It's amazing, though understandable, that so many people are pursuing their job search in ways that are apt to yield no results. That's because today's job search has a lot in common with white water rafting - you have to be "all in" with no lukewarm efforts, know the terrain, and make constant adjustments. And not everyone has an easy time accepting that the old job search is gone for good.
The job search environment is more complex and requires greater sophistication to navigate than ever before. To avoid getting stalled in a job search, do NOT do these 8 things:
1. Email your resume to your list of contacts and assume you've done your networking
2. Failed to get your resume into the hands of the right people at all of your target companies
3. Spend significant time searching on job boards and company websites looking for jobs to apply to
4. Put your profile up on LinkedIn without attention to keywords and your personal/career brand and assume that "if you build it they will come"
5. Spend just a few hours per week on your job search
6. Conduct your entire job search from home without making appointments to meet with networking contacts and hiring authorities
Be aware that the new job search is a social search - involving LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, among many other sites. These are places hiring authorities are looking for candidates. And they are places you can also create networking opportunities times 10.
The new job search is also more competitive. Recruiters want 10 out of 10 of their requirements met. Because hiring authorities can often find someone who matches their needs on LinkedIn, you need to do more than just wait. Particularly if you have 7, 8, or 9, but not 10 of the desired qualifications.
Use alternative job search methods that will produce direct face-to-face contact with decision makers, a context in which you can pitch your value. To get results, you also need to spend serious time each week looking for the right job.
The savvy job seeker of 2012 has mastered new skills that will hold him or her in good stead for now and into the future - understanding that new changes are sure to come that will require further adaptive skills.
Cross-posted with a few changes on Jean Cummings' blog: http://www.aResumeForToday.com/high-tech-resumes/
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