It’s not just entry-level job seekers who make rookie mistakes. As the head of a career transition services firm, I see a lot of seasoned professionals (and even executives) make some pretty egregious miscalculations in their job searches, too. Sure, many of them should really know better, but many of the most common mistakes come from overconfidence in one’s experience. Here are a few of them you’ll want to avoid at every stage of your career.
不只初入职场的求职者会犯低级错误。作为一家职业转型服务公司的负责人,我看到许多经验丰富的专业人士(甚至是高管)在求职过程中也犯了一些非常严重的错误。当然,他们中的许多人应该知道更多、表现更好,但许多最常见的错误来自于对自己经验的过度自信。下面是一些你在职业生涯的每个阶段都想避免的问题。
 
MISTAKE NO. 1: NOT PASSIVELY JOB SEEKING WHILE HAPPILY EMPLOYED
错误一:一经雇佣,不再积极寻找新的工作机会
Obviously, if you love your job, don’t actively look for new work. But things can change quickly. Markets can tank unexpectedly, and so can office dynamics. It’s always wise to keep an eye on what jobs are out there, even when you’re not actively job searching.
很明显,如果你热爱你的工作,就不会主动寻找新的工作。但事情很快会改变。市场变化极快,职场同样如此。即使不那么积极地寻找新的工作机会也要时刻留意。
 
You don’t have to be filling out job applications every week, but even just subscribing to industry newsletters can help you keep a pulse on interesting companies in your field. LinkedIn’s Jobs tool and recruiting firms’ newsletters can keep you informed of opportunities without having to actively search.
你不需要每周填写求职申请表,只是订阅行业通讯可以帮助你一直关注感兴趣的领域。LinkedIn的就业和招聘公司的通讯工具可以让你即时了解更多信息,而不用主动搜索。
 
 
MISTAKE NO. 2: LETTING YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILES LAPSE
错误二:个人信息更新缓慢
It’s important to keep both your LinkedIn profile and your resume updated with any noteworthy accomplishments. Use your annual performance review as a reminder to give everything a refresh. If you fall too far behind, particularly on LinkedIn, you’ll fall off recruiters’ radar.
重要的是要保持你的LinkedIn个人资料和你的简历有任何值得注意的成就。用你的年度绩效评估作为提醒,及时更新职业信息。如果你落后太多,尤其是在LinkedIn上,你就会从招聘者的视线中消失。
 
Your LinkedIn profile should include a professional photo and an executive summary. Just make sure your profile isn’t exactly the same as your resume. Each job description should be short and high-level. But do more than just list out your work experience–you’ll want to position it in a way to entices hiring managers to learn more about you.
你的LinkedIn档案应该包括一张专业照片和一个信息摘要。记住,要确保你的个人资料和你的简历不一样。每个职位描述都应该简短、高级。但是,不要只是列出你的工作经验——你会想要把它定位在吸引招聘经理更多地了解你的方式上。
 
 
MISTAKE NO. 3: RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON RECRUITERS
错误三:过于依赖招聘人员
Many experienced professionals–especially those who’ve worked in the same company for a while–put false hope in recruiters to find them jobs. But it’s important to remember that recruiters are retained by hiring companies, which means their allegiance belongs to the firms, not the candidates.
许多有经验的专业人士——尤其是那些曾在同一家公司工作过一段时间的人——将希望寄托于招聘人员身上,这是没有用的。重要的是要记住,招聘人员是由招聘公司聘用的,这意味着他们的忠诚属于公司,而不是候选人。
 
So whether you’re job hunting or not, you should actively cultivate relationships with high-caliber recruiters who specialize in your space. Take the call when they reach out to you and offer to be a source for industry insights and trends to keep these connections vibrant. Add your profile to search firms’ candidate databases, follow the firms on LinkedIn, and sign up to receive research reports or other communications they publish.
所以无论你是否在找工作,你都应该积极培养与高素质招聘人员之间的关系。当他们电话联系你时,应该积极响应,对行业进展提供自己的见解,维护你们之间的联系。将你的个人信息加入到指定公司人员库中,在LinkedIn上关注他们,及时阅读他们出版的研究报告或其他信息。
 
This can help you stay on top of potential opportunities and recruiting trends. In addition, sending a quick note to say you enjoyed an article is an easy way to stay on a recruiter’s radar. Overreliance on recruiters is a common mistake, but so is underengagement.
这可以帮助你时刻关注潜在机会和招聘趋势。另外,发一封简短的短信说你喜欢一篇文章,这是一种很简单的方法,可以让你吸引招聘人员的注意。过分依赖招聘人员是一个常见的错误,但不在乎他们又是一种不敬业的表现。
 
 
MISTAKE NO. 4: NEGLECTING PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS
错误四:忽视职业网络
It’s tough to carve out time to expand or even just maintain your network. As a result, many professionals’ networks become dominated by internal contacts and external vendors. Too often, experienced professionals and even executives lose touch with their extended networks–until they want new jobs.
对于忙碌的上班族来说,挤出时间扩展交际圈是很困难的,甚至连维持都很难。因此,许多上班族大部分时间都在和公司内部同事和其他客户交流。很多时候,经验丰富的专业人士甚至高管们都失去了他们的交际网络——直到他们想寻觅一份新的工作时才会再去建立新的交际圈。
 
To keep your network fresh, seek out opportunities to connect with people who have deep, relevant networks, as well as people who challenge conventional thinking in your industry. Connect with these folks a few times each year (even if it’s just to trade hellos on Facebook Messenger), whether or not you plan to switch jobs.
为了时时更新和维护自己的交际圈,你需要与那些自身交际圈广阔或者行业内思维模式先进的人交流。不管你是否打算换工作,都要每年与这些人联系几次(即使只是在Facebook Messenger上简单说句“你好”也是可以的)。
 
For example, congratulate connections when you see them or their companies in the news (LinkedIn makes this easy), and comment on their social media posts. Send holiday cards or emails, or ping them to see if they’re attending industry events. With a bit of ongoing effort, you’ll cultivate a support network based on authentic relationships that you can draw on when the time comes to look for a new position.
例如,当你在新闻中看到他们或他们的公司时,可以发短信表示祝贺(LinkedIn使这变得简单),并在他们的社交媒体上发表评论。发送节日贺卡或电子邮件,或者问问他们是否参加了行业活动以寻找共同话题。通过一些持续的努力,你将建立一个基于真实关系的人际网络,当你寻找新的职位时你可以利用它。
 
Like most skills, job hunting is like a muscle that can deteriorate from lack of use. The secret is to lay the groundwork now so that you’re prepared for any potential move later. Worst case, you’ll have increased your visibility and strengthened connections within your field, which can pay dividends throughout your career.
像大多数技能一样,找工作就像一块肌肉,因为缺乏使用而退化。秘诀就是现在就打好基础,这样你就可以为以后的任何可能的行动做好准备。即使不需要换工作,这样做也可以帮助你开阔视野、在行业内与他人加强联系,这会给你以后的职业生涯带来回报。