5 Costly Mistakes Job Seekers Make in This Economy

Even though more Hispanics are finding jobs toward the end of 2012 than in the previous several months and even years, many are still getting stalled by common job-seeker mistakes. Are you one of them?

If you’ve been looking for a job for months check to see that you aren’t making these five common and costly mistakes, which could be keeping you out of work.

1. Avoiding networking

Networking is absolutely essential to finding a job today. Most people who land the job of their dreams do so, in part, because they “knew a guy who knew a guy.” You can no longer just sit at home and search for a job online, and expect results. You need to get out there and meet people. Look up old business contacts. Attend networking meetings and job fairs. Go to conferences in your field. Yes, some of these activities can eat up your precious cash, but they can also help you find a job much more quickly.

2. Not considering coaching

If you’ve had several interviews but no job offers or have sent out lots of résumés with no callbacks, you probably have assumptions about why you’re not having much luck. But the truth is, unless you’re an expert on applying for and interviewing for jobs, you probably don’t really know what’s holding you back. Even if finances are tight, it may be worth your while to at least talk with a career coach. These individuals specialize in helping others prepare for and find great jobs.

3. Holding out for too much

If you’re holding out for the perfect job, you may be holding out forever. No job is likely to be absolutely perfect unless you create it yourself. So unless you want to work overtime for years by starting your own business and craft your own job, you may need to settle at least a bit for your next job, especially if you’re currently living on unemployment and sitting on credit card debt. Even with a cash-back credit card like the Chase Freedom offer, interest payments will usually far exceed the rewards. Sure, you still want to have a minimum salary in mind – one that can adequately support you and your family – but by setting aside some of your higher expectations, you may find that the task of finding a good job is suddenly easier.

4. Running your mouth

As a Hispanic, you are probably used to long, roundabout conversations with friends and family members. It’s just part of the culture. But it can backfire in the world of job interviews. When an interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself,” he’s not looking for your entire life history. Even though it may seem polite and natural to you to get into a long story about your family, the interviewer is really looking for professional highlights. One Monster.com article notes that by revealing too much information about your personal life, you may end up sharing information that your potential employer actually doesn’t have the right to ask you about directly – but that might result in your not getting a job offer.

5. Bringing the wrong attitude

Too many job seekers are out to find the job that suits their needs perfectly. This makes sense, as you’re not working just for the fun of it. But you can’t let that attitude come across when applying for jobs. Instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?” ask potential employers what you can do for them.

Finding a job in a tough economy is, well, tough. But things are beginning to turn around – especially for Hispanics. So take advantage of the improvements, and stop sabotaging your job search efforts today.