Don’t play the Lotto. “Hey, you never know,” is a great tagline for the New York Lottery, but a very bad strategy for job seekers. “Sure, the job description says five years of experience in java programming, and I have none, but heck, I’m good with computers, so you never know…” Even if you have zero expectations of getting called in for an interview, you’ll still count the experience as a job you didn’t get. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but when you continually apply for “long-shots” the cumulative impact can be demoralizing. Before you know it, you’ve stopped applying for jobs you are qualified for fearing another rejection. Instead, stay focused on positions that are a match for your skills and experience.
Don’t put the company before the job. “Well, it’s not really what I want to do but, hey, it’s at Google!” Job dissatisfaction knows no boundaries (even the walls of Google, Apple or (insert uber cool company of your choice here). When you apply to a job, make sure it’s a job you would be happy doing, regardless of the company you would be doing it for. And the “hey, you never know” strategy is a super-no-no if you have your heart set on working for a particular company. You may think you’re increasing your chances of getting hired by applying to every open job on the company’s job board, but all you’re really doing is convincing HR you have dissociative identity disorder. If there isn’t a job listing that matches your background, wait until there is. Better yet, if the company allows general resume submissions, submit your resume and a cover letter that explains why you want to work there, and why you would be a benefit to their team. You should also use LinkedIn to leverage connections and get an introduction to hiring managers at the company.
Don’t forget about the money. For the unemployed job seeker in a tight economy, any job can look like a good job. While it’s reasonable to make compromises and take a job that pays less than your last position, you should still be comfortable with the salary.
