5 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Job Search

February 3, 2013

Do you ever feel like Bill Murray in the movie "Groundhog Day," doomed to repeat the same actions over and over again, without a positive result? If so, says career expert Amanda Augustine, it's possible that you're working against yourself.

In honor of February 2, Augustine presents us with five possible things we might be doing in our job hunt that keep us running around in circles. If you're doing everything you should be doing, but still aren't having any luck, Augustine says, it's time to ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you have clear, realistic goals?

It’s not enough to just say, “I want a job.” You need to make concrete, attainable goals that align with your skills and experience. (In other words, unless you’ve invented the next Facebook and want to start your company, it’s also probably not a good idea to shoot for CEO right out of school.)

Do You Know What You're Worth?

2. Is your resume digital-ready?

You have about six seconds to make a first impression online, according to research from TheLadders. This means that you need to tailor your CV to incorporate keywords that express your talents, skills, and goals.

3. Do you know what other people see when they look for you online?

Google yourself. That’s not a modern way of cussing out another internet user. It’s just good advice. If you want to see yourself as your potential bosses see you, you need to know what your online persona looks like.

4. Are you applying for the right jobs?

“Job descriptions are often a hiring manager’s wish list for the dream candidate,” Augustine writes. “While the employer probably doesn’t expect you to have every single qualification, they do expect you to meet all the core ‘must-have’ requirements. Only apply to jobs where you possess these must-haves.”

5. Are you networking enough?

Most of us get our jobs through our personal connections these days, not through applying out of the blue. Augustine recommends setting aside time each week to go on informational interviews, join new professional associations, or work up a new social media profile.

Tell Us What You Think

We want to hear from you! How do you find a new job? Share your secrets on Twitter, using the hashtag #MakeItHappen or leave a comment on this post.

More from PayScale

4 Sneaky Tips for Your Stealth Job Hunt

Does Grad School Pay Off? [infographic]

Want to Be More Productive? Walk More