The 10 Worst Job Hunting Mistakes

Three that was not mentioned, spelling errors and typing in all lower case or all capitals and writing a stupid sentence Seeking a job that will allow me to use skills and abilities. That sentence is so dated and over used and uncreative. it also does not tell a employer what job you are looking for. HR people have told me it is the fastest way to to get in the trash if it does make it to their email. It also can get you lost in cyberspace if the computer is looking for a match in the objective to be the title of the job you are looking for and their position. Some data banks are set up for that and if it does not see a matching title it goes on to the next resume.

These tips are great I suppose, but they all seem geared toward people with a B level degree or higher, who come from and are looking for, white collar jobs. I'm just a 53 year old blue collar grunt looking for A job, not necessarily my ideal job. I'm ten months behind with a $1500/month double mortgage (thanks to an ex and her passion for plastic), so guess where I'll be in a couple more months when the Sheriff's Dept. comes tapping on my door? There are plenty of highway overpasses around, and maybe there’s some space left under one of them… I’m supposed to have a list of questions about the agency to which I’m applying, and a list of hard examples of my ‘accomplishments’. In order for any questions I may have to be asked, I have to get past the initial computer screening/filtering, which I have yet to accomplish even with the help of a government HR rep. My accomplishments, well, let’s see…there was uhhh, yea, and then I ummm…. Hmm, in the working class jobs I’ve held there really haven’t been those grand opportunities to excel. As often as not, management doesn’t know you exist; you’re just a face in the crowd, like an extra on a movie set. You come to work, punch in, go to your station on the line or grab your tool box, do what you’re told without too many questions and without making waves, punch out at the end of the day and go home to start the process again tomorrow. There has typically been zero chance for a promotion of any substance (a lack of ‘upward mobility’ for those who prefer corporatespeak), and wages are regulated by a corporate board or union. Management salaries on the other hand…, “Ya know Bob, you’ve been here six months, and although you really don’t do much you’re a prime buttkisser. Let’s move you up to that corner VP office with the $1.2 salary. We can lay off some of the factory grunts to compensate, no big deal”. With the government’s blessing and tax breaks physically most US corporations are little more than shells, and any job positions that actually do something are overseas. All we’re left with here are government style paperpushers, who do little besides shuffle marginally useful information back and forth between cubicles.

Most writers have some very good points to consider, while others are completely off the mark with respect to Jobs leaving America. Companies leave this nation because they must be competetive, PERIOD! Between Unions, Pension / Benefit demands, taxes, environmental, rules / regulations and much more, American companies simply can not AFFORD to do business here. Solution: Americans must get the former under control by promoting sound legislation. Absent that; good luck in your job search.

cbkk42009. Look at the announcement it will tell you exactlly what to expect. It will give you a time line of when to expect feedback and sometimes a number to call in the case you dont hear anything. They will respond. The have been doing some mass hiring (at least in CA) and they have a lot of packages to look through.

Good tips, but one you left off is: Don't be so ashamed to do a job that is below your level of education. Simply having a job in these tough economic times is a good thing. If you are too picky and only apply for one type of job, then you will most likely be looking for a job for a long time. Take the other job, but in the meantime, keep looking for the job you really want. The key is to keep money coming in however you can.

Mutombi, you have a strong point. An appliance manufacturing company laid off 300 workers last month who have worked there for 22 years for some of them. I am one of them. Since then, they have been making profits and their shares of stock have increased dramatically. This company has sent many good jobs to Ramos Arizpe and all they have now is the bad jobs left, making older workers who need to retire to do those jobs. Now, they are hinting that the company may call some workers back as they now experiencing an increase in production.
cbkk42009, I have been there. I have applied for 3 different jobs since the layoff last month and I have not heard from them at all! I am "eligible" for state jobs in the Human Services dept. But, I haven't received an answer from them yet for an opening. The Workforce dept. has an interview for me and I am keeping these 10 points in mind.

Number 1 Worst Job Hunting Mistake: Living in America. Outsourced jobs... sold out workers... no viable retirement/pensions... what else could make working here worse? IBM just recorded vast profits for the last quarter... yet laid off 10,000 American workers. They are sending the jobs of hard working Americans that built their company great to Ching and Abu.

I concur. The email address example provided, as a former hiring manager, does not inspire me to contact that person and even less to consider hiring them.