward or pushy, but it’s a simple way to stand out and show you’re serious about the position.
How to stand out after the interview:
Always send a thank you letter within 24 to 48 hours after your interview. Thank your contact for their time and the opportunity for the interview. You can also use this letter to reiterate your interest in the job, or to include anything you wanted to mention in the interview but forgot to.
If you don’t hear anything back from the company after one to two weeks following your interview, it’s okay to politely and professionally follow up.
Resource:
For more tips on writing thank you notes, check out my blog post entitled, “How to Write the Best Thank You Notes for Your Interviews.”
7. Not negotiating the offer (the most costly mistake of all!)
It’s exciting to get an offer, especially if you’ve been searching for a while. But accepting the first number the company throws out could be the most costly mistake of all, potentially costing you tens of thousands of dollars.
For example, let’s say you get an initial offer of $100,000, and accept it without countering for $5,000 more (the most you can usually ask for without the hiring manager having to seek additional approval). Let’s also assume you’ll get at least the average cost-of-living raise each year, which is typically 2% to 3%, and you plan to stay in the job for at least five years.
You may think you’re only leaving $5,000 on the table. But do you realize in five years you’ll actually have lost out on as much as nearly $27,000 in overall earnings?
Our minds tend to look at the number of an extra $5,000 in the here and now, instead of what it will be worth over time and with cost-of-living raises added to it.
Most companies expect candidates to negotiate. Yet, only 37% of candidates actually do. And those who do, 70% to 85% of them get at least some of the amount they ask for, with over 50% receiving exactly what they ask for or more.
The worst a company can say is no. But often, they’ll say yes or meet you halfway.
How to negotiate a higher salary and make more money:
Always start by doing your research on what the average salary is for someone with your experience, skills, and education in the field you’re searching, and in your particular geographic location.
Consider more than just the dollar amount of the offer. Look also at benefits and perks.
Finally, determine how you will make your case for your request if you need to defend it. Your case should be based solely on what you bring to the table and are able to contribute to the benefit of the company. It should never include personal reasons why you need more salary (i.e., you just bought a new house, your kid needs braces, etc.).
Resources:
For more tips on salary negotiation, check out my blog post entitled, “Be Prepared, Not Scared, When It’s Time for Salary Negotiations.”
Also, one-on-one career coaching can help you with the specifics of your unique situation. And, it can help you frame your counter offer in a way it’s more likely to be accepted.
Need help avoiding or correcting these costly mistakes?
If you’re worried you might be making some of these mistakes, or you’re just tired of trying to figure it all out yourself, paNASH’s on-demand courses can help.
These video courses are available on demand so you can work at your own pace. They’re designed to walk you through every stage of the job search, from discovering what’s next to landing job offers
As stated several times above, for a limited time you can pay what you want for these courses (regularly priced at $87 each; excludes bonus courses and the course bundle). This offer is good until April 30th, 2025. For more details on how to name your own price, email me directly.
