
By Skip Freeman, Interview Coach
Chances are, if you are currently employed, you probably think there is little, if any, reason you should even be thinking about finding another job. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. With companies shedding jobs virtually every day, no one is "safe" in today's BRUTAL job market, and that certainly includes those who are currently employed. Based upon my professional experience, as well as experience in the market each and every day, here are what I see as the "Top 10" mistakes employed people are making today:
Mistake #1 — Not realizing that the best time to find your next job is while you still have a job.
Understandably, there is a huge pent up level of dissatisfaction in the work place and it’s growing worse by the day. A recent survey by Robert Half, for example, indicates that 58% of the work force plans on making a career change as soon as the economy gets better. (That number goes to 79% in the 18- to 35-year old category).
What does all of this mean? It means that as soon as the economy does in fact get better—and it will, eventually—the number of people competing for openings will double and, whether it is fair or not and whether one likes it or not, currently employed people will have an edge over unemployed people.
So, if you are dissatisfied at work, NOW is the time to begin to ramp up your job search activities before everyone else does.
Mistake #2 — Believing that a company will be loyal to you. Loyalty is gone, if it ever did honestly exist.
Mistake #3 — Not keeping an updated resume handy.
Mistake #4 — Not creating (and updating) your LinkedIn profile.
Mistake #5 — Failing to align yourself with an excellent recruiter within your niche.
Mistake #6 — Failing to stay involved within your industry or professional specialty.
Mistake #7 — Failing to develop (and keep updated) your personal marketing portfolio.
Mistake #8 — Failing to ensure that you can be easily found.
Mistake #9 — Failing to learn how to network properly and then participating in appropriate networks on a continual basis.
Mistake #10 — If offered a new position with another company, you even think about entertaining any “counter offer” your current employer may offer you.
If you are currently employed, how many of these "mistakes" are you making? Remember, the Boy Scouts have a great motto: Be Prepared! Certainly, if you want to survive in today's "challenging" (to put it mildly!) job market, that's what you should be.
About the Author
Skip Freeman is the author of "Headhunter’ Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed... Forever!" and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and R&D professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.
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