As I mentioned in Part 1, job search can be challenging. Here are my last 4 common pitfalls and how you can avoid them:

Pitfall #5: Not Being Open to Try New Job Search Methods

In this job market you are going to have very little success if all you do is answer a handful of posted jobs.

The Solution: Put Yourself Out There and Do Something New

My clients who are having success right now are the ones that are using direct mail programs, learning how to research and use strategies to tap into the hidden job market (actually quite easy) and learning how to leverage LinkedIn to pull opportunities to them.

Pitfall #6: Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket

I worked with a client once who secured three interviews a week after I sent this client her final resume copies.

She was so excited and I was excited for her. But when I asked her how her job search strategies were going, she said she was just waiting for her immediate interviews to pan out before she did anything else. Though I encouraged her not to do this, her mind was made up.

Six weeks later, all three potential job opportunities fell through and my client was left with an empty basket and the daunting task of starting all over again from scratch.

The Solution: Keep Going

You can avoid this pitfall by keeping your pipeline full and your job search activities consistent until your first day at your new company.

Pitfall #7: No Strategy

In order to be successful in your job search, you MUST have a foundation of basic goals and a clear understanding of your driving motivators. If you don’t, you aren’t going to know what to focus on or where to best invest your time and energy.

I have worked with job seekers who when they first came to me shared that they had been in “I’ll know it when I see it” job search mode for over a year with nothing to show for it.

The Solution: Know What You Want

Know what industries you are targeting and why, what your salary goals are, your time frame, and your basic game plan before trying to move forward. You’ll be so glad you did!

Pitfall #8: Work/Life Imbalance

You can’t job search 8 hours a day. Well, you can, but if you do you will probably be feeling drained and burnt out in no time at all.

During a job search you will most likely be experiencing more stress than normal, so it’s important that you take better care of yourself and take more time off then perhaps you are accustomed.

This isn’t a luxury! It’s actually a vital part of your successful job search.

The Solution: Strike a Balance

Eat right, get plenty of rest and do plenty of those things you love to do. This way you will have lots of energy for creativity and strategy. You will be rested, clear-headed and enthusiastic in your job interviews, which will make a positive impression.

So, if you see yourself in any one of pitfalls, take heart and use these simple techniques to break through the hurdles so you can stay focused and confident as you move toward the career opportunity you really want!