While everyone and his or her neighbor may be searching for a job these days, it is important to note that knowing how to job search is just as important to the actual job search itself. There are many tips that will tell you what you are doing correctly, but here are some common errors that are best avoided.

Not Updating Your Social Media Profiles or Skill Sets

Yes, job searching can feel like a full-time job in and of itself, but not updating your social media profiles on sites such as LinkedIn will make you stale in the job market. In today’s job market, you need to stand out above the rest and your profiles need to speak this about you. Also, not updating your skill set while searching for employment leaves you with a stuck-in-mud kind of feeling.

Limiting Your Search to Just One Avenue

If you are doing your search using just a few job sites, then you will only have access to limited employment opportunities. Do not limit yourself only to the job sites that are the most common. Be bold and contact actual companies instead of just spending hours upon hours reading job posts that may or may not respond to your cover letter and resume.

There is nothing that says innovative more than contacting a company directly. Do not forget the old-fashioned term of pounding the pavement. Be bold, walk into an establishment, and ask to leave your resume for the Human Resources Manager. Couple that maneuver with a bold and outstanding cover letter and you may have just put your foot in the door, literally.

Being Overzealous

It is great to be persistent, but when you become overzealous, you may find yourself running into the problem of becoming stale. Do not be afraid to take a break and do something different. Just take a class or two online and walk away for a little bit.

Go outside for some fresh air, take a walk, exercise, or meet up with some friends for lunch. Perhaps taking a break will give you the insight and the breath of fresh air you need. If you were employed, you would take a lunch break, perhaps go to a happy hour, or even take a week’s vacation. Take time to regroup and your job search will go a little smoothly after that.

While it is important to be aware of what to do right, it is equally important to keep in mind these tips of what not to do in your job search.