Top 10 Reasons Why You're Not Finding a Job

I've noted previously that your career is your single-biggest financial asset. That's why I post job-related articles quite often. Even a small difference in your pay, multiplied over decades, can make a big, big difference in your finances.

So today I'm highlighting a piece from CareerBuilder.com that lists the top 10 reasons why you're not finding a job. It's a good list and is not only for those looking for their first job (or even just those currently out of a job), but is for anyone who ever may want to make a job change (which is just about everyone.)

Here's their list of the top 10 reasons why you're not finding a job:

1. You're not making finding a job a job itself!
2. You haven't developed a system of finding a job.
3. You have an unrealistic idea about the market for your skills.
4. You aren't acknowledging the psychological and emotional stress that changing jobs entails.
5. You ignore small businesses.
6. You don't recognize that face-to-face interviews are the only things that matter.
7. You don't prepare well for interviews.
8. You're not selling yourself.
9. You have the attitude, "What can you do for me?"
10. You give poor reasons for leaving your job.

I've been in business for 18 years now, have hired people and been hired myself, and have dealt with personnel issues involving hiring, and I can personally say that this is a GREAT list.

In particular, I find that people fail on numbers 6, 7, and 8. They barely prepare for the interview (so it doesn't go as well as it could have) and on their resume as well as in person they don't take full advantage of highlighting their accomplishments. For instance, consider the following two statements that could be used in a resume or an interview:

• I supervised a group of people assembled to cut costs.
• Initiated and led cost-saving team to identifying $2.3 million in annual savings. Won prestigious "Out of the Box" award as a result.

They both highlight the same accomplishment. But one really "sells" it. If these were two different people, which would you hire? See what I mean?

This is one reason I love the book Career Intensity so much. It focuses on recognizing that you (and your accompanying work) are a brand. And just like any other brand, you need to market yourself. You need to do this all the time, not just when you're looking for a new position. It's a great book (I gave it 8 stars) and I'm very happy to be giving away a copy of the book every day in April. I think it's going to help a lot of people.

For more on the thinking behind Career Intensity, check out my interview with author David Lorenzo.

Comments

[CollegeGrad]

Great post! And since I am in the beginning phase of my job search, I plan to win a book!

--CollegeGrad

[Ramon]

Rather cognitively...