How to Derail Your Job Search

How to Derail Your Job Search How to Derail Your Job Search If youre searching for a job, you face a hard enough market these days without making things even worse by sabotaging your own efforts.Here are eight ways that you might derail your job search without realizing it1. Not bothering to apply because youre sure you wont get the job. Sure, if its a wild reach, put your time into other opportunities. But if you can make a reasonable case for yourself, then you shouldnt write off an opening just because you assume that others will be better qualified than you. For some jobs, hiring managers may be willing to take a risk on a less-experienced candidate who brings other strengths. Youll never find out if you dont try.2. Obsessing over your resume and titelblatt letter, to the point that you miss application deadlines or dont apply at all. It doesnt matter how perfect your cover letter is if no one ever sees it. If you tend to agonize and put off applying while you work to get things perfect, set yourself a time limit No more than 30 minutes spent per cover letter, and once you start writing one, you must send it that same day.3. Not bothering with a cover letter at all. If youre applying for jobs without sending in a cover letter, youre missing out on one of the fruchtwein effective ways to grab an employers attention. A cover letter gives you a chance to make a compelling case for yourself as a candidate, totally aside from whats on your resume. Some job seekers convince themselves that because some hiring managers dont read cover letters, none of them do- which is far from true. At a time when most job seekers are wondering how they can stand out in a crowded field, a great cover letter is one of the best ways to strengthen your chances of getting noticed.4. Being shy about telling people that youre looking for a job. If youre hesitating to let your network, family, and friends know that youre looking for work, hesitate no longer. Theres no shame in being on the job market its very common, and most people are glad to help if they can. So let people know that youre looking You never know who in your network might know of an opening for which youd be perfect.5. Getting defensive about a job that didnt work out. If youre asked about a job from which you were fired, you dont need to give an exhaustive account of what happened. Most einstellungsgesprchers are only looking for a few sentences and wont expect a detailed account. Be brief and to the point, upbeat, and dont sound defensive or angry.6. Being bitter and letting it show. Its easy to start feeling pessimistic if you put a lot of time into applying for jobs and it hasnt paid off with an offer. But if youre bitter, itll almost certainly show when you talk to employers, and that will kill your candidacy faster than a spotty resume or bad interview answer ever could.7. Not showing your enthusiasm for the job. Sometimes I interview a candidate and end up unsure if shes even particularly interested in the job. If youre excited about the job, say so Hiring managers are human- we like it when we feel a real interest from you.8. Being too quick to assume that youre out of the running, so not following up. After a job interview, do you obsess over all the little mistakes you think you made, and beat yourself up for not giving different answers? Some people take this to such an extreme that they decide they obviously failed the interview, and so they dont bother to do any follow-up. Obsess if you must, but dont let it deter you from following up after the interview to reiterate your interest. Your self-assessment may not line up with theirs.Alison Green writes the popular Ask a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search, and management issues. Shes also the author of Managing to Change the World The Nonprofit Leaders Guide to Getting Results and former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management , hiring, firing, and employee development.