Some people make the job search process harder than it needs to be. Obviously it’s not their intention to make an already difficult journey any longer. But sometimes job seekers (unwittingly) do things that work against them.

So, if your search has dragged on longer than you’d like, see if one of these reasons might be the culprit. Just know that before you start reading that all of these behaviors are totally fixable once you identify them.

1. You Keep Your Search Between You and Your Laptop

Getting a job is a team sport, and savvy people build teams of advisors who work to help them succeed through support and advice. For example, some people are best at helping you identify strengths and weaknesses. They can review your resume, make introductions, and provide honest feedback.

Others will encourage you when you’re ready to throw in the towel. So, don’t let your computer be your only confidant. Reach out to your network for help and support.

2. You Only Apply Through Traditional Means

Whether you’re targeting smaller firms or big brands, don’t forget that many companies pay a referral fee to employees who find the next hire—meaning there’s something in it for everyone when you get referred. And, it’s the best way to get hired.

So, don’t be afraid to ask friends, relatives, and contacts to refer you to open positions where they work. So long as you’ve done your due diligence beforehand and you’re considerate about it, they’ll likely help you out if they can.

3. You’re Only Going After Big Companies

If you cannot name five up-and-coming organizations in the industry you’re targeting, you don’t really know the sector as well as you think you might.

Lesser-known companies may not be as sought after as the Google’s and Microsoft’s of the world, but they may just have a culture where you’ll thrive and the opportunity you’re looking for. If you’re pursuing big-name firms because they’re all you know, you need to expand your search.

4. You (Always) Communicate Assertively

Many people strive to project a sense of control and competency. That makes sense because in order for others to have confidence in you, you need to have confidence in yourself.

However, if you overdo it, you can turn people off. Allowing yourself to be honest—when networking, for example—can help others connect with you more easily.

Nobody wants to be sold anything, and most people are not impressed by bravado. Remember that being vulnerable from time to time may be one of the best things you can do for yourself as a job seeker.

5. You Doubt Yourself

Some people spend precious emotional energy assuring themselves that the hunt is taking as long as it is because they simply aren’t good enough. And when you stop believing in yourself, you’re in trouble.

Don’t rush into a decision like taking a position you feel uneasy about or heading back to school simply out of fear. Instead remind yourself of all the reasons you might not be getting a call back that have nothing to do with you (like if you’ve been applying to roles you truly aren’t qualified for).

6. You Don’t Play to Your Strengths

The other day I worked with a student who had an unbelievable talent for numbers, yet the roles she had applied for only marginally allowed her to use her unique talent. So, while she had a skill that differentiated her from others, she wasn’t targeting jobs that allowed her to demonstrate what she did best.

Ask yourself what it is that you excel at, and don’t be scared to use these attributes as a starting point. Target roles that would maximize your talents: You’re more likely to get a call back—and achieve greater job satisfaction and career success after you’re hired.

Are you a status quo job seeker—someone who’s afraid to be bold? The time may have come for you to create a plan that fits you. Be creative. Generate big breaks for yourself by going against the norm and trying what has not been done before. And above all, sidestep these common mistakes, which are only getting in your way.

Credit : themuse.com

This may seem like a softball, get to know you question—but really it’s your chance to make an unbelievable first impression.

So don’t just spout of random anecdotes about your life or—worse—recite your resume (they already know that information!). We know it’s hard to brag about yourself, but you need to use this question to make it crystal clear why you’re awesome and why you’re the perfect person for this job.

Transcript

Interviewer: Have a seat. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Jimmy: Well, you know, I always say I make a very big first impression. You’d probably be surprised to know that my first word was [beep].

Interviewer: You may be tempted to tell your whole life story, but don’t. Interviewers really don’t want to hear it. Let’s try that again.

Jimmy: [Sigh] This question’s always so hard…

Interviewer: We know. Talking about yourself is a little hard, but it’s kind of the point of an interview. So let’s try that again, but this time, with a little more confidence.

Jimmy: My name is Alex Green and you can reach me at [email protected]. From 2009…

Interviewer: Yikes. Don’t just recite your resume, either. Your response to this question should be like a mini elevator pitch. Here, try the present, past, future structure. This is one sentence highlighting what you’re doing today, one sentence highlighting a relevant past experience, and a third sentence highlighting exactly why you’re excited for this job.

Jimmy: Well, I currently work as a content marketer where I help promote brands by creating blog posts, ebooks, and videos. In the past, I’ve worked with all sorts of marketing channels, from social media to emails. I’m really, really excited about this opportunity, where I’ll get to combine all of those experiences to help a startup like yours grow.

Credit : themuse.com

One of the most common job search frustrations stems from people who want to change careers, but are paralyzed by the assumption that they don’t have enough experience.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

I graduated from college with a degree in biology and a job in the medical field. My heart was on a different path though, slowly pulling me in the direction of digital advertising. Two years, one side gig, and 50+ interviews later, I landed a job with Microsoft in digital advertising sales (after landing interviews at Google, Twitter, and Uber as well).

While getting a job in a new industry can seem like a daunting task, it’s actually not as hard as you think if you’re willing to put in the effort. I know, the e-word, but trust me—if you truly want to do this, it’s worth it.

So, without further ado, here are the steps you can take to make that leap that worked for me.

Step 1: Define “Perfect”

First, you want to understand what perfection looks like in the eyes of the company that will be hiring you.

In order to do this, you’re going to turn to the job description for your dream role. What many people don’t realize is that these descriptions are effectively resumes in reverse—they lay out the exact skills the company believes you need to be successful in that role.

For right now you’re going to focus on the listed skills (a.k.a., ignore scary numbers like “years of experience required”—as long as it’s not too far-fetched).

Next, you’re going to want to get in touch with someone who works in the industry or in that specific role (more on how to do that via Linkedin here) and ask these two questions:

• How would you prioritize the skills on this job description—which are the most important?
• What you would you do if you were in my shoes with no experience trying to get this job?

These answers should help you develop a solid jumping-off point for step two.

Step 2: Build a Foundation

Once you have an understanding of the skills you absolutely need to succeed in that role, it’s time to build a foundation. Spoiler: This is the part of the process that’ll take effort and work after your long day at the office. Depending on the change you want to make and the amount of skills required, it could take anywhere from a few months to a year. Yes, this will feel like forever in the short-term, but in the grand scheme of your life and your happiness, it’ll be a blip.

The two most effective tools for learning at this stage are (no surprise here) books and courses. Books are ideal for gaining a high-level, conceptual understanding of the topics, while courses help you learn the granular skills that you’ll be using on a daily basis.

A great way to find the best reads is to ask this questions in your informational interviews: What books do you recommend a beginner read? In fact, this is a great topic to ask someone about who doesn’t have time to meet for coffee, but is open to answering a few questions via email. (Plus, when you finish the book, it gives you a great excuse to follow up again.)

As far as classes go, there are so many online resources (Udemy and Coursera for starters). Some companies, like Google, even offer free courses and certifications for their products. When I began my transition, I knew I needed to learn the fundamentals of digital advertising, so I started with Google’s free academy along with six Udemy courses on the subject. Then, I focused on honing the specific skills listed in job openings, like Google’s analytics and advertising suites.

Many are free to take and are self-guided, meaning you can set the pace. And, on sites like Coursera, you’ll be given the option to pay for a certificate with the university seal stating that you successfully passed. If you’re able to afford it, I’d definitely recommend it. After all it, it never hurts to have the MIT seal of approval on your resume or LinkedIn.

Step 3: Get Some Real World Experience

Now for the fun part—actually getting experience you can put on your resume. One of the biggest misconceptions about professional experience is that it can only be accrued while working full-time at a company. This is completely untrue. I know, because I did it by launching a side gig.

Not only does this allow you to grow your skill set, but it also demonstrates that you know how to manage your time and go after what you want. Now, the one caveat here is that it’s easier to do this in some fields more than others. However, if you think there’s an opportunity there, there a few places to start finding clients.

You can:

1. Reach out to friends and family and let them know what you’re working on.
2. Pitch local businesses on your services
3. Apply to be listed on sites that clients come to, like Freelancer.com or CloudPeeps.

For my side gig, I focused on using search engine marketing to drive real estate leads for private communities. To find clients, I chose to cold email local businesses until I landed my first one. Then I leveraged the success I had with that first client to pitch businesses across the country. It didn’t take off overnight, but eventually I went from “just another freelancer” to a real consultant in that niche market.

That said, cold emails and pitches can be daunting if you don’t have the background or the desire to do that. The good news is that if it’s not for you, other options can be just as effective. In an article about getting experience in a field without starting at the bottom, Muse Editor-in-Chief, Adrian Granzella Larssen, lays out several options that range from volunteering to interning to starting a blog.

Despite putting in all of this effort, many people are still dissuaded when it comes time to apply because their dream role requires more years of experience than they have. If you’re only off by a few years, fear not!

Rather than focusing on that, instead, I want you to look at the description and ask yourself “Why does this company want to hire for this position?” Companies hire people to perform tasks that drive revenue and increase their bottom line. If you’re equipped to do what they’re asking for in the description and can back it up with your new experience, you can and should apply. Just make sure to add your new side gig (or internship or whatever you did to earn experience) to your resume and LinkedIn.

For example, since my freelance side gig focused on driving real estate leads for communities across the US, I leveraged that in my application materials and throughout the interview process. I brought up the fact that I pitched all my clients on my own and drove a higher volume of leads at a lower cost than any of the competitive platforms. That experience helped me land the offer over several other candidates with more “experience,” but fewer concrete results.

While this all sounds like a lot of work, I’m proof that you really can do it. So if you’re truly passionate about making a change, stop making excuses and take the first step.

Credit : themuse.com

“When you are asked what your salary range is, what should you consider? I have been asked that question severally and I find myself at a loss on what to say. Please advise,”says Antony Kirui via email.

When you are job searching, this is perhaps the most important question that you will have to answer. This is because apart from speaking to an employer about what you think you are worth, what you earn will enable you to maintain your needs.

According to Melody Mwendwa, a Professional CV Writer and Career Advisor at Corporate Staffing Services, the salary you are offered will usually depend on the company’s budget and your ability to demonstrate that you deserve that salary.

What You Should Consider When Quoting Salary Range

1. The size of a company
Smaller companies will usually expect you to quote a manageable figure. This is because their revenue is relatively less than those of bigger companies. You have to keep this in mind as you are coming up with a figure to quote, lest you end up losing a dream job because of such a small reason.

However, if the company you are interviewing with is considerably big and well known, the figure you quote should be an indication of your worth in the job market.

2. What people in your profession are earning
It is important for you to know what the people in your profession and at the same level with you are earning. This will help you have facts when you are negotiating for a worthy salary.
It will also ensure that you do not quote too low and end up being taken advantage of by the employer.

3. What experience you have
If you are an entry level job seeker, you will obviously not demand for a salary of 100K, for example. This will make you seem greedy and overambitious and could cost you a job opportunity. You should be willing to start small and work your way up.

In a case where you have the experience, no one will penalize you for quoting a large figure as long as you can back it up with proof of your achievements and marketable skills in the current job market.

A lot of clients come to me asking for advice on how to get more motivated.

And this is hardly surprising. No matter what you’re trying to get done, it certainly gets easier when you have that nice feeling of motivation fueling your efforts.

But please note that’s exactly what motivation is. It’s a feeling. And the thing about feelings is that they fluctuate.

No one is motivated all the time. So, when you rely on this feeling to take action, you’re essentially leaving your most desired outcomes up to chance. Not a good plan.

So, what should you do instead?

Just Show Up and Get to Work

Painter Chuck Close claims he’s never had a “painter’s block” in his whole life. In an interview for Inside the Painter’s Studio, Close said: “Inspiration is for amateurs—the rest of us just show up and get to work.”

And the belief that things will grow out of the activity itself and that you will—through work—bump into other possibilities and kick open other doors that you would never have dreamt of if you were just sitting around looking for a great “art [idea].”

And the belief that process, in a sense, is liberating, and that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today, you know what you’ll do, you could be doing what you were doing yesterday, and tomorrow you are going to do what you [did] today, and at least for a certain period of time you can just work. If you hang in there, you will get somewhere.

The “just show up and get to work” motto is a great creed to live by in all areas of life. No matter what you want to get good at, you won’t get there by “getting motivated,” but by showing up and doing the work every single day.

I know this from my own experience, because when I was relying on motivation and inspiration to write, I’d publish less than an article a month. But ever since I committed to writing a certain amount of words every day no matter what, I consistently publish at least one article per week while at the same time making good progress on several other writing projects.

Very rarely do I feel deeply motivated when I sit down to write. But that doesn’t matter, because I’ve trained myself to sit down and do it every day anyway.

And no matter what you’re trying to achieve, you can do it too. All you need to do is put a system in place that makes it second nature for you to show up and do the work.

How to Create Your Own System

There are plenty of strategies you can implement into your system. Here are the most powerful ones I’ve come across:

• Create a trigger to remind you to show up every day. For example, implementation intentions or scheduling.
• Start ridiculously easy. Make your initial efforts so small you can’t say no. Don’t increase your daily effort until you’re consistently showing up every day.
• Track your progress. Measure everything you do and compete with yourself to always get better.
• Reward yourself for making progress. Celebrate even the smallest wins to reinforce your good efforts.
• Create immediate consequences for procrastinating. Raise the stakes by using commitment devices.
• Shape your environment. Make your desired behaviors easy to do and competing behaviors harder to do.
• Surround yourself with the right people. We adopt the goals, emotions, and attitudes of the people we spend the most time with. Choose your social circles wisely.
• Get accountability. Start a mastermind group, join a team or club, hire a coach, or team up with an partner.
• Plan for failure. Conduct a weekly review to track your efforts and readjust as needed. Adopt the view that setbacks are valuable data rather than failures.

All of these strategies are very powerful in general, but you’re going to have to experiment to find out which ones are most effective for you.

Change Your Identity, Change Your Life

I hope I’ve convinced you that relying on motivation is a bad strategy and that creating a system that supports you is a much more reliable way to reach your goals.

The reason this works is because a system helps you show up every day. And when you do that, soon you’ll have some momentum going. Once you’ve got momentum going, you’ll begin to create lasting change. And when you’ve successfully created lasting change, you’ll start to reshape your perception of yourself.

Now you’re no longer the kind of person who needs motivation to make things happen. Instead, you’re the kind of person who, no matter what, just shows up and gets to work every day. And once you’re in that place, you can make anything happen.

Credit : themuse.com

“Just take a chance on me.”

It was a common line in my cover letters a few years ago, when I was desperate to make the switch out of management and into marketing—without a related degree or experience. Even so, I was so sure that if the employer just gave me a chance, he or she wouldn’t regret it.

But when an employer has a pool of fully qualified candidates, why would he or she take a chance on someone who’s on the edge of meeting the job requirements?

I’ll tell you this much: It takes more than including a pretty unconvincing pick-up line in your cover letter. Here are a few tips to get your foot in the door.

Don’t Draw Attention to Your Lack of Skills or Experience

The key to this whole process isn’t necessarily to convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you, but to get him or her to actually think you’re a good fit for the role. So the very first thing you have to do is stop apologizing for your lack of skills or experience.

Whenever you include a sentence in your cover letter such as “While I’ve never been in a marketing role before…” or “Although I don’t have any management experience…” or even “If you would just take a chance on me…” all you’re doing is telling the hiring manager you can’t do the job.

“Instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, a better way to move on to your qualifications is to state your skills and ability to contribute directly,” recommends career counselor Lily Zhang. “Stay positive, focus on your strengths, and immediately launch into your transferable skills and infectious enthusiasm for the position.”

Showcase What Sets You Apart

No matter what you’re transitioning from or to, you do have transferable skills.

For example, while my management roles didn’t involve any true marketing, they did require me to network and form relationships with other businesses in the community, manage multiple projects at a time, and communicate effectively with our customers—all of which would be helpful in a marketing role. (Here’s a great cover letter template that can help you show off your transferable skills.)

Even more important is demonstrating your additive skills, says career expert Sara McCord. That means fully embracing your career background and finding a way to express how that background will uniquely suit you for this job.

“Think about it: If you’re slightly underqualified, there’s a reason why,” she says. “If you spent the first two years of your career in a different sector, you bring experience from that industry.”

For example, when I first wanted to write for The Muse, I had absolutely no writing experience—but I did have management experience, which made me an ideal candidate to write management content.

Take a Risk

To get a hiring manager to choose you out of a sea of other applicants, especially when you may not be as qualified as the others, you might as well take a risk to stand out. Otherwise, you may simply pass under the radar. (And let’s be honest: What do you have to lose?)

For example, just take a look at some of the boldest applications we’ve seen around the web: an action figure resume, an interactive resume, and an infographic resume.

These types of applications certainly get the attention of the hiring manager, clearly conveying that the person just might have something the tips the scale in his or her favor. (Just make sure to follow these tips to make sure you’re not going too over the top.)

But maybe you don’t want (or don’t have the means) to be that bold. You can stand out in plenty of other ways, says counselor and Muse columnist Caris Thetford. For example, maybe you submit a project proposal with your application or compile your writing samples in an online profile. This can help you stand out from the other applicants just enough to show the hiring manager that you may deserve another look—and ideally, an interview.

Do Everything Else Right

You can’t afford to slip up when you think your resume might be on the bottom of the pile. That means sending every thank you note on time, following up in a timely (but not annoying) fashion, and proofreading your resume and cover letter a dozen times over to check for errors.

These may seem like small and insignificant gestures, but the smallest flaws can remove a candidate from the hiring process—and you don’t want that to be you.
By proving your worth in your application materials, you’ll have a much better chance of landing an interview—and then, you can showcase your cultural fit and passion face-to-face. Do that well, and you just may convince the hiring manager to take a chance on you.

Credit : themuse.com

By  Perminus Wainaina

Writing a CV is hard work and there are no shortcuts. The most important thing to remember when you are writing this document is that this is your advert or which tells the recruiter or hiring manager that you are suitable for the job. With this in mind let me look at a few common problems I often come across when readers write to me to critique their CVs.

1. Writing Curriculum Vitae as the heading of your CV. I find this on very many CVs that we look at. The meaning of Curriculum Vitae is loosely defined as a summary of your qualifications. You should always put your name at the top of the document.

2. Unnecessary information under Personal Details. Some of the CVs we look at have had information which reads;

Marital Status: Married with 3 children.
The information required here is only your marital status. Single or Married is the correct response.

Nationality: Kenyan.
This information does not need to be stated on the CV. If you are a foreigner applying directly to companies for a job you may indicate this.

Languages: Fluent in English, Kiswahili
There is no need to write Kiswahili and English as they are the national languages of Kenya. If the job requires for you to be able to communicate in a specific language then follow the instructions on the job advert and tailor you information accordingly.

ID Number: 2000000X.
Putting your national ID, Drivers License or Passport number is unnecessary on the CV. Employers who need this will ask you to attach the necessary document.s

Place of Birth: Nyeri, Kenya.
In general CV this information is not necessary.

3. Career Objective: I am hardworking, honest, and a fast learner. I wish to work in an organization that is allows me to use these skills and is growing….
In the career objective information you should not talk about your personal qualities. The purpose of a CV is to secure you a job. Therefore it should reflect your education/ training, your work experience and the skills that you can contribute to the new position. It should also state what job/area you are looking for.

4. Personal Profile: I am hardworking, honest, and a fast learner. Enjoys teamwork.
Remember the purpose of your CV is to allow others to evaluate your ability to do the job information therefore should be business related.

5. Consistency. All items in your CV should be written in a similar fashion. For instance, if you start some job descriptions with a verb, then all job description should be started with a verb.

6. Currency: Most of us learn computer packages in school or institutions. Once we master the basics we pick up on new versions of the program once they are released without requiring additional training.

I once saw a CV of a HR Officer that stated she had learnt “Word Perfect and MS DOS. I was rather shocked and it is only when I spoke to her that I realized she was currently working with Windows 7 and the new MS Office Suite programs including MS Word. In this circumstance it is better to put MS Office without the year as mentioning the year could be misleading.

7. Credibility. School of Human Resources Development, Human Resource, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture 2007-2011
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, Alliance Boys, 2005-2002

This looks OK, right? Not necessarily, if you leave out your grade for the certificates you earned the recruiter or hiring manager will automatically assume it was bad. Also if you neglect to mention what you accomplished during the three years you participated in a particular club, recruiter or hiring manager may end up thinking that only showed up for meetings.

8. Readability: Use a font size that is easy to read, especially when giving print outs of your CV. If the font size is too small it can frustrate the recruiter or hiring manager.
If you do want to have a lot of information on the CV pick out key facts and place them on your CV in short statements. The smallest font size that you may use is 12 pt.Also, keep your CV single spaced and bulleted an ensure it does not exceed 4 pages

9. Using capital letters throughout the entire CV: General rules of using capital letters should be used; you may capitalize names of people, places, titles such as Doctor and subjects learned.

10. Accuracy: Get your facts and grammar right. Make sure the dates, contacts, names, titles of the people you mention in your CV are correct.

The writer is  Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services.