The Top 10 Job Hunting Mistakes to Avoid...

There are many factors that affect you getting the job that you want (or you think you deserve). Some of these factors are totally out of your control; economic factors, decision making process, timing. It’s really not worth worrying about these things too much, so don’t. Rather, concentrate on getting the things that are in your control perfected. Below you will find a list of the most common mistakes from our experience (some obvious, some not so obvious) that people make which sabotage their job hunting success.

Over the coming weeks we will expand on each of the points below. The aim is not to tell you what you are doing wrong – but to provide you with practical advice, looking into factors such as; the characteristics of different interviewers and how to behave with them; the importance of expressions and language in telephone interviews; using the right body language and how to make networking work for you.

1.Not understanding the character of your interviewer
2.Not keeping track of your accomplishments
3.Leaving on a bad note
4.Not networking
5.Only using the Internet for research
6.Writing a generic cover letter
7.Not targeting your résumé to the position
8.Not paying attention/ being empathetic in an interview
9.Not being prepared
10.Not coming across well on the telephone interview

Over the next few blog posts we will go into detail on these points helping you to boost your job hunting success.

Read No.1 Not understanding the character of your interviewer now

Size Matters – How big is your network?

As the Credit Crunch continues, the strength of your business network will become increasingly important as redundancies (think UBS, Citi, Merrill Lynch – Goldman's even) increase and competition for fewer jobs intensifies.


More competition for jobs, means employers have more applications to sort and filter candidates to a level that they can handle at the interview stage. To handle screening and selection workloads employers are involving their employees – the people who know what it takes to be successful at the company – to filter candidate applications.

Boost your chances of interview and job offer by applying for jobs direct via Moles. Don't need a job? Differentiate yourself rom your peers; build your business network – invite peolple to join your Mole Friends network now – it only takes 57.2 seconds. You never know when you might need to call on them for help and support – and vice versa.

Size Matters – Benefits of ‘Mole Friends’:

• Never lose contact details for your valuable business contacts
• Check-up on what your friends and workmates are up to now
• Find people who can help you get ahead in your own business or career
• Send and receive ‘invitations to refer’ & job specs to your Mole Friends
• Differentiate yourself - write and receive endorsements from your network

Find your friends already on TheCareerMole.com and expand your network:

1. Login to Mole Members Area (You may have to 'Switch to Mole Profile')
2. Click on the 'Find Friends' button in the middle of the screen
3. Invite your friends and work mates to join your network
4. Mole Networking. Done (49 seconds flat)

When your friends register they will be automatically added to your 'Mole Friends' making it easier for you to keep in touch.

You never know when you might need to call on someone in your network for a favour or advice so make sure you can always contact them - add them to your network now.

The Mole

The perfect ... industry

Don't settle for a job you don't love. Find the perfect industry to stimulate your mind and nurture your talents - and you'll never look back

This article from the guardian careers section sums up the Moles thoughts very well. Always seek advice - why not ask a Mole, someone who really knows what it is like to the job that you want. Network; it really is a great way to find opportunities, particularly as many aren't advertised. Most importantly - it's never too late to change. Life is too short to do a job you hate. You have the power, and the now the tools, the help you change your career.

1. Seek careers advice. “Our career paths are rarely fluke,” says Rebecca Tee, a careers expert objective outsider can help us evaluate those decisions and determine what we want from our working lives.” If you have graduated within the last five years, your university or college careers service is an invaluable source of reference material and information on graduate opportunities as well as job vacancies. Or speak directly to people doing the job you want to do.

2. Start networking. As the chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, Carl Gilleard is a firm believer in the power of networking. “Seek advice from those who are knowledgeable about the industries you’re interested in and make use of any existing networks you have such as peers, friends or via online networking sites, such as http://www.thecareermole.com/. Contact professional bodies as they often employ information officers or training advisers and may have a local branch you can join. Short courses and events like career or trade fairs are also a great way to meet people.”

3. Get some work experience. Work experience won’t make you rich but it will give you an invaluable insight into a working environment. Look for schemes such as those offered at Publicis Blueprint, one of the UK’s leading customer publishing agencies, where mentors are assigned to offer advice and training. “Work experience gives you an idea of what to expect before you commit to full-time employment,” explains Blueprint managing director Alastair Young. “It also shows a level of determination and allows you to develop employability skills that are very desirable to potential employers.”

4. It’s never too late. Embarking on a new career isn’t just for recent graduates. Unexpected events later in life can upset your career progression — don’t view this as a crisis, see it as an opportunity to get the job you always wanted. Similarly, if you’re feeling stagnant, greater opportunities for studying and retraining as an adult should encourage you to take the leap.
The onus is on pinpointing the things you love doing and building those interests into your working life.

Why should i develop my business network?

Hello All

As if we needed to be reminded about the power and value of social networks like Facebook and business networks like TheCareerMole.com we came across this great article about business social networking that summarises it all perfectly.

Make sure your Mole Profile is up-to-date and doing you justice and you can make new connections with talented candidates you can refer. You can also meet other Moles and discover new friends and opportunities by adding them to your 'Mole Network'. Login, invite your friends to join and see which of your friends and colleagues are already using TheCareerMole.com.

TheCareerMole.com
Meet. Refer. Progress