Source: WBALTV
So, 11 News is getting the facts on what consumers can do when it comes to traveling, buying a car, joining a gym, searching for jobs and even learning the best skin-care routines for the summer.
Justin Lorts, senior director of undergraduate education at the Life Design Lab at Johns Hopkins University, shares his top five tips for what not to do when looking for a job.
Don’t send generic resumes; Do use keywords
“Your resume, ideally, should be tailored to the job description, should highlight your skills as they apply to the job you’re applying to, and should use the language of the job posting. So, your resume matches the job description as best as you can,” Lorts said.
Don’t conduct your job search from the couch
“It’s really tempting — with LinkedIn and Indeed and all these websites out there — to just sit on the couch and to look for jobs and apply for jobs on the couch. But you really have to get out there, connect with current and former colleagues, former supervisors, people in your network. That’s how you find out about opportunities that might not yet be posted and to learn insights about the current hiring market and trends so you’re more prepared and more aware of what’s going on out in the industry that you’re applying to,” Lorts said.
Don’t do it alone
“Here at Johns Hopkins, we support all of our students and alumni in their job search. Certainly, if you are a student or a recent alum, your college probably has a similar office to ours — take advantage of that. If you don’t have access to a life design or a career lab, reach out to friends, family, current and former co-workers, former supervisors. Get help on things on (your) resume, things like preparing for the interview, on just job-search strategies, so you feel more prepared and supported in your search,” Lorts said.
Don’t get hung up on that dream job
“I think we all focus on getting that dream job, that dream employer. The reality is there’s a lot of great companies out there, many of which you might not have heard of, so don’t automatically dismiss those jobs. But also think in terms of responsibilities rather than titles. There might be roles that are better suited to your background, to your experience and your interest, and if you’re only focused on specific roles, you might miss out on those opportunities that might be a great place to continue or start your career,” Lorts said.
Don’t take it personally
“Failure is the name of the game in this. Sometimes, we apply for jobs and don’t get it. Sometimes, we learn from the experience to develop your skills so you do better the next time. But, oftentimes, someone else was just a better fit. So, don’t internalize it, don’t take it personally. Just continue to work and improve, and eventually, you will get that job you’re looking for,” Lorts said.
