5 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in Your Job Search
One of the many great things about being at Newhouse is how focused everyone is on helping you continue your success once you leave. There are plenty of career related events, so there’s no excuse not to be a master at networking by the time you graduate. This is where the amazing team at the Tina Press & David Rubin Career Development Center or CDC can help but they can only help if you are focused and ready to take on the challenge of life after Newhouse.
For graduate students, we don’t have the luxury of four years to figure out what we want to be when we grow up. With help from the CDC, I’ve compiled the top five mistakes you don’t want to make in your job search.
- Lacking focus and direction
You need to figure out what your passion is, and then know the types of people you want to connect with. Without figuring this out you’ll be wasting your one precious year. If you’re not sure where to begin, the CDC holds the Job Hunt Marathon, which can help start you on the right path. - Being complacent about your resume
You’ve probably heard it a million times but it has to be said: target and cater your resume to the positions you’re applying to. You need to focus your materials and use the organization’s language. The spray and pray method won’t cut it and you’ll end up in HR’s resume abyss. If you want to make sure that your resume is flawless, make an appointment with the CDC or sign up for the resume and cover letter writing workshop. - Not being able to distinguish between applicant brain and networking
Applicant brain focuses solely on one thing: I want a job. Networking is about having conversations without expectations. As millennials we’re used to instant gratification but networking is one way to properly work on our relationship building skills. - Failing to utilize your network
The Newhouse Network is huge, but it’s not the only network you have. Think about all the people you already know: high school friends, relatives, mentors. All these people are part of your network and you need to be able to vocalize where you’d like to be and what you’re looking for to them. Define your goal for the connection and figure out what they can help you with. We’re all communications students, that should be easy enough right? - Not playing the long game
When you’re networking, drop the expectation that each connection will immediately lead to a job. Networking is not about a job, it’s about your career. Make an effort to stay in touch with the people you connect with a few times a year. If they’re in the same industry, you should have plenty to talk about.
Networking definitely takes work (they wouldn’t call it that otherwise!) but it’s also a muscle and the more you use it, the stronger and better it gets. If you’re a current student and want to avoid these five mistakes, visit the CDC in Newhouse 3, Room 313 to make an appointment. If you’re a prospective student, you’ll be in good hands once you get here!
Thanks to Bridget Lichtinger at the Career Development Center for taking the time to give me her top 5 tips.
–Neema Amadala is a graduate student studying advertising
