Job Search Problems: Troubleshooting Tips

Has your job search stalled? Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you get moving again.

There are times when your job search feels as though it's not moving forward and nothing seems to be happening. Maybe there aren’t many calls coming in or maybe you never seem to make it past the first round of interviews. In any case, you've discovered that you’re not moving forward and you don't know why. Here are a few basic troubleshooting steps to help you get back on track.

Your Resume

The first thing to take a look at is your resume. Be sure that it is up to date, accurate, and that you followed the recommendations on other pages of this website. A poorly written or poorly formatted resume will bring your search to a halt.

Make sure that all of your information is correct; scan it carefully for misplaced words, typos, or incorrect grammar.

Make sure that all of the contact information and is, of course, on the resume. Believe it or not, candidates sometimes forget to include their phone number and/or email address on their resume. It might help to have a few friends go over it to make sure that it is not what is keeping you away from the job of your dreams. If possible, have someone experienced with resumes take a look. Your Interviews

How are you coming across in your interviews? Are you making sure that you get enough sleep before you go into your interview? You don’t want to appear tired or disinterested. Also, make sure that the clothes you wear to your interview are sharp, clean, and comfortable. If your interview clothes are uncomfortable, you will look uncomfortable and this could make you seem too nervous. It goes without saying that your interview clothes should be clean and should fit you correctly! Be sure to look at the interview tips on other pages of this site.

If possible, have some friends (preferably ones with interview experience) practice doing mock job interviews with you. Then, ask them to rate you on how well you respond. Take some time to make sure that you come across as confident and polished. Before you make them believe that you will be an asset to their company, you have to believe it yourself.

Your Effort

Remember that a job search is essentially a numbers game. This means that the more good resumes you send out and the more phone calls you make, the more interviews you’ll have. And, the more interviews you have, the more job offers you’ll get. So, if you want more offers coming to you, you need to “prime the pump” with plenty of resumes, phone calls, and personal contact. Good time management skills are helpful and here is some help. Take a look at our Time Management tips Here

Your Attitude

No doubt about it, a job search can be tiring and frustrating but no regardless of how you might be feeling, it’s always important to be positive and upbeat at an interview. Take a look at our tips on Motivation Here.

Follow Up

One simple action that could improve your results is to send out a thank you note to the people you interview with. This is an excellent way to make a good impression and help yourself stand out from the other candidates. After you finish an interview, it’s easy to drop off a thank you card at the front desk that is addressed to the person who interviewed you. This shows that you are considerate, have a good way of dealing with people, and are thoughtful. These are a plus in any working environment. Best of luck and make sure that you have covered all your bases!