Sure, the internet has made starting the quest for a new job a bit easier. Still, there are many common mistakes that can hinder your job search. Below are five mistakes that many people make.

1. Wasting Everybody's Time

If the position requires 10+ years experience and you are fresh out of college, then don't bother applying. It wastes your time, and the time of the hiring manager who has to wade through the resumes of under qualified people in order to find the ones who meet the criteria included in the job listing. Instead, be sure to read the listing carefully and then only apply for jobs for which you qualify.

2. Not Paying Attention to Privacy Settings

Your current employer may be looking to hire a few more people. Suppose that while your boss is perusing the resumes on some job search sites, he comes across yours. It's hard to imagine a situation in which this could be positive. Be sure to carefully check the privacy settings so that neither you - or your boss - encounter any unpleasant surprises.

online job search Your Online Job Search Five Common Mistakes to Avoid

3. Searching While at Work

While it may be tempting to spend half of your workday cruising around job search sites and shooting your resume off here and there, here is a word of advice: Don't. First of all, it's unethical. Your current employer is not paying you to look for another job. Spending your on-the-clock time that way is akin to stealing from the company. Aside from being unethical, you stand a pretty good chance of getting caught. More and more companies have installed software that allows them to track the internet usage and email activity of employees. Some are enabled with automatic keyword searches that bring any activity containing certain words to the attention of management. You don't want to lose your current employment without having found your next job. Save your job searching for your off hours.

4. No Follow Up

As mentioned earlier, the internet has, in some ways, made searching for a job simpler. That does not mean, however, that you can just post your resume on a few sites and forget it. Conducting a successful job search takes a lot of work. You've to follow through, make phone calls, send letters, do research. Make finding a job your job. Very few people will land a job without diligently following through on leads.

5. Presenting an Unprofessional Presence

Websites such as VisualCV.com make it easier than ever to post professional looking resumes. You even have the option of including photos, videos, charts and graphs. While those tools can be positive, just be sure to keep in professional. This is a job search, not a creative video making contest. Too much extra stuff could possibly turn off the hiring manager. Keep it professional and increase your chances of getting an interview.

By working to avoid these five common mistakes, you can increase your chances of landing a job in a shorter amount of time. Happy hunting.

By Craig Bennett

Craig Bennett is a freelance copywriter and former college instructor in Business Administration. He created MasterMyFinances as a resource for individuals and families in these difficult economic times.

You may subscribe to his free monthly e-zine and receive two free special reports here: http://www.MasterMyFinances.com/wordpress/

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