So here's the reasons... but you really need to read the details to do it full justice so don't just look at these headline:
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.
My favorites are #1 and #7. Finding a job is a full time job.
Everyone who's ever asked me for advice on their job search always gets
my "You need to do it every day, for a couple of hours, as a part of
your routine, don't just sit around and expect the phone to ring"
speech. About the interview, well, lets just say I have lots of
experience prepping candidates and friends (back when I was in the
contingency space) so I can say first hand that really helps as well.
But let me add #11... (or is it #0?) You don't use your existing network.
Here's what I recommend to my job seeking friends: every day, call one
of your friends and ask them to introduce you to a new one. Each time
you do this your network grows. But when you call your friend, be sure
to have a bunch of companies, imdustries or cities in mind so you can
ask your friend who they know at that company, or city, or industry.
Then call your new friends and tell them about your dream job, ask them
to help you get connected with the right person so you can get that
job, and if they can't do that then ask them to introduce you to
another new friend. Its a simpl formula but if you "meet" new people
every day you are bound to meet your next boss :)
Id love to find out what y'all think about these "top ten" and if anyone has another #11 to add to this list.
Over on MSN Careers there was an interesting article yesterday called "Top 10 Reasons Why You're Not Finding a Job" but the real debate is at Shally Steckerl's ERE Blog. Shally in case you didin't already know is the Manager, Research for Microsoft Corporation - a demi-god of recruiting.
