I see many job seekers make the same mistakes and would love to help outhttps://bmcurutan.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/job-hunting-how-to-ask-for-help/

bmcurutan·Apr 11, 2019

Posted in:Advice Early Career Job Hunting

As an interviewer and mentor, I see many job seekers and candidates make the same mistakes over and over again and would love to help out

Sahara·Apr 11, 2019

Hi Bianca! I thought this was a really great post- as a person who is currently on the job search I found it really beneficial! I also just wanted to mention that I thought it was amazing to see that you spend your spare time helping new grads/early-career professionals - sounds like the ultimate pay it forward to help those that are just starting out their career :) I wanted to write a comment on it but didn't see the comment section so just posting my would be comment below :) _I would have to agree the the easiest way to apply/search for an opportunity is online however with an influx of resumes it can be hard for your (well, as I’m on the job search I guess *my*) resume to even make it to the next step.Of the list you gave I’ve personally have done #2 perhaps once. On social media (Twitter, primarily) I’ll see a lot of companies post their job openings and for the most part they are all mid/senior roles but I’ve heard that sometimes they (companies) don’t necessarily put a job listing for all positions that they have in the pipeline - so only once I’ve ever asked and the company on the receiving end - although extremely kind while messaging - confirmed that there aren’t junior roles available at the time and to circle back soon.Following up is something I’ve been doing in the past few months - I used to always send one email and if the person on the receiving end didn’t respond I used to leave it, however now I’ve gotten into the habit of sending a double down email (inquiring if they’ve seen my previous one) as now I think of it in the event that they just had a crowded inbox and hadn’t had the chance to see my prior email.I used to be the 100% must-tick-every-box-person however, after reading through the research of men/women differences when applying, I now usually make sure I meet a good portion of the requirements (not all but at least a good amount) before sending my application through - but there are times where I fall into 100% must-tick-every-box.You make some really great points in your article, thank you so much for taking the time to write it - most definitely going to be saving it for future reference!

bmcurutan·Apr 12, 2019

Hi Sahara. Thanks for your message - I'm so glad the post helped. To clarify #2, IMO it's totally fine to ask your network if they know of any open positions. The thing I was trying to point out is it helps to do your own research first before asking (people have asked me about open ___ roles in the past, but all those roles for ___ were already on the website), and/or to be clear about what you're looking for (e.g., saying "engineer" or "software engineer" isn't detailed enough since there's iOS, Android, backend, frontend, fullstack, etc.)Cheers :) And good luck! Feel free to reach out if you have any other comments/questions.

Sahara·Apr 13, 2019

Thanks so much for taking the time to write the post. And totally understandable from that standpoint - researching what roles are available before asking if that same role that's listed is available is a must. You make a great point - it's important to be specific on the role because Software Engineer is too broad of a term, technically speaking.And thank you! I will be sure to reach out if I have any other comments/questions! :)

whitneycaneel·Apr 15, 2019

Hey Bianca! This outreach is fantastic, thank you for offering your advice to the Elpha community. Curious to know maybe the top 3 mistakes you see jobs seekers make? And how you would advise them moving forward? Thanks again for your contributions!

bmcurutan·Apr 15, 2019

In no particular order, 3 "mistakes" (or perhaps just "areas for improvement") I see often are:1. Not following up - In the post, I mentioned it w.r.t. intros, but this also replies to sending "thank yous" after interviews. It may seem like a small thing, but taking 30s to write these emails shows you're serious about the company, role, etc.2. Asking someone which role to apply for - It's okay to ask for advice on this, but narrow it down. Something I see (particularly from junior or entry-level individuals) is they ask if it makes more sense, for example, to apply for a frontend role or a backend role. These are very different, so it's better to narrow it down and/or let that person know what your goals/interests are.3. Not applying for a job if 100% of the qualifications aren't met - I'm guilty of this too. My advice for this is if you are confident that you can do the job, just apply and take it from there. If the hiring manager or recruiter truly doesn't think you're a fit, then that'll be the end of the that - but if they think you are a fit, then it can work out in your favour :)

GraceA·Apr 15, 2019

This is great! Thank you! You just gave me an idea. I want to help candidates interview better since I am also finding a similar situation in the one on one interviews we are facilitating. <3

bmcurutan·Apr 15, 2019

That's great news - I hope your idea helps the candidates for sure.

rominacarabathampi·Apr 15, 2019

Hi Bianca, thank you for the tips! I have a better idea on how to approach my first job

bmcurutan·Apr 15, 2019

you're welcome - so glad it helps

Naz·Apr 16, 2019

Hi Bianca!Thanks so much for the offer! I'm actually in the process of applying for product management jobs. I was still in college the last time I applied for jobs and this feels like a completely different ball game.Do you review cover letters and if you do, what do you look for? In the letters that you've reviewed, what stood out the most?Thank you!

bmcurutan·Apr 16, 2019

I don't read that many cover letters nowadays, unfortunately, so I don't have much insight there :(

Naz·Apr 17, 2019

Gotcha, thank u!

gabyhernandez·Jun 02, 2023

I have been job hunting for almost 2 years with no success. Perhaps, I am not applying for the right jobs (operations assistant, manual tester). I am looking for remote roles as I want to relocate. The best choice would be Canada as I am a Canadian Citizen unless the company offers visa sponsorship and relocation assistance. I am living temporarily in Mexico, and my current role became part-time. It might be removed at any time. Networking seems to be the best source for connecting me with the right people. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

feyzahaliseok·Oct 26

Hello, I am a new graduate and I graduated without having the chance to do an internship in my field. Moreover, I am in an applied field. For this reason, I am looking for my first work experience as an apprentice. But there are not many job postings of this nature. and I make cursory applications for positions where I feel I don't meet all the criteria. I think I undermine myself because I feel insecure. However, as I don't get results, I become more and more unconfident about looking for a job. How can I overcome this and what do you suggest me for this process?