6 Mistakes Graduates Make When Job Hunting

By Michelle Wanjiku

Growing up it was always drummed into you that you will need to do well in school and go to university if you want to live a good life. You are led to believe that once you complete your studies you will get a well paying job automatically and start to live the life you want.

However, after graduation, reality tends to set in and all those dreams fly out the window for some people.

This is because the promised jobs are nowhere to be found and you are stuck job searching for years. This means that most people end up going back to school to do a different course or get a masters degree.

SEE ALSO >>> Here Are 5 Mistakes You Are Making In Your Job Search

In this article see some of the things you could be doing wrong and how to improve your job search process.

Here are some of the mistakes graduates make when job hunting

1. Applying only for jobs you are skilled in

Now, most times you are told to apply only for jobs you qualify for but this doesn’t mean that you don’t apply for jobs where you only miss a few skills.

Take for example, if you don’t have knowledge in Excel and the job requires that you do, you can still apply for the job as long as the other qualifications match.

Some companies are willing to train new employees if they think they are good enough and as such you might end up getting the job.

So don’t limit yourself when it comes to making job applications but you also have to be realistic and honest with yourself.

2. Ignoring low paying positions

A common mistake amongst graduates is only applying for well paying jobs. This is mostly because they want to live a good life. There is nothing wrong with that, but you have to start somewhere and not everyone starts at the top.

You need to be willing to gain experience first because that is what will determine your pay. You cannot expect to be paid the same as someone with 3 years experience yet you have none. You need to earn it, so you have to be willing to work hard to prove you deserve the high pay.

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3. Using generic cover letters

This cannot be stressed enough; you need to stop using the same cover letter for every job application you make.

You need to tailor your cover letter to fit the job and organisation you are applying to. This is because every job advert is different even if they are for the same position. What one organisation is looking for might be different from what another one is looking for.

By sending the same cover letter for each you are not really showing the company how you qualify for that particular job.

4. Not preparing for an interview

This is one of the biggest mistakes graduates make when job hunting. It is completely unacceptable to go into an interview blank. You need to have done your research and practised your answers to the very common interview questions.

Before walking into any interview you need to have proper research on the company be it what it does, its products etc and you also need to ensure you are up to date on the latest trends in your field of profession.

You need to show the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job and this can only be done if you are well prepared.

5. You are unwilling to relocate

This is sometimes a touchy subject for some people. Are you willing to leave your home and friends for a job? If you have ever turned down a job just because of the location then you need to become more flexible.

In the current job market getting a job is not easy, you should therefore, take any chance to gain experience as long as it is safe and it makes sense. You need to be smart when it comes to deciding because you might be missing out on a great opportunity.

6. Taking the very first offer

Another common mistake graduates make when job hunting is running to take the very first job offer they get. Sometimes this offer isn’t really the best but because you do not want to be jobless any longer you end up taking it.

It is always better to consider your options especially if you have interviewed for various positions. You never know, a better offer might just come up and you will very happy that you waited. You need to be careful though and only do this within a reasonable time frame.

RELATED ARTICLE >>> 6 Great Job Hunting Tips For Fresh Graduates

Remember, this is the time for you to discover what you want and what your skills are you should therefore be open minded and don’t give up even though you have been jobless for a while. Job hunting is never easy and you should be prepared to put in work, however, if done correctly you will not have to stay jobless for very long.

Michelle is a Communications Officer/Digital Marketer at Career Point Kenya. Email: michelle@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke