8 Mistakes You’re Making in Your Job Search – Correct Them!

One of the most stressful aspects of a person’s life is looking for work. It’s especially difficult if the position you’re looking for requires specific levels of experience or you don’t meet all of the qualifications.

If you’ve submitted hundreds of applications and attended dozens of interviews and still haven’t had success (or, worse, no interviews), it’s possible that the job market isn’t “tight right now.” You want a good job, and blaming your situation will not help you get one.

If this describes you, it’s time to examine what you’re doing wrong. Here are eight reasons why you won’t be hired in the construction, engineering, or environmental industries.

You are not engaging in networking.

It’s been said that your network is your net worth. This is as true today as it was in the past. Despite the fact that the internet has made it much easier to find new opportunities, you cannot avoid human interaction.

Attend networking events and speak with employees from the company you want to work for. Building relationships with people who have access to what you want will never fail you. Because of the connections that can be made, networking events have tremendous value. Don’t limit yourself to only talking to people who work at your dream company. Speak with everyone who goes there. It never hurts to become an expert at interacting with others, and you might find even better opportunities than you anticipated.

You have no idea how to market yourself.

Many people associate selling with negativity. They consider selling to be greedy and untrustworthy. This is false because everyone is constantly selling something. Whether you’re in an interview, on a date, or negotiating a raise, you’re selling the other person on why you deserve what you want.

You must be clear and confident in your communication, both in your resume and during the interview. Employers want to know that you truly possess the skills and knowledge required to improve their company and current projects.

Your resume lacks quantifiable accomplishments.

This is possibly something you’ve heard before. Employers are impressed by proof of ability when deciding who to hire for their team. That proof comes in the form of specific, measurable results.

It’s not enough to say you “aided a company in increasing sales or completing a project.” When discussing your accomplishments, you must use analytics and numbers. Saying that you “increased sales by 38% each quarter” is not only more credible, but it also distinguishes you to the hiring manager as someone who is likely to bring them success.

You simply do not care about the job.

I understand. You’d rather work somewhere else doing something different, so you’re not interested in anything less. This is risky because employers can detect a lack of interest.

It’s difficult to pretend to be enthusiastic about something you don’t care about. If you don’t think you’ll enjoy your job or the company, don’t apply. It will save both of you time interviewing and acting uninterested.

You haven’t completed your homework.

One of the most common interview questions is why you want to work for the company. They want to see you doing the work before you start, especially if you’re going into a sales-related role.

Investigate the company as if it were a potential client to whom you would have to make a sale. When it comes time to answer this question, you’ll be able to confidently respond with what you’ve learned about the company and why it impresses you. You should also be able to confidently explain how you will add value to the company.

You lack the necessary qualifications.

It’s difficult to get around this one. It can be difficult to obtain the necessary qualifications that employers require. Just keep in mind that their desire is to see that you know how to do the job in question, that you can do it well, or that you can learn it quickly.

There are workarounds available. Assume you’re applying for a sales position. They want you to have three years of experience, but you only have one. You can show them the measurable results you’ve achieved while working on company projects. If you’ve worked for yourself, you can show them the results you’ve obtained, which distinguishes you as a go-getter.

You don’t appear to be self-assured.

Interviews are difficult for anyone who does not excel at public speaking. When you’re with people you’ve known for a while, you’re probably as talkative as you can be. You might even be self-assured at an event where you’re surrounded by people you’ve never met before.

That doesn’t matter in the interview room. It all boils down to them wanting to hire someone who will produce results. If you walk in with sweaty palms, weak knees, and heavy arms, you know what you need to work on the next time you apply for the job.

Practice is essential in this situation. The best practice is in the situation you’re practicing for, so conducting multiple interviews will get you comfortable with the process. If you are unable to do so, practice in front of a mirror or with a friend. However, do not jot down answers and attempt to memorize them. That will make you reliant on those specific questions. You’ll be nervous if they ask you different questions because you didn’t prepare for them. Simply practice and get used to the sensation of interviewing.

You come across as arrogant.

There is a fine line between being confident and being arrogant. You must demonstrate to the employer that you are capable of doing the job, but you must not act as if you are entitled to it.

These are some things to consider if you aren’t getting the job you want. Now that you’re aware of the mistakes you might be making, take the initiative to learn from them. It is up to you to improve your situation.