Searching for the right job can be a little tricky. We all have sailed in the same boat of hunting for the perfect job with the perfect salary package, right? There are so many of us out there who tend to ignore the red flags before applying for the job and such blunders often end up tarnishing your career, making it time-consuming for both you and the employer. With so much for you to do, it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of possible pitfalls you might encounter along the way.

Let us go through some of the top and common mistakes job seekers make and how one can avoid them –

1. Job Searching Without A Plan:Make a quick checklist before you start sending out resumes to random companies. Always plan out and prepare yourself for the job hunt. For example; your checklist should consist of the possible companies you want to work with depending on your field of interest, later shortlisting them as per the favorable work culture, future prospects and opportunities you can gain from the company, location of the office in case traveling (if distance really matters), salary perks being offered. Once you have filtered the companies as per the factors that matter to you, only then you must send out the resume. This method is going to really save you a lot of time and provide you with only quality and relevant list of companies.

2. Applying Only on Limited Job Portals Not Keeping Resume Updated:Just by uploading your resume on one job portal is not going to get you noticed. Explore various portals online because nowadays employers prefer to hire candidates through the latest talent acquisition platformswhich are powered by artificial intelligence. This technique is going to help the employer understand you (candidate) better in-depth. Make sure that you as a job seeker is available everywhere online with an updated resume. Employers like to contact candidates whose resume is updated; portals suggest employers when did the candidate last updated their resume. Updating your resume with certifications, courses (in case you have done any) and latest work experience will help the employer understand if you are a good fit for the company.

3. Not Utilizing or Building A Network the Right Way:Thoughtful networking is all about making contacts and building relationships that can lead to job opportunities and provides a focused way to communicate to people about your job hunt. Don’t be an introvert or hesitate when it comes to reaching out to people in your network who can possibly help you in getting a job in the company you wish to join. The person who will lose out on possible job opportunities will be you and only you. Be attentive and confident when you are around people. While networking if a person gives you any leads or referrals, be sure to ask for permission to use the person’s name. Prepare yourself before you speak about yourself as this might just be an informal interview in which you are going to create a first and last impression.

If done right, it can help you gain leads, recommendations, guidance, information, and support from well-connected people in the industry.

4.Accepting Jobs That are Just not Right: By now we know that job hunting is not a piece of cake, and sometimes after a lot of efforts, you can get desperate. This is exactly where people stop caring about a Happy Career and get desperate for any job and this is exactly the time where you need to be strong. Instead of giving up, try to know yourself better, take some free personality assessments like MindMatch which uses AI to guide you towards a career that is just right for you. There are even job search engines and job portals that suggest jobs that are compatible with your inherent and acquired skills.

5.Apply for Jobs That Match Inherent and Acquired Skills – Each one of us possesses certain talent and skills that make us unique from the rest. Inherent skills are the ones you are born with, but few skills that are acquired comes with constant practice, learning and years of experience. Cherry-pick jobs employers that’s asking for skills that match both the skills especially inherent.  Learn how to steer this possible combination from the beginning, your job hunt will yield you more positive results! It can give you a leg up over the competition. So, don’t be stressed and make sure to plan out your job-hunting period efficiently.