Common Job Search Mistakes Fresh Graduates Make And How to Avoid Them

Searching your first dream job is  thrilling yet challenging task. Packed with excitement and a touch of nervousness, you may wonder, “Am I doing this right?” The answer is, yes! While the job search can be competitive, avoiding these common mistake will put you ahead of the game and increase your chances of landing that dream role.

Mistake #1: Too much information on your resume.

You’ve got extensive experience and proficiency you really want recruiters to know it – so you over mug your resume with your entire history whether it’s relevant or not. This impulse is understandable, but it only serves to create a cluttered mess that confuses the HR professionals who read your resume.

Solution: Streamline your resume for easier reading.

Even if you have a wide and extensive work experience/history, limit it down to only include the previous jobs that are significant/appropriate to the position you are applying for. For better clarity, you can also use bullets points to lay your job duties and make it easier for recruiters to quick look at  your resume and sum up your work experience at one glance.

 

Mistake #2: Not optimizing your resume for keyword scanning.

So, you’ve sent out your resume to jobs that you know you’re qualified for, but you don’t get a single response. This usually happens when your resume lacks keywords. Many companies uses a kind of software named Applicant Tracking Systems, a software that scans resumes for keywords based on the job description. Companies receive many applications for a single job opening, so they use keyword scanners to find more prompt resumes with work experiences related to the openings posted.

Solution: Use relevant keywords from the job listing.

Look through the job description for words and phrases the company uses often and add these to your resume. Make sure your job titles are all pertinent to the position you’re applying for. Focus should be on matching those job titles to some extent for their given qualifications, avoiding overuse stuffing of keywords. Sentences like “My administrative service skills in administration services engages in giving administrative service to our clients” this may help in prior stages, but these tricks are more likely to be noticed by the hiring managers once they see your resume.

 

Mistake #3: Communication Errors.

Typos, run-on sentences, and confusing formatting on your cover letter and resume will prevent you from getting called in for an interview – no matter how perfect you are for an open position. Our company conducted an audit of 50 active resumes on Indeed.com, and we learned that the average job seeker makes six grammar mistakes on their resume. Six!

Solution: Dedicate an extra 10mins (longer for more comprehensive applications) to carefully checking the errors of work before you send to potential employers to ensure that it is intact. Professionalism is often judged by your ability to communicate clearly, so if you lack the skills to check your work seek out an eagle-eyed friend or employ the skills of proofreading software program like Grammarly.

 

Mistake #4: Applying for every job that exists.

You are eager and excited to get work, so why not boost your odds by sending your resume to every company in the four-state area? While common and understandable, the problem is that you end up wasting your time with scattershot submissions – time that can instead be used to find better job offers as per your qualifications and skills for, which in-turn increases your chances of getting hired faster.

Solution: Be selective in your job search.

Sit down with your resume and figure out what exactly you’re looking for in a new job. What salary do you need? Do you need to work full-time or part-time? Remote work or commuting to the office? Ask yourself what kinds of jobs you’re most excited about and focus on those listings.

Once you’ve narrowed down your focus, feel free to use a more scattershot approach when applying for jobs. Maybe the job description sounds a bit vague and a little out of your reach – send them a resume anyway. Even an uninspired job listing can sometimes lead to an attractive and exciting interviews with new and better career opportunities.

 

Mistake #5: Being assertive or rude to recruiters.

You may have heard some version of this story: A man hurrying to get to a job interview cuts off somebody in traffic, or takes their parking spot, or doesn’t hold the elevator for them – only to discover that the person they offended was the person conducting their interview.

While this incident may not happen to you, it’s important to remember that the person conducting these interviews are humans too, and it’s important to treat them with the same respect you would expect for yourself.

Solution: Take a deep breath and keep your calm.

Job searching is hard, and it’s easy to feel frustrated at the exceedingly slow pace people at your dream job are moving. While this frustration is normal, make sure to be courteous and professional to the people you interact with during your job search – especially receptionists and random people you see around the office. Kindness is golden. After the interview, write a thank-you email and check in again a week later. If you’re interested in applying again in the future, it’s important to be kind when following up on these job applications, even if you don’t get the job.

 

Mistake #6: Losing faith in yourself.

For some, the hardest part of a job search is keeping yourself motivated and having the same energy. Sure, you expect a certain number of rejections, but getting turned down by multiple companies is a bit tough to except – especially when they’re positions you are eager to work in.

Solution: Take a break and regroup.

Rejection can exhaust even the toughest job seeker. Sometimes you need to take a break from the job search and try a different approach. Instead of sending out applications, you need to put an extra effort in making network with friends and other professionals in your field. You can also send out your resume to have analyzed and examined by an industry professional, who will advise and suggest for improvements.

After you’ve taken some time to regroup, it’s important to get back into the search. If you’re feeling down on yourself, remember that many people are in the same boat you’re in, and every rejection prepares you for that last and final interview when the recruiter finally tells you those four magic words – “the job is yours”.