₦airaland Forum

Many people make significant job search mistakes and never even know about it. These blunders are easy to make, and they can cost you the job offer.

Below, I reveal 10 of the biggest mistakes, and explain how to avoid them.


Mistake #1: Ignoring Online Job Postings:

Ignoring job postings is a huge mistake. Some of the best chances for jobs from ads are on job websites and web sites of the specific companies you wish to work for.


Mistake #2: Looking Only for Job Openings:

Searching only for companies with “openings” is an obsolete job hunting method. The best jobs are rarely listed “vacancies” or “openings.” Rather, many good positions are created for the candidate, often at the interview. The key is to shift your focus from “openings” to “opportunities” (which exist nearly everywhere). Remember: every company is hiring all the time, if you have what they need when they need it!


Mistake #3: Ineffective Networking:

Networking should be the primary focus of every job search – occupying about 90% of your time. However, I find that most people go about it the wrong way – by talking too much and by asking for jobs. The best networkers are big listeners rather than big talkers. They have a clear agenda, and are not shy about asking for feedback and guidance. Remember: networking is more about giving than it is about taking, so always come from an attitude of generosity.


Mistake #4:  Leaving Yourself Open to Too Many Kinds of Jobs:

Another key to a successful job search is to focus on finding the RIGHT job – not “just any job.” Critical factors to consider include satisfaction, growth potential, location, cultural fit, great co-workers, a pleasing environment and competitive compensation. When the job market is really tough, it’s imperative to be more focused than ever.


Mistake #5:  Being Unplanned in Your Search:

Most people spend more time planning a vacation than planning a job search. I suggest the following tips to conduct a proper job search: a well-thought out methodology, daily solitude and planning, space in the home dedicated to the search, a tracking tool to measure your progress, and a system for accountability.


Mistake #6:  Doing it Alone:

You pay a mechanic to change your oil; an attorney to create an estate plan. Why would you not invest in professional help with your job search? Career Coaches provide objective guidance, help you articulate your value, and provide a proven system for job search success. Many offer excellent advice on salary negotiations – often exceeding the job seeker’s expectations. If you can’t afford a Career Coach, take advantage of low-cost or free support from non-profit groups, universities, municipal programs, and so forth.


Mistake #7:  Letting Others Control Your Job Search:

I suggest working with a small selection of professional recruiters – they can serve an important role in your search. But you’ll need to maintain control over the whole process. Of course, it is best to conduct your own research and target the right companies yourself. Remember: only you can “sell yourself” effectively and land a job.


Mistake #8:  Not Preparing Well Enough for Job Interviews:

When you boil it down, all job interviews are comprised of five basic elements: articulating your value, conveying your knowledge of the company, asking intelligent questions, negotiating compensation, and following-through. Each of these items has to be practiced in advance, so you can “ace” the job interview. “Winging it” just won’t do! Also, be sure to do extensive research on the company and the interviewer ahead of time.


Mistake #9:  Not Knowing Your Market Value:

You must research and assess your value in the marketplace, so you’ll be able to negotiate effectively. Never disclose your salary requirements – always get the employer to name the salary or range first. The time to talk money is when the employer has made it clear that you are their top candidate, and after they make an offer.

It is very easy for even the savviest of job seekers to make these mistakes. By learning how to navigate these potential pitfalls from the outset, your job search will be more productive and yield more positive results!


Mistake #10:

Read Mistakes 1-9 again.
 

Source

http://www./blog/10-mistakes-job-seekers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/

juliusjulius:
29k tuition and maybe 25k for accomodation.

25k for accommodation?
I thought you said you're an extra student, which means a few courses are holding you back, what do you need an accommodation for?

Why not just collect the materials go home read them and keep in touch with the course rep till your exam date, then you hook up with someone, write your exams and move on with your life.

Finally, you didn't tell give us your full name, registration number and department. If your story has any bit of truth in it, that should have been the first thing you ought to have done.

I smell scam.

The parents should be blamed. I've seen parents who pay very little attention to their child's bad habit. Unfortunately, this habit if not corrected could turn out to become an embarrassment to the child when he gets older.

To the guy in question, its not too late, the parents can still make him stop it. All it takes is love, care and a little bit of force.

Good luck.

smallvill:
Pls do anybody no abt crystal world in ikeja lagos front of ikeja local govt. Do anybody no if d company is real or a fake company tanks

Did you formally apply for a job in the said company?

Have you done a google check on the company, if yes what was the result?

If the answer to the first question is no...the the company is a fake

If your search in the second question was blank, then no doubt they're definitely scammers.

engrjacuzzi:
your name "crazyman" should ought to have been edited because no employer will like to have a craze man in his organization.
for this nice copied article you gat, I need to stone you with some green bottles at aso rock.

Lol...this got me laughing.

chymystique:
Yes.

BUT;

Question: “what are your salary requirements”

Answer: “When it comes to salary, I’m negotiable.”

You said the above answer is wrong. Okay Lets assume am the interviewer and you are the applicant and I ask you the above... I would like to know YOUR appropriate answer to the question assuming the coy doesnt ve a fixed salary for its fresh graduates?? Thanks

You must make enough research about the coy before applying.

See the thread below.

www.nairaland.com/2501236/5-ways-should-research-employers

Your research should be able to tell you how many staffs the coy can boast of, how its being run, if their staffs are under paid, an estimate of their entry level salary...etc.

With that, you should be able to answer that question.

So to your question...I'll respond based on my research on the coy.

Being open to negotiations simply tells your employers that you have little or no information about their pay package.

So you might end up being under priced. Or your price might be too high for the coy, thereby making them choose other candidates at your expense.

The rule of the thumb is to have enough information of the coy before going for your interview. With that you wouldn't be caught off guard.

chymystique:
Nice and educating alright.

@ your 4th point about salary negotiation? The preferable answer you gave was for experienced job seekers. What of fresh graduates that has never had a job before?

As a fresh graduate, you must first find out if there's a standard salary for the position you're apply for. (Most companies have standard salaries for fresh graduates) if there isn't, then find out what the general range is.

Once you've discovered that, you've succeeded in arming yourself with enough information to negotiate in line with the company's standard.

Hope I answered your question?

Like with mission statements, when writing cover letters and résumés or interviewing for a new position, it's too easy to eagerly conform to what you think others want to hear. This may be due to the fact that you are intimidated by the process itself and have yet to gain the confidence needed to claim your skilled, job-hunting voice.

One of the most overused claims found on résumés is “excellent communications skills,” and this can be detrimental when you demonstrate just the opposite.

Here are five common communication fails that limit job search success:


1. "Dear Sir."

 So many people begin cover letters with this outdated and sexist salutation it boggles the mind! You might eliminate the sexist part with, “Dear Sir or Madam,” but that will still sound far too stilted.

Instead, take the time to research who is the hiring manager or human resources staffer in charge of this job requisition. Address your letter directly to him or her by name: “Dear Ms. So-and-So.” If you strike out and can’t find a specific name, begin with “Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear Recruiter” or “Dear Hiring Team”.


2. “I’m ideally suited (or perfect) for this job.”

 Whether in a cover letter or conversation, this statement can be seen as a boast, an assertion or a conclusion. No matter how you see it, it’s a judgment you can’t and shouldn’t make. You don’t know how you stack up against other candidates or the hiring authority’s precise priorities. Plus, more likely than not, this statement will make you look brash or arrogant.

Instead, it’s your role to provide all the facts that demonstrate your value based on your experience, skills, knowledge, certifications and education. In short, you need to make your case in such a way that leads the employer to conclude that you are ideally suited for this job.


3. “Hard working, results-oriented, team player with excellent communication skills.” 

It’s hard to count the number of times hiring managers have encountered constellations of buzzwords assembled into jargon-rich – yet meaningless – self-descriptions at the tops of résumés.

Remember: You are trying from the outset to distinguish yourself from others. Who is going to begin with the opposite? ("I'm a lazy, lone-wolf worker, interested in punching a clock rather than actually producing anything.”) No one, of course!


4. “When it comes to salary, I’m negotiable.” 

When you respond to the “what are your salary requirements” question this way, you can easily be perceived as noncooperative. This is not generally a sought-after quality! Moreover, while you might intend this statement to mean “I’m flexible," it can be heard as just the opposite. You might give someone a false impression that you’ll play salary hardball at the end of the process.

On the other hand, you don’t want to box yourself into a lower salary than you might otherwise receive or eliminate yourself from consideration because you have stated marginally higher expectations than some other candidate. Show a spirit of cooperation by talking about your past or current salary. Calmly explain that while this can provide a measure of guidance, you don’t yet know precisely what would be appropriate for the job in question.


5. “References available upon request.” 

Everyone knows that references are part of the hiring process and that at an appropriate time, you’ll supply them. Have you ever heard of anyone saying the opposite on a résumé? (“I won’t supply references to share with you.”) Of course not!

By eliminating this statement at the bottom of your résumé, you gain a line or two. Use the extra space to add a bit more detail about some relevant accomplishment. Or even an extra line of white space is better than this over-used cliché. 

Happy hunting!


Source

http://insidify.com/discovery/5-cliche-statements-that-can-bomb-your-job-search

Audinowing:
It will be enough if she supervises the project her self. I built 2 b flat with less than 1.5m

Exactly, she needs to supervise the work herself. It will make her save a lot cos most of this supervisors cannot be trusted. Also the location matters a lot, cos the price of labour varies depending on your location.

doublewisdom:
His football birthday. His real birthday is next month and he will be 51.

His face doesn't look like a 51 year old.

Zonacom:
And i read somewhere that he wants to play for his former English club again.
Happy birthday! Can't forget that goal he scored from a free kick against Sweden in the 2002 world cup.

Haba bro...Nigeria scored just one goal in the 2002 world cup, and it was scored by Julius Agahowa. He headed a cross from joseph yobo and ran off to do his usual acrobatics.

Nigeria lost that match 2-1, lost to Argentina 1-0 (no thanks to a gabriel batistuta heading from veron's corner kick) and played a goaless draw to england. 0-0

Okocha doesn't have a world cup goal.

Its 13years but the memories of that world cup is still very fresh.

I'll awake from that miserable dream, get prepared and head to work.

firmytobad:
It was then we discovered that she is to pay roughly 11 grand for her to get those benefits and stand a chance to be the ultimate winner via online voting poll.

Its a scam bro...no genuine company will ask you to pay money in order to redeem any price. Just forget about them and move on.

Nlevel:
IN ADDITION, move out of your comfort zone,dont just sit at home and expect your dream job to come meet you there.Go out to different places with photocopies of your CVs,you will be surprised that companies are out there looking for people to employ.I have tried it and I am getting positive responses though i am yet to land my dream job,but i strongly believe it is coming soonest.

Well said...and good luck in landing your dream job.

BRAINIAC001:
Just want to add that aside networking, you can also send unsolicited applications once in a while to some company HRMs. Just make sure the content of your application is rock-solid and your presentation "wow".

Good point.

chymystique:
So most job seekers will be guarantEed of a job following all these tips??

Not really, but its expected that to guide you in your job search.

chymystique:
Thought it was God's grace above every other thing else??

It is.

chymystique:
Cool points tho

Thanks.

tobybasten:
Good tips,
OP try and state your source.

The article came with a source...try checking it a second time.

tobybasten:
A large number of tips on employment here are far more suitable to an experienced job seeker than a fresher.

I disagree. You can still apply those tips as a fresher and they'll work for you. Its all about being smart and knowing your value.

No matter what your occupation or level of experience is, the process of getting a new job has several common elements. Once you understand the progression as a whole, you are less likely to make mistakes along the way. Here are the stages you’ll most likely pass through on your way to your next position:


1. Figuring out your value.

The obvious but often overlooked truth is that people get hired for only one reason: They represent the best possible answer to an employer’s need to have X work done. Somehow that “X” contributes to increasing sales or productivity or decreasing risk and expenses.

As a job hunter, it is your responsibility to understand and convey how it is that you can contribute to the advancement of any employer’s mission. What about your skills, education and experience will enable you to make a significant contribution to your next employer?


2. Determining your target:

It is important to figure out the right type of company or organization that will generally need someone like you. It's also critical to understand in what kind of environment you will feel comfortable and productive. What industry? What organization size? What type of products or services? What kind of role?

To learn about organizations in your area, you can do a great deal of research on LinkedIn. Support this research with informational interviews with key leaders in your field.


3. Crafting your brand and message.

For whatever role you seek, you will likely face strong competition from many candidates who possess similar backgrounds as yours. Rather than ramble on about the responsibilities that you share with others, focus on the qualities, experience and expertise that set you apart from the pack.

Your personal branding statement should be at the top of your résumé and LinkedIn profile. In essence, it is the answer to the first question at every interview: Tell me about yourself [and what sets you apart from your competition]. You should develop a consistent message, which is presented differently in the forms of your résumé and professional bio.


4. Prospecting:

Now that you know your value and what you want, it's time to start actively prospecting for jobs. There are numerous ways to go about this by scouting posted positions on company Web pages, job boards, Insidify, LinkedIn and so on.

But remember: About 80 percent of new hires come about from personal networking. Get out there and attend professional events like symposia, conferences, conventions and trade shows. Network with fellow college alumni, people in your community and at Meet up groups. In short: Network anywhere, everywhere and all the time!


5. Determining the rough fit in a phone interview:

In most situations, an employer will sift through many résumés to do a “rough cut” of people who appear on the surface to meet and exceed the minimum job requirements. Typically, an internal recruiter or human resources representative will make a call, say some flattering things and set up a phone screening interview.

Don’t mistake statements like “you appear to have what we are looking for” as anything more than a general indication of interest. You don’t have the job yet!

This is the time to show you're really the person your résumé represents. Be prepared to discuss every career and educational transition, the basics of what you do and what would be required of you. This isn’t the time for final decisions or discussions of compensation.


6. Dealing with red flags:

Part of the screening process is to take a look at anything that might be disqualifying for an otherwise potentially strong candidate. Things like employment gaps, too many or too few career transitions and a host of other factors might cause concern. Take time to figure out what your obvious red flags are, and be prepared to help your interviewer lower them, so you can proceed to making your case at the “real” interview.


7. Making your case:

This, of course, is what happens at any face-to-face job interview. Come prepared for whatever can be thrown at you. Know your résumé inside and out, and be able to expand on anything you have written in it.

Articles and books about interviewing for a job are more than plentiful. Read them and prepare, but don’t over-prepare so much that your answers come off as rehearsed. When it comes down to it, you can’t fake sincerity and should never misrepresent what you’ve done.

Rehearsed lines may also minimize the positive reaction you should have when demonstrating genuine interest in the company, role to be filled and how you would be able to make a significant contribution.


8. Negotiating the deal:

You will always be in a stronger position to negotiate for a higher level of compensation if you wait until all your competition has been eliminated. Then you don’t have to worry about low-balling them or selling yourself too short.

At the same time, remember that you want to start out on a good foot, with neither you nor the employer feeling dragged over the coals in a protracted or contentious negotiation. Talk about objective criteria rather than vague wants, and give a solid justification for whatever requests you make.
Whole books are available for each of these stages of the job hunt.

However, when you remember these basics and use them as a frame of reference for your own search strategy, you’ll have a sense of what you need to do to get to where you want to go.

Happy hunting!



Source

http://insidify.com/discovery/8-stages-of-a-successful-job-hunt

walex360:
Pls in a situation where it is a govt job,aw do we get info

You can get whatever information you need from people working there.

Omololu007:
I don drop dstv tey tey,nah GOTV i dey use now.i wanna try tinubu coasat abi wetin dem dey call am.if am not satisfy wit it,am gonna port back to GOTV

GOTV still belongs to DSTV, so you're still their customer.

Pamelayoung:
What if u don't knw anyone working in the company u can ask.

Then you make use of the remaining points...I'm sure you'll be able to get what you want from them.

Good luck.

Double post.

nerodenero:
He should be grateful to God that Idi Oro boys were in a happy mood that they didn't take laws into their hands. I guess this is highly commendable. A country without law is a country without sins. We have laws and let offenders face the law.

They were only respecting his military uniform, hence their civilized approach in handling the case and handing him over to the police.

Had it been he burgled that shop on mufti, he would have been be ashes by now.

kilmix:
6. Ask people who know about the company.

I believe this is in the article...number 2 to be specific.