How to avoid these common job search mistakes

Emily Sampl — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:53:51 +0000

How to avoid these common job search mistakes Emily Sampl Mon, 03/31/2025 - 08:53

An unintentional mistake can keep you from a great job or internship opportunity. When searching for jobs or internships, be intentional with your approach and pay attention to the details in how you present yourself to potential employers.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls when seeking employment.

Adapt your resume to match the job description

Stand out from other applicants by tailoring your resume and cover letter for each opportunity, even if the jobs or internships seem similar. You don’t have to start from scratch each time, but you can make a few updates to add keywords and skills that match the job description. Your resume will get more traction with this personalized approach.

Career Services offers workshops to help you build an effective resume.

Proofread

Little mistakes on your resume or cover letter can stand out in a big way. These oversights can influence the employer’s overall perception of you as a candidate. Double-check names, job titles and companies on your application materials to ensure they match the job you are applying for—especially when creating tailored documents for each application.

Try proofreading your resume and cover letter starting at the end and moving backward to catch typos or errors. Ask a friend, family member or Career Services team member to proofread your materials.

Update your online profiles

Employers regularly search the internet to look for more information about candidates. They may review your job profiles, like Handshake and LinkedIn, but they may also see other social media accounts. If the social media content they find seems concerning, they may not move you to the next step.

If an employer searches your name online, what will they find? Will the information and photos they see help or hurt you in the job search? As you review your online activities, think about your online presence from an employer’s perspective.

If there’s anything that could be perceived as negative or concerning, consider removing it.
Consider which social media accounts you want to be private and check to ensure those settings are up to date.
Be sure anything you put out is a good representation of who you are. This includes email names, social handles, websites, hashtags, photos, etc.

Your online presence can also be an asset in your job or internship search. Update your profiles to ensure they accurately reflect you, your activities and your interests. For example, if you’re passionate about making a change in the world, show how you’re involved in your community with photos, blogs or shared articles. Be active in your field of interest on social media. Especially on LinkedIn, you can post industry-related news, questions, quotes or articles. Follow inspiring people and companies in your field, but avoid connecting with hiring managers unless invited or until that person has hired you.

Don’t be afraid to go for it

The only way to not be considered for an internship or job is never to apply. We can talk ourselves out of great opportunities if we don’t think we meet all the qualifications listed in the description. If you’re interested in a position and think you could do the job well, apply—even if you don’t meet every single item on the list. Most employers will interview candidates if they meet most of their criteria.

For more tips on finding an internship or job, check out weekly programs and workshops from Career Services. These free workshops will share best practices for resumes, networking, making progress in your search and more.

An unintentional mistake can keep you from a great job or internship opportunity. Here are a few tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls when seeking employment.

Off

Traditional

White

5 steps for setting up your Handshake profile

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 21:08:12 +0000

5 steps for setting up your Handshake profile Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/08/2021 - 15:08

If a recruiter wants to find a ̽��Ƶ student, the first place they will look is Handshake. So, here’s how to brand yourself and control what information employers find on this job search platform.

Step 1: Create an account

The Handshake account that you create is a great way to enhance your personal brand. It tells the story of your academic journey and the type of professional you want to become. By having an active and public account on Handshake, you can be viewed by more than 14,000 employers around the world who are looking for ̽��Ƶ talent.

Use your long email address (firstname.lastname@colorado.edu) to set up your account.

Step 2: Fill out your profile

If you have a resume, the first step is to upload your document. Handshake will automatically fill in your profile with details from your resume. You might want to clean it up and make sure your major, expected graduation date and GPA were added correctly. If you don’t have a resume, you’ll need to fill these details in manually.

Add a professional photo or headshot so an employer can put a face to the name. Your photo helps to personalize and humanize the brand you’ve created for yourself. It’s easy for them to make a connection with your profile when they can “see” who’s behind it.

Step 3: Add work experience, university clubs and course work

Employers often find students by searching for specific companies they’ve worked for. List out your work experience in reverse chronological order, showing your most recent work experience first. You’ll want to list on-campus jobs and volunteer experiences here as well.

Be sure to list any student clubs or organizations you are involved with. This not only shows involvement on campus and leadership skills but can also give employers a look into your unique interests outside of the classroom.

Step 4: List your skills

This might be the most important step. Skills are the primary field that employers use to search for job or internship candidates. By listing your skills, you are showcasing character traits and unique abilities that make you employable. You can list soft skills such as communication and teamwork or technical skills such as data analytics or project management.

Step 5: Make your profile public

It might go without saying, but if you want employers to find you, you need to be findable. This means you need to make your profile public. You are five times more likely to be found and messaged by employers if you do this step.

Off