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The 15 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job Hunters

Start your job search smart by avoiding these pitfalls and following these tips straight from career coaches and job recruiters.

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An April 2011 survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco Staffing U.S. found that 71 percent of 500 recent four-year college graduates would have done something differently to prepare for the job market. While U.S. employers will hire 4 percent more graduates from the class of 2018 than they did from the 2017 graduating class, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers are still looking for the pick of the litter.

“When you’re not familiar with the job market or job seeking, you really don’t know how much effort it will take,” said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management for Adecco NA in Melville, New York.

To find out what students can do to better prepare for the current job market, we spoke with career coaches, recruiters, and recent graduates.

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“I would have started looking for jobs earlier.”

Putting off your job hunt isn’t a wise move. Among the Adecco survey’s respondents, 26 percent said they would have started looking for potential positions earlier.

“It’s easy to fall into ‘my weekend starts on Thursday’ mode, rather than ‘I’ve got to put my job search into full gear today’ mode,” said Kane, “but procrastinators will have fewer choices.”

Most students don’t start thinking about their careers until they have to, said Lindsey Pollak, a career expert who focuses on Generation Y in the workplace. “There’s so much you can do that’s not a lot of work and not overly time-consuming.”

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“I would have actually networked.”

For students and older professionals alike, networking can feel like the most dreaded part of a job hunt. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to the Adecco survey said they would have spent more time building a solid professional network.

“Networking can be scary,” said Pollak, “but about 70 percent of jobs are found through networking.” Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts and alumni, and spend only 30 percent of their time looking at job listings.

For the most part, Pollak said, people love to help students. As long as you are gracious and thankful and not trying to hard-sell yourself right off the bat, potential connections are likely to be receptive.

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“I would have taken on a job or an internship in addition to my courseload.”

Bottom line: There’s no substitute for experience.

Having some professional experience under your belt before entering the workforce has become a necessity for many employers.

“I don’t know a company that doesn’t want people with internship experience,” said Pollak. “My advice is to get yourself through the recession any way you can, and come out with whatever experience you can.”

Look for internships that provide college credit or are paid. Otherwise, gain work experience in a setting such as waiting tables—and talk with people at each and every table. “There are CEOs who started networking while they were waiting tables,” Pollak said.

If you can’t find a full- or part-time position on- or off-campus, try going to the Internet for virtual work. “There are jobs you can get without even leaving your dorm room,” Pollak said, including maintaining someone’s social media outlets, working as a copy editor or building a website for a small business. Many of these types of jobs have flexible hours, an added benefit for busy students.

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“I would have gotten more involved in career-relevant extracurricular activities.”

On-campus groups, clubs, events, and activities are a great place to get experience that translates to the working world. Skills are skills. You can show you have gained relevant experience by planning concerts on campus or working as a freshman orientation assistant, for example.

“Everybody wants to hire people who understand how to manage projects, work alongside difficult people, and have built their communication skills,” said Kane. If you were on the dance team, and choreographed a group performance, for example, you’ve developed creative, leadership, and training abilities, all of which translate to the workplace.

Experts say it’s a matter of framing the extracurricular experience you’ve had in a professional way. Try thinking of your biggest accomplishments as a member or leader of an extracurricular group, and using them to brainstorm resume bullet points. As you brainstorm, keep in mind these top skills recruiters look for.

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“I would have applied for more jobs.”

Many recent graduates regret not putting out more feelers. According to the Adecco survey, 26 percent of recent graduates would have applied to more jobs prior to finishing school.

Putting your hat in the ring is the only way to be considered for most opportunities. The trick is to keep track of the applications you send out. “Sending in your application for hundreds of jobs on Monster.com will work against you,” said Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0. The more jobs you apply for, the more tempting it is to send out generic resumes.

Write your resume so it highlights your experience with each position’s requirements. Not sure what your relatable skill set is? Try creating a Venn diagram that illustrates all of the skills and experience you’ve developed. The overlap can indicate your primary strengths, and the remainder can help you see where you have specific skills related to your prospective industry.

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“I would have focused more on becoming ‘professional.'”

Save the sweatpants and fratty T-shirts for the weekend. Replace them with clothes that are fitted, pressed and at the very least casual-Friday appropriate even when you’re going to class. You may think dressing well every day doesn’t matter, but the professors you ask for recommendations will remember your style.

Another way to show your professionalism is to pick up the tab for networking coffees, and send thank-you notes for even a little bit of help. “If someone gives you advice, all you have to do is say thank you after the fact,” Pollak said.

And, of course, monitor your online appearance. Clean up and privacy-protect your Facebook accounts, start Tweeting interesting news (instead of which class you’re skipping), be careful where you “check-in” on your smartphone, and set up a solid LinkedIn profile, Pollak said. Add a signature line to your email account and set up a professional voicemail message. Make sure you’re not making any of these social media mistakes that could ruin your chances of getting hired.

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“I would have done more to figure out what my career goals were.”

Your first job out of college is unlikely to be your dream position, if you even know what that is. Indecision can hold you back, so set up some informational interviews to try to narrow your focus.

“It’s a rare gift at any age to know what your passion is,” said Bruce Tulgan, CEO of Rainmaker Thinking, a New Haven, Connecticut-based management consultancy that focuses on integrating generations in the workplace. “In 99 out of 100 cases, people start to learn about a career path, gain experience in something, and over time they become passionate about it.”

Don’t be afraid to try something that you’re initially lukewarm about, said Pollak. “I don’t believe in dead-end jobs when you’re early in your career,” she said, “because everything is experience.”

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“I would have gone to the career center.”

This is what they call a “no-brainer.” You might not think you need your university’s services, but there’s no reason to find out the hard way you did something wrong that could have been avoided.

“College students have an advantage other job seekers don’t—an on-campus career center staffed with people who have one purpose: to help students find jobs,” said Kane of Adecco. “Most career centers aren’t taken advantage of to their full extent.”

Once you get to know the counselors and they know what you’re looking for, they can tell you about new opportunities, Kane said. It’s also a good place to practice your elevator pitch, draft introductory emails or cover letters, perfect your resume, or any other measures you don’t want to run by friends or family members.

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“I would have kept better track of my achievements.”

Experts say that even on-campus accolades belong on your resume.

“Start creating tangible results with your name on them so you have evidence of your ability to add value,” said Tulgan. “Save the tangible results, date them, and be prepared to present them.”

Tracking how many donations you collected from calling alumni or that you created a new filing system for the admissions office are achievements that translate to everyday work activities. Don’t forget to highlight your academic awards, such as making the dean’s list or honor society.

“Any accomplishment matters,” said Schawbel. ” Track them in a public setting, like your LinkedIn profile.” If it’s not out there for people to find, those achievements won’t be doing anything to help you, he said.

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“I would have focused more on developing relevant skills.”

Having an awareness of industry-specific skills as well as broad, transferable ones is a way to really stand out.

“Companies aren’t investing as much in training, so companies are more likely to look for someone who can hit the ground running,” said Kane. That isn’t just familiarity with industry terminology, it’s also having professional “street smarts.”

“Show your understanding of chain-of-command issues, working with older, more experienced colleagues and working with people in parallel roles in other departments, or with vendors and customers,” said Tulgan.

You should also have excellent customer service knowledge—not only to use as a professional but also to use as a job seeker. That includes making yourself available, being fully prepared for interviews, and knowing how to problem-solve, Tulgan said. “Above all, develop self-management skills and the ability to work effectively with a manager,” he said. These are the skills every new job hunter needs.

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“I would have tailored my cover letter more to my employer.”

Yes, your cover letter is your opportunity to brag about yourself—but make sure this doesn’t come at the expense of telling the employer what you can do for them.

“Too many upcoming or recent college graduates submit cover letters talking about their interests, passions, and goals, when the better approach is to talk about how their skills can meet the interests and goals of the employer,” says New York career coach Lori Rassas.

Make sure you research the company and know what they’re looking for, and tailor your cover letter to those requirements. Make it very clear why you’re the person for this job, not just why this is the job for you. Make sure you never include these words in your cover letter.

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“I would have personalized my application.”

This goes hand-in-hand with tailoring your cover letter to your employer. Yes, you’re probably submitting lots of applications, and it can be tempting to have a “one-size-fits-all” approach. In fact, many college graduates do. This is a major no-no, however.

“We get a lot of copy-and-paste form letters from applicants, especially recent college graduates who don’t mention our company. This reveals they didn’t do any research whatsoever into our company,” says Shaun Walker, a creative director at a marketing agency.

Walker suggests choosing some kind of “icebreaker” that stands out to you about the company. Mention a project that the company has recently done, and, above all, find the name of a specific person to address the letter!

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“I would have made better use of LinkedIn.”

LinkedIn is a great resource. Many college grads view it as “the professional social media,” but it’s so much more than that. Follow the employers and industries that interest you the most, and keep up-to-date with job postings and recommendations. Make sure to update your LinkedIn profile just like you would a resume, and choose a professional headshot. Choose a compelling headline as well; something that says more about you than your college major or field of interest. Follow these tips straight from LinkedIn itself. And definitely avoid these common LinkedIn mistakes!

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“I wouldn’t have aimed too high.”

It’s nice to think that no career dream is too big and that nothing is impossible. But realistically, there are plenty of jobs whose requirements you won’t meet right out of college. Entry-level jobs are called “entry-level” for a reason. While the occasional whirlwind success story isn’t unheard of, don’t waste your time applying for jobs that don’t fit your current skill set. If a job posting is looking for experiences that you simply don’t have, focus less on trying to wow them anyway and more on building up the experience you will need for that dream job.

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“I would have asked more questions in my interviews.”

When you’re new to the job search, you might think that asking questions makes you seem uninformed. On the contrary, it makes you seem that much more interested in the company.

“By asking questions, you are not only showing your true interest in the company and position, but you are also having a dialogue with your interviewer,” advises career coach Tana Session. “This is also an additional way to demonstrate the knowledge you gained through your research.”

Every prospective employee has questions, so your interviewer won’t believe you if you act like you don’t. Make sure you avoid questions about salary and promotion since they can make you come across as entitled.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Meghan Jones
Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece “Anticipation” was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine.