Posted: 21 Jan 2011 08:41 AM PST

In order to network effectively, schedule at least three to five one-on-one meetings per week.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Customize your cover letter to the company and position to which you are applying
Be prepared to answer the basics questions
Make your search effective by focusing on exactly what kind of work you want to do
Review your resume closely for grammar and spelling errors

(CareerBuilder.com) -- The phrase "shoot yourself in the foot" didn't create itself. In fact, job seekers probably coined it.

Every day, thousands of people look for a job -- and almost every single one of them makes at lease one mistake (or 10) in the process. The worst part is, many if not all of these blunders are completely avoidable.

"It never ceases to amaze me when people make mistakes, then slap themselves on the forehead and say, 'I can't believe I did that.' I feel the need to pop them on the head," says JaLynn Hudnall, of Ravenwood Forest Consulting.

Here are 20 dumb job search mistakes that experts say you can avoid with a little thought:

1. Not using a professional e-mail address.

"It is wonderful that you are proud of your heritage and cultural roots. However, please don't use 'juicygapeach' as your e-mail address," Hudnall says. "There are enough free e-mail hosts out there that you can set up a plain first.last account that is professional and non-descript."

2. Jumping into the fire without your fireproof undies.

"[Don't start] your search without a plan or much thought as to where you want to go and how you plan to get there," says Julie Bauke, author of "Stop Peeing On Your Shoes- Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw up your Job Search." Also, make sure you can answer these three key questions: Why are you in the job market? Tell me about yourself. What are you looking to do next?

3. Not checking yourself in the mirror before walking into an interview.

"I once interviewed someone who had a giant piece of lettuce hanging off his mustache," says Mario Schulzke, founder of CareerSparx.com. "I should have said something to him, but it was just too awkward and instead I spent 30 minutes staring at the guy's upper lip."

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4. Falling into the 'black hole.'

Many job seekers misunderstand the role of the Internet in their job search, Bauke says. "It is good for research and connections," she says, but "you are not most likely to get a job that way."

5. Being forgetful.

"One mistake that I have seen a number of times over the years is people using a cover letter template and forgetting to change the company and name to who it is addressed," says Paul Peterson, MA, MBA, national talent resource manager, human resources. "Your cover letter should always be customized to the company and position to which you are applying."

6. Going to networking events -- but not really networking.

"Real networking is building mutually beneficial relationships," Bauke says. That can be hard to do in a group setting. "Make sure you are having at least three to five one-on-one meetings per week."

7. Omitting a signature block in your e-mail.

"A signature block is a perfect place to give a brief 20-word teaser and include a link to your online résumé," Hudnall says. For example, "Georgia Environmental Engineer with 7 years experience, seeking job in new locale, click here for full résumé."

8. Casting your net too widely.

"You are not a fit everywhere and you are not good at everything," Bauke reminds. "Your search will be much more effective if you focus on exactly what kind of work you want to do and where you want to do it."

9. Not paying attention.

"Job seekers aren't reading the job description carefully and following the specific directions provided by the employer, recruiter or hiring manager," says Eddy Salomon, founder of Workathomenoscams.com and Workathomecareers.com. "The job description may state 'please apply by visiting x site. Please do not send a résumé.' But many job seekers are guilty of scanning the information provided and will end up doing the opposite of what has been described and send a résumé. Employers can't help but disqualify these candidates because it shows a lack of attention to detail and the failure to follow directions."

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10. Overlooking the interviewing "gimme" questions.

Prepare to answer the basics questions: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about yourself. Why should we hire you? "You know they are coming. Be prepared!" Bauke says.

11. Not joining your local Chamber of Commerce.

"Every Chamber across the United States has a monthly get together usually called something like 'Business After Hours,' and many even have young professionals associations," Hudnall says. "Not using this an as opportunity to network and meet others in your field is a missed opportunity."

12. Having grammar or spelling errors on your résumé or cover letter.

"No matter how many résumés you send out, each customized to fit one job description, you must review each one closely for grammar and spelling errors," says Rick Saia, CPRW, content writer for Pongo Résumé . "Even the tiniest error will cast a bad impression on the hiring manager, especially if you write 'attentive to detail' as a strength. It's good practice to have a trusted friend or relative read through your documents before you send them."

13. Not being mindful of social media presence.

"Job seekers need to be mindful of social profiles and pictures they may have out on the Web that may be deemed inappropriate. In some cases employers may secretly try to 'friend' you on a given social network so they can have access to your wall and photos," Salomon says. Before applying to any job, one should search for his or her own name to ensure there isn't anything out there that would be deemed inappropriate.

14. Trying to turn an informational interview into a job interview.

"This is probably the worst form of abusing your network contacts. An informational interview is to get information, not an offer," says Ron Katz, author of "Someone's Gonna Get Hired ... It Might As Well Be You!" "When people start peppering the contact to see if there are any openings or jobs available, the person with whom they are meeting feels duped, taken advantage of, and at worst, angry and resentful."

15. Not having a LinkedIn profile.

"Many employers and HR professionals use LinkedIn as their go-to resource for more information about a candidate," Schulzke says. "If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, you are missing out on a critical opportunity to showcase your skills and experience."

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16. Failing to research the company.

"At least take some time to review the company's website and use some of that knowledge in your résumé and cover letter," Saia says. "When you get to the interview, you'll need to know much more, especially to show how your skills and experience match up with the demands of the job and how your skills and experience can benefit the company."

17. Not following up after applying for a job.

"Following up is critical to set you apart from other applicants. Job seekers often neglect this key step because, for example, they applied online and don't have a name to follow up with," says Amy Olmscheid, manager of the Career Center at Capella University. "But if you don't have a name of a person to follow up with, find one. Use the Internet or use your network. Get the name of a contact in human resources or a manager in the department you want to work in and then follow up with a call or e-mail."

18. Neglecting to follow up after an interview.

"Always send a thank you note to the interviewer," Olmscheid says. "Sending your note by e-mail is perfectly acceptable, but a handwritten note is a nice extra touch."

19. Failing to ask questions at the interview.

"Remember that you want to find out about the company and hiring manager as much as you want to tell them about you," Saia says. "By passing on the opportunity to ask questions, you're sending a message that you're not that interested in the job. And employers want candidates who are interested."

20. Relying on a single job-hunt strategy.

"Some job seekers will declare that they are only using online job boards and those individuals may miss excellent opportunities," Olmscheid says. "Job seekers typically identify more jobs and make more connections that can lead to jobs when they use a multi-pronged approach. Amp up your job search with job boards, face-to-face meetings, networking at professional development meetings, phone networking and other search strategies."

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Secrets Of Making The Most Of Job Search Websites

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 02:18 PM PST

The most important secret to making online job search sites work for you: Use them sparingly. Too many job seekers spend all day hunkered over their keyboards, combing through listings, trying endless search filters and sending their résumés into black holes.

Rule No. 1, say job coaches: Spend only 10% of your time on job search sites.

Here's how to make that time count. Start with the Google ( GOOG - news - people )-like job aggregators, Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com. Both list millions of jobs, drawing on company websites, job boards and newspapers. "If it's posted online, it's in our search results," says Indeed.com spokesman Michael Werch.

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Both sites also make it easy to narrow your search using refinements, or filters, that include title, company name and location. Indeed allows you to search within a specific salary range. SimplyHired lets you sort for "mom friendly," "socially responsible," and even "dog-friendly" workplaces. (I tried looking for a dog-friendly job for a writer in New York City and I found three listings at Google.)

Spend a little time playing with search commands. Both sites have "advanced search" options. Try plugging in the name of a company you might want to work for, or an advanced degree that qualifies you for specialized work. You could type in "CFA" if you're a certified financial analyst, for example, or "LEED" if you're a building engineer with expertise in environmental efficiency.

SimplyHired has a useful tool called "Who do I know." If you're on LinkedIn--and you should be--this tool will instantly display your LinkedIn contacts with connections to various job listings. "Who do I know" also syncs with Facebook. (LinkedIn is such a powerful job search tool, I've written two separate stories about using it.)

One more trick to using the aggregators: Have them deliver listings to your inbox. Set up an e-mail alert that delivers new job postings to you via e-mail each day. Since momentum always helps in a job search, it's useful to see ads as soon as they're posted.

Don't spend too much time with the big aggregators. Look for niche sites that are specific to your field. In the tech world, for instance, Dice.com has a strong reputation. For nonprofit jobs, try Idealist.org. For government jobs, the U.S. government's site is an excellent resource: USAJobs.com.

One more great online resource: Craigslist. It is one site the aggregators don't tap. Craigslist's focus is local listings, and it's especially useful for entry-level jobs and would-be interns.

Refresh your job search

Posted: 21 Jan 2011 06:19 AM PST

Updated: Friday, 21 Jan 2011, 6:44 AM MST
Published : Friday, 21 Jan 2011, 6:04 AM MST

Now that we're into the new year, it might be time for you to refresh your search for a job. If you've been out of work for a while, Robert Half International offers these tips to help change things up.

Reconsider the chronological resume
A new format, such as one that highlights skills versus work history, may be more productive.

Invest in new packaging
If an extended search in a particular industry or field isn't yielding results, focus on how you could repackage your transferable skills for a different industry or type of role.

Switch up your networking
People tend to focus on certain groups or techniques (e.g., using LinkedIn to make connections or attending regular trade association meetings). Look for different groups to join, and new ways to meet people outside of your usual circle.

Get a second opinion
Do you get lots of interviews, but no second calls? Ask a friend with good professionals judgment to give you feedback on your interview performance. Or perhaps your resume hasn't landed you any interviews. Have a recruiter or trusted friend give you their ideas.

Expand your reach
Some parts of the country are recovering faster than others. If your search isn't working in a particular area, could you look at a move to a different city? Large staffing firms who have offices nationwide can connect you with jobs outside of your immediate locale.

LINK: Robert Half International

Job Search

Friday, January 21, 2011

“20 avoidable job search mistakes” plus 2 more

“20 avoidable job search mistakes” plus 2 more

In Pictures: How To Make The Most Of Job Search Websites

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