7 Job-Hunting Mistakes College Grads Should Avoid

7 Job-Hunting Mistakes College Grads Should Avoid 7 Job-Hunting Mistakes College Grads Should Avoid If you’re a recent college graduate, you should know that finding a job can be just as hard as acing some of those Cal 2 classes you took. If you’re in the market for a job, below are seven job-hunting mistakes college grads should avoid- and what you should be doing to get hired. Avoid these seven job-hunting mistakes: 1. Being Vague, Rather Than Specific Sure, that English lit degree means that you can do anything from copyediting to writing to blogging. But when you’re applying for a job, hiring managers want to know why your skills and education make you a shoo-in for that position- and more importantly, why you want it. If you’re wishy-washy about your intentions (e.g., “My parents told me I needed to have a full-time job six months after I graduated in order to pay off my student loans”), you won’t impress a potential boss- and you definitely won’t get a job offer. Utilizing your resume, cover letter, and the job interview, be specific in how you’d be a perfect fit for that position. 2. Not Using Social Media to Job Search Up until now, your only interaction with social media might have been posting cool pics on Instagram and the occasional Facebook post. Thing is,  social media is a very critical part of job search success. If you’re not already, you should be on LinkedIn, which is one of the best ways to showcase your education and work experience online. Make sure that all of your other social media profiles are set to private, and then consider starting new, more professional ones on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Since the vast majority of  hiring managers will do a social media check, make sure that there’s something for them to see that is positive, professional, and promotes you and your abilities in the best light possible. 3. Neglecting Your Network You might have naturally assumed that building a network of colleagues and coworkers would come after you were gainfully employed. That can be a mistake, though. It’s never too early to  grow your professional network. You can add friends who are employed, people who were a part of your student groups or sororities/fraternities, and even trusted teachers. And don’t forget about your family, friends, and those who know you best. Start spreading the word that you graduated and are looking for work- you never know where your next job lead might come from. 4. Not Making Enough Time to Search It might seem tedious and boring, but job searching truly is a job in and of itself. As such, it requires the same amount of time, dedication, and focus that you needed to get through your finals. So make sure that you spend quality time looking for a job. If you want a flexible job, strategize your search to use niche job boards (like  ) and work with your natural rhythm. For example, if you’re a morning person, search early each day so you’ll feel productive and build momentum. And don’t forget to set alerts so that you’ll never miss a job opportunity. 5. Stopping a Search After You Get a Promising Lead A big mistake that some college grads might make is thinking that a job interview means they are super  close to a job offer. The problem is that the hiring process for a job can take a very, very long time (the  average job search  takes many months, or more). If you stop your search because you think you’ve found The One, you might miss out on other job opportunities that could result in getting hired. You should only stop your job search when you accept a job offer- and not sooner. 6. Using the Same Cover Letter Yes, it can be one of the most time-consuming tasks of the job search process, but its necessary to tailor each cover letter for each job you apply to. Be sure you address the correct person and talk about the specific job you are applying for. Mention why the job interests you and what you like about the company. Look over the the job listing and ensure you include a few keywords from it in your cover letter. This will help ensure your application makes it past the automated resume scanners.  As a new grad, putting in this extra effort can set you apart from other entry-level candidates. 7. Being Inflexible with What You Want You might want a full-time job as a fashion writer, but once you’re in the throes of a job search, you might discover that there are only freelance or part-time positions available. Don’t despair. Many people who want a full-time income attain it by  combining a variety of flexible jobs. For example, you might accept a contract job and a part-time position that, together, equals a full-time salary, but also affords you a whole lot of work-life balance and freedom. Plus, a variety of jobs means increasing your networking pool, which is a big benefit for grads! These seven job-hunting mistakes that college grads should avoid can really be applied to any job seeker. So whether you’re a newly minted college grad or not, keep these ideas in mind when you’re job searching to get hired a whole lot quicker! Browse Open Flexible Jobs Rachel Jay  contributed to this post.