Fear and loathing in the labor market : Desperation, and six other mistakes job-seekers should avoid

From Marketwatch | July 25, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Economists call it the labor market, but
for job hunters competing with almost 15 million unemployed workers, it
probably feels more like a labor jungle.

And many economists expect the current 9.5% unemployment rate to get
worse before it gets better, possibly topping 10% -- a situation not
seen since the early 1980s, when for a 10-month period the jobless rate
hovered between 10% and 10.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.

In times like these, bad news isn't hard to find. But jobs are -- and
job seekers are all too aware of it. That alone can have negative
ramifications, some experts say.

"Job hunters, because they are so fearful and full of anxiety, the way
they are approaching job hunting is more off base than ever," said
Andrea Kay, a career consultant and author of "Work's a Bitch and Then
You Make It Work."

They're "not taking time to think about strategy," Kay said. "They're merely reacting."

Hide your desperation

When asked about the biggest mistakes job seekers are making, the three
most-cited problems were "too desperate/willing to take anything,"
"poor interview preparation" and "weak resumes," according to a survey
of 500 executive recruiters conducted for TheLadders.com, a career site
for executives.

In this job market it's not surprising people are "willing to take
anything." Still, career experts say it's important to spend time
digging up information on jobs that are well suited to you, rather than
applying to any open position.

"It's not about how many jobs you apply to; it's applying to the right
one," said Alex Douzet, president and co-founder of TheLadders.com.
"The skill and preparation is in narrowing down the right job for you."

The right strategy is not complicated, Kay said. "A good job hunter has
two jobs: They should be discovering the problems that employers have
for which they need help and then they should be presenting themselves
as the solution."

Is the company struggling to stay in business? Developing a new
product? "What are their issues that I as an IT person or a marketing
person or a customer-service person can help them with?" Kay said.

Others agreed that in job hunting, strategy is all-important. "Even
during good times, there are still people competing for virtually every
job listing," said Richard Bolles, author of "The Job-Hunter's Survival
Guide" and "What Color Is Parachute?"

"During hard times, you have to have better job-hunting skills to compete," he said.

Developing a strategy can help you focus your search and, ideally, help
you overcome that sense of desperation. Also, consider these other
mistakes to avoid when job-hunting:

1. Relying solely on ads and online job sites

Jobs often are not advertised, and the only way to find them is by
networking. "Many employers prefer not to advertise on the Internet.
They prefer to fill vacancies in more personal ways. Job hunters who go
on the Internet, typically only 10% or less" are successful, Bolles
said.

That means finding and contacting companies that can use your skills,
Kay said. "Find a live human being there that you can connect to so
you're not just another resume coming in the door."

Contact that person via email or telephone, and say, for instance, "I
understand you're in the process of rolling out a new product. I would
like to talk to you about how I can support you in this," Kay said.
Also send your resume and a letter "packed with reasons for them to
want to talk to you."

At small to mid-size firms, try simply walking in the door, resume in
hand -- but keep in mind that not all employers appreciate this.

"Get yourself looking professional. Walk into reception. 'I understand
you posted an ad for this. I know it said to email the resume. I
personally wanted to drop one off,'" Hosking said. "It shows tremendous
initiative to be able to do that. It sets you apart from 90% of job
seekers out there, and it gets your resume to the top of the pile in
hardcopy."

Still, at a larger company, you'll likely need to find somebody to drop
off your resume for you, Bolles said. In that case, your network, as
well as online sites such as LinkedIn can be invaluable for making
connections.

2. Don't make your resume a list of activities

Job seekers often think their resume is for listing "everything I've
ever done in my life," TheLadders.com's Douzet said. "No, no, no. This
is a marketing vehicle. This is your company brochure. It's your brand
statement. It's got to tell your story."

Focus on detailing your achievements, not listing what you've done.
Quantify your successes, whether in dollars or time saved for your
previous company, or in customers retained, experts said.

Also, your resume should be tailored to fit the company's job
description so it catches the eye of the person doing the initial
resume sorting. Also, your resume's story should parallel what you say
in the interview. "When I meet with you and I've read your story on
paper," Douzet said, "there shouldn't be a disconnect."

More resume rules: Two pages maximum, and no colored paper or cute
graphics, Hosking said. If you drop off your resume, use a slightly
heavier paper so it stands out from the stack the company printed out
from emails.

3. Don't go to the interview unprepared

If the company recently made an acquisition or unveiled a new product,
you need to know, and be able to speak intelligently about the
company's needs and culture. "Companies loved to be loved, just as much
as individuals," Bolles said.

Another way to prepare: Come up with two or three messages you want to
get across to hiring managers. Again, tailor these to match the job
description, Douzet said. Why? More than one person is going to have to
approve hiring you.

"These people are going to get together later and discuss your
candidacy," Douzet said. "They have to remember something about you and
they have to convince each other that you are the right person to do
the job."

If you've presented a coherent story about your achievements and how
they fit the job's requirements, you're more likely to be considered as
a contender.

Winning at the interview

4. Don't confuse 'networking' with asking for work

Networking is about developing relationships, Kay said. Contact people
you know to ask for advice; don't ask for work. Tap their expertise
about their industry and company, and what advice they have for you on
the job hunt.

Also, don't ask chance acquaintances for a reference, but tap them for
information on their firm's hiring process, its culture and even the
name and number of the person doing the hiring.

Networking "is developing relationships that may not have an immediate
payoff tomorrow but certainly in the long run are very helpful," said
Judith Applebaum, director of career services at the University of
Buffalo.

5. Don't treat support staff poorly

Sixty-one percent of executives said they considered their assistant's
opinion important when evaluating job candidates, according to an
OfficeTeam survey. "No matter how stressed you get, keep in mind that
if you're not as nice to the front desk person as you could be, that
information always gets back," Hosking said.

6. Failing to tap resources

Many college career offices offer their services to alumni of all ages, Applebaum said.

"At the University of Buffalo we provide individual assistance through
career counseling, we have vacancy listings, resume databases that we
offer to employers, job fairs [and] networking opportunities with
employers and with alumni," she said.

Also, search for local nonprofit and for-profit career-counseling
agencies, she said. Along with networking opportunities, support groups
can help job seekers maintain a positive attitude.

Finally, while you're job-hunting, consider volunteering or taking a
class at a local college. The experience will keep you connected and
may lead to achievements that will serve you well on your resume.

Andrea Coombes is an assistant personal finance editor for MarketWatch, based in San Francisco.