Sure Fire Ways to BLOW Your Job Search

So you dream of getting a new job - the perfect way to get an instant pay boost and land a job you love.

While searching for a new career may seem as simple as putting a few feelers out, it's easy to blow your job search if you aren't careful.

Here's some things to keep in mind while job hunting.

The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Putting all your eggs in one basket.

Sure, it's important to used LinkedIn and social media to find opportunities, but look for job openings in a variety of ways.

• Check out job search sites like Monster.com, Indeed.com, GlassDoor.com and CareerBuilder.com.
• Look at state and local job search sites geographically close to where you want to work.
• Look on company's blogs and websites for openings.
• Follow companies and join relevant groups on LinkedIn
• Review job listings at Craigslist.

Don't limit yourself to one source to get job listings.

Mistake 2: Not leaving your living room.

Don't limit yourself to surfing job listings from your laptop on the sofa. Get up, get dressed, and get out the door.

• Reconnect with your network.
• Go to meetings.
• Shake hands with people.
• Attend job fairs.
• Join professional organizations.

Be seen and make connections so you are top of mind if an opportunity presents itself.

Mistake 3: Being a lazy spellchecker.

There's nothing like a typo or poor grammar to turn off a hiring manager. Before you send out your resume take time to proofread it.

• Don't rely on your Word processor spell check to catch everything. Common mistakes like using "from" instead of "form" will be missed.
• Have a friend review your resume to spot errors.

Mistake 4: Throwing in the towel.

It's easy to get discouraged during your job search. It can feel exhausting filling out online forms, sending follow ups, and hoping for a response.

It's really important to stay positive in your approach.

• Visualize yourself at the job of your dreams.
• Feel confident.
• Own it.

That can provide the drive, focus, and discipline to keep looking. If interviewers see that you are enthused, they will be more inclined to believe you are a good fit for the job.

Mistake 5: Not being discerning.

You need to be careful about what you say and who you say it to when job hunting. This is especially true about confiding in co-workers.

• Don't use your work email, phone, or other contact information during your job search.
• Don't schedule interviews during work hours and leave for long lunches wearing a new suit.
• You may want to avoid using a reference from the company you currently work for.

You don't want your boss to find out about your job hunt and give you the boot. Watch what you say on social media and what your privacy settings are. Hide your LinkedIn activity updates and be anonymous when viewing profiles on LinkedIn.

Mistake 6: Not tracking your efforts and following up.

Follow up on every job lead.  Don't just wait by the phone, be proactive.

• Call people you sent resumes to and suggest setting up an interview.
• Keep a list of who you contact, at what company, on which date and how you contacted them.
• Send a follow up note and thank the job interviewers.

Whether you are looking for your first job, switching careers, or re-entering the job market, beware of these job hunting mistakes.

Wishing you the best in your job search.