Overcoming Job-Search Hurdles

We recently asked our friends on Monster's Facebook page about their biggest job-search hurdles, and how they overcame them. Here are five of their comments, as well as some expert advice to help you if you're facing similar challenges in your hunt for a new job:

1. K Bar Newman had one word for us: scams.

If you're looking for a job, you may occasionally come across a job posting that looks too good to be true. Word to the wise: it probably is. Don't let desperation or eagerness overtake your common sense. Generally speaking, if a potential employer asks you to make an upfront investment or perform work before a job offer is signed (or is imminent), you should be hearing warning bells. Research potential employers online before making a commitment.

(For more advice, check out Monster.com's Security Center.)

2. Mary Mueller said, "Let's face it. The biggest challenge in any job is if you are going to get along with the boss and whether your boss has a clue about how to handle authority."

And that's an excellent point! Remember that a job interview is not only about them assessing you. You should also be assessing whether the company (and the boss) is right for you. Ask your interviewer how the team works together, why the position is open, and so on, to get a feel for the environment.

(For more advice and tips, read "10 Warning Signs of a Toxic Boss at the Interview.")

3. Dave Kelly said that having too many jobs in a short time was his problem.

And that can definitely be a problem on a resume, because it makes you look like a "job-hopper," which can be a turn-off for a recruiter or hiring manager. One way to provide context to a jumpy resume is to tell your story in your cover letter: "After my success at Company A, that company's financial situation forced layoffs. I then took a short-term job at Company B, where I …".

(For more advice and suggestions, read "Resume Dilemma: Employment Gaps and Job-Hopping.")

4. Mark Schiller said, "Hardest part is getting past inexperienced HR people who only do what the computer tells them to do instead of looking at possibilities and talents. That and the over-50 age discrimination that no one talks about."

And it's true that a bias against older workers does exist (sometimes unconsciously). One way to get around that (as well as to speed past HR people right to a hiring manager) is to network, network, network -- work those contacts! And to help you in that effort, Monster.com has a great new networking tool -- the BeKnown app -- that lets you develop a professional network on Facebook.

(For more advice and suggestions, read "Overcome Job Search Ageism.")

5. Tracie Kim Grenier worried that she wasn't getting called for interviews because her resume was getting lost in the shuffle: "There [are] so many people looking for work, I seem to get lost," she said.

One key to making sure your resume gets noticed is to customize it for the job you're applying for -- this is key to getting past resume-reading software. Use the language in the job post, and highlight your skills that match the skill requirements listed in the post.

(For more advice and suggestions, check out "Make Your Resume Stand Out in a Crowd.")

What are your job-search hurdles, and how have you gotten over them? Share your story in the Comments section or on our Facebook page, and find us on Twitter for daily career-advice tweets, follow @monstercareers.

 

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