The difference between finding a job and finding the best job for you often takes a well-defined strategy. Identifying how your personal ambitions, goals, and needs align with a particular job opportunity is no easy task. But outlining these factors is essential when searching for a job that’s the right fit for you. Below, you’ll find the most up-to-date information on Indeed’s features and guidance on how to find a job you’ll love.

How to find a job that’s right for you
Here are some tips to help you identify if a job is a good fit for you:

Decide what you want in a job
At the start of your job search, spend some time reflecting on what has prompted you to look. Are you interested in doing the same job for a different employer? Do you want to change career paths? Are you entering the job market for the first time? Are you returning from an employment gap?
Each of these circumstances presents a different way of narrowing in on the jobs you want.

Research job titles and descriptions
There are several resources on Indeed to help you explore your career options. You can review different job titles to get a better understanding of what a certain role entails and what skills may be required. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides up-to-date information on a comprehensive set of occupations.

Review salary trends
Salary trends is an Indeed tool that lets you see the trends in compensation for specific jobs in different locations. Enter a job title and you’ll see the salary range in various cities and with different employers.

Identify your must-haves
Another method of finding the jobs that are right for you is to identify your non-negotiables and areas where you may be more flexible. Each individual will have their own distinct list, but here are some examples that you might consider:

Examples of non-negotiable factors:
The industry or discipline you want to work in
A wage or salary you can’t go below
Benefits such as health insurance or paid time off
Location and commute time

Examples of negotiable factors:
Job title (associate, specialist, or another designation)
Added benefits, such as the ability to work from home
Working at a small business versus a large company
Amount of travel
Deciding which factors are must-haves and which are negotiable will help you move forward with confidence.

Experiment with different job searches
The best way to get a feel for the jobs that are available to you is to try out different search terms. As you search, you’ll get better at recognizing the jobs that feel right and those that don’t.
If you’re not sure where to begin, it’s a good practice to start with broad search terms and steadily narrow it down.

For example:
You begin a search with “Customer support” in Austin, Texas.

The result: There appear to be thousands of job posts
Next, search for “Customer support specialist” in Austin, Texas.

The result: Total job posts are in the hundreds
In the search results, certain titles may jump out at you. You can now conduct new searches for each of these. If you really like the results you’re getting with a particular search, you can set up a job alert. You’ll receive new matching jobs in your email on a daily or weekly basis, depending on your preference. You can create multiple job alerts and pause or delete them at any time.

Use advanced search tools to get specific
The next step is narrowing down the job search posts by using advanced search tools. Some of Indeed’s tools that you can use are:

Filters
Filters can narrow down the number of job postings by salary, company, location, posting date and more. With this advanced job search option, you can potentially turn a results page with thousands of jobs into a few dozen.
If you’re using Indeed on your phone, you’ll see the filter button on your search results page, just to the right of the search bar. On a desktop, these filters are on the left side of the page.

Apply with your Indeed Resume
Keep an eye out for jobs that have the “Apply with your Indeed Resume” option. These are job posts that enable you to upload your Indeed resume and submit your application in just a few clicks, giving you back valuable time in your job search.

Company reviews
Where you’ll work is just as important as the job you’ll do. Use Indeed’s Company reviews to see reviews from current and former employees, getting a real sense of what it’s like to work at different companies.

Determine if you meet the requirements
When you find a job posting that you think is a great fit for you, be sure to read the entire job description and follow directions.

Watch for notifications from employers
You’re putting in the effort to submit carefully prepared job applications—you certainly don’t want to miss any updates from employers when they respond. Be sure to regularly check your email inbox and your Indeed inbox to see if employers have contacted you. You’ll also want to check your email spam folders in case messages have landed there.

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8 CAREER RESOLUTIONS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR

Everybody starts the year off with a list of New Year’s resolutions — which are nearly all abandoned or forgotten by February. This year, keep that January motivation fresh in your mind by adding your resolutions to your work calendar now. Here are some suggestions from career experts about what goals to set for this year.

Make a “greatest hits” list.
“Everyone should take time at the beginning of every year to take stock of what they accomplished the prior year… and put those into writing in a resume-like fashion,” says Monique A. Honaman, CEO and partner at ISHR Group. “It’s much easier to have all of this information ready to go when you need it as opposed to having to create a resume from scratch and remember what you have accomplished for the past 10 years.”

Establish one big goal.
“We frequently spend more time hammering out the daily demands of life such that we forget to focus on the big picture,” Honaman says.  “Everyone should set at least one goal of something major that they want to accomplish for their career each year.” Carve out time for yourself, just as you would for any other appointment, to work on your big-picture goal each week, she advises.

Seek out advice.
“Find a trusted mentor who can help guide you towards your goals with a dash of realism about how to navigate the waters ahead,” says Joseph Weintraub, a professor of management and director of the Babson Coaching for Leadership and Teamwork Program at Babson College. Even if you think you know the ropes, somebody more seasoned could give you advice about navigating your company’s higher-up office politics. Weintraub says this person can be someone at your company or someone highly-regarded in your industry who knows the unwritten as well as the written rules.

Set progress benchmarks.
“Set stretch goals but don’t bite off more than you can chew,” says Roy Cohen, career counselor, and executive coach. To keep your big idea manageable, come up with a few smaller goals that will help you accomplish your big achievement. Taking a class, earning a certification or writing an article for an industry publication could all be stops on the way to your final destination that will help build momentum towards it, Cohen says.

Do a quarterly check-up.
“As is the case with quarterly performance reviews in organizations, take the time to do the reflection of where you are in accomplishing your resolutions by doing your own internal audit in your scheduling calendar by setting up a look at your resolutions every three months,” Weintraub says.

Do a mid-year network check.
“Ask yourself at the mid-year point, who have I connected with this year?” Honaman says. You don’t want to be that guy or gal who gets a reputation for only getting in touch if you need a favor, she says. “Make the investment, and sustain your investment, by building a valuable network.  If and when you do need to reach out, the connection is not cold.”

Acquire new tech skills.
“Learn how to better use technology to support all aspects of your job search,” Cohen says. “The downtime around the holidays is great for coming up to speed on new technology applications or skills that need to be strengthened.” Figure out your weak spots, then find classes, books or tutorials where you can learn or brush up on the skills you need to move forward.

Take stock of your accomplishments.
At the end of the year, give yourself a personal performance review — and since you’re not sharing it with anyone, don’t dodge the mistakes and missteps you made during the year. “Be realistic in what you have done and not done towards moving towards your resolutions. Often failure along the way brings the biggest learning,” says Weintraub. “The key is to learn from past mistakes,” he says, by figuring out what you need to do differently the next time around.

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It will be Christmas before too long and the kick-off of holiday networking. If you’re planning on using this time to maintain and grow your professional network (and you should), make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Here are 10 areas to check on your LinkedIn profile:

Photo: You don’t need a professional headshot, but you do want to look professional. Choose a close-up of your face. Don’t include pets, children, or busy backgrounds. People who you network with and then want to connect with on LinkedIn will better remember you when they see both your profile and your picture. You want your photo to look like you.

Headline: These are the words that appear under your name. When you create your profile, LinkedIn includes a default – typically your current title and company. But you can change that. If your title is generic and your company isn’t a household name, it might not be clear what you do and what your industry expertise is. You may want to instead choose a more descriptive headline (e.g., marketing professional, finance manager).

Summary: Directly below your photo and brief outline of your experience is space for a Summary. This is searchable, so be sure to include the keywords that you want to be found for – brand name companies, technical skills, functional and industry expertise. Look at other profiles for summaries that you like, and model yours after that.

Experience: If it’s been a while since you have updated your profile, your experience section might not reflect what you’re currently doing. Make sure your title and description of your role is current.

Extras: Don’t stop editing at just the main sections, like Education and Experience. There is a Publications section where you can mention if you have written something – a report for a trade newsletter, a guest blog. You can also add videos or PowerPoint to your Summary or Experience sections to showcase examples of your work. The Volunteer and Interests sections reflect another aspect of your background.

References: You can ask people to write a Testimonial about your work. As a former recruiter, I can confirm that this won’t at all replace actual reference checks, but it’s another way of showcasing your background. It’s also a great way to reconnect with the people from whom you request references. Endorsements are another way to show peer support of your skills (while Testimonials are written references, Endorsements are just checkmarks against specific skills that show someone in your network confirms you have that skill). Be sure to list the skills you want to receive endorsements for so these keywords accumulate on your profile.

Settings: If you haven’t checked your privacy settings in a while, do that while you’re updating everything else. When you make a lot of updates, you want to turn off the notification to your network of changes you make – you don’t want your connections to be bothered every time you make an edit. Then, be sure to turn the notification back on because for less frequent updates – when you post a status update, when you change your title – you do want your network to be made aware. Another setting to look at is regarding your browsing activity — “Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile.” When you look at someone else’s profile, you can reveal who you are, stay semi-anonymous (LinkedIn shows no picture and just a generic industry or title) or anonymous. If you don’t want others to know you’re looking at their profiles, make this setting anonymous.

Connections: The connections that you have determine what kind of new connections you can see (because you are seeing their networks and their networks’ network). So as you update your own profile, think about what connections you’d like to make, and which connections you’ll accept going forward.

Groups: Groups are like-minded members drawn together by industry, role, shared background (e.g., company, alma mater) or shared interest. Groups are a great way of meeting people and staying current. The groups you are in also reflect your own experience and interest. So groups are another area to proactively update.

Contact info: Your email might have changed since you first set up your profile. If you want to know when people reach out to you on LinkedIn or get activity feeds or notices from your Groups, you need to make sure the email connected to your profile is something you check regularly. When I was recruiting, I regularly received very tardy responses from candidates I reached out to on LinkedIn with the sheepish excuse that they don’t check that platform so often. Have the notifications forward to an email that you do check often! Why be present on a platform known for its recruiting advantages if you’re not going to respond!

Don’t just network during the holidays. Plan to follow up and stay in touch. LinkedIn is an ideal platform to do this, so make sure your profile is ready now.

The post Refresh Your LinkedIn for Holiday Networking: a 10-Point Checklist appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Companies aren’t created equal, nor are their interview processes. But for job seekers interviewing at a startup, the differences are great compared to doing the dance with an established company.

“At a startup, we look for hackers,” says Greg Skloot, co-founder and CEO of startup Attend.com, the event planning software maker. “We want to see people that can get a lot done quickly, and with very few resources. A startup might not care as much about formalities like GPA, attire, etc. Startups champion the underdog.”

Whether you are a senior executive or someone fresh out of college, nailing an interview with a startup company is going to take work on your part. After all, these companies are looking for people who are nimble and aren’t afraid to wear multiple hats. Most importantly, they are looking for people who are passionate not only about what they do but what the company does, all of which can be hard to convey. It also means you have to be able to thrive in an environment where the rules are being made on the fly.

“Job seekers should honestly expect a little bit of chaos, less structure, and lots of enthusiasm for the enterprise, because you have to keep in mind that something new is being formed,” says Nell Merlino, chief executive of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. “One of the biggest differences between interviewing at a startup is that at an established company, you will be expected to try to fit into the pre-established culture of the company, whereas in a startup, you will be a part of creating the culture.”

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of a startup, follow these three tips to ace the interview process and get hired.

1. Do your homework.

Preparation is key for all interviews, but with a startup you’ve got to prove you know a lot about the company, its mission and the industry they are playing in. But it’s not enough to know the company makes x,y, or z; you also want to be able to bring something to the table, even during the interview. That’s is why Matt Trotter, a director at Silicon Valley Bank, which works with a lot of startups, says job seekers should choose a startup that they are passionate about instead of just applying to any startup. If you take the latter approach, your passion won’t come through because it isn’t real. “You want to come in with an idea of the general space, what the company does and ideas on how to improve what they currently have,” says Trotter.

2. Be prepared to think on your feet.

Startups are exactly that, companies at the early stages of development, which means they want to hire people that can think on their feet. Skloot says interviewees have to be prepared to handle direct and bold questions. “Why are you here? How specifically will you help push our company forward? How will you add value from day one? Why are you better than everyone else that wants to join the team?” are some of the questions likely to be thrown your way, says Skloot. “Getting a job at top startup is competitive — we really respect recent grads that understand that and demonstrate extra effort to stand out.”

3. Refrain from asking about salary, benefits and bonuses.

Unlike an established company where there are processes in place at a startup, there will be very little hand holding. You’ll be responsible for making your name and helping the company grow. One of the easiest ways to convey that is to refrain from asking what the company can do for you during the interview. Leave questions of salary, benefits, vacation time and other perks for a later conversation. “Startups are looking for someone who can take some direction, but you will have to figure many things out on your own, so looking for hand-holding during the interview will not go well,” says Merlino. “The best thing you can do during the interview is express your genuine enthusiasm for working at that startup, and emphasize how you will help them grow.”

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Honesty isn’t the best policy, at least according to some job seekers. People often stretch the truth on their resumes and cover letters in an attempt to land work, new research by OfficeTeam has revealed.

Nearly half of workers surveyed by the staffing company say they know someone who lied on their resume. That’s a 25% increase from 2011. Fifty-three percent of managers have a sneaking suspicion that candidates are often dishonest, and 38% have said no to an applicant after discovering their lies.

Employers are clearly clued into the fact that some applicants are either exaggerating their experience or handing over resumes that are more fiction than fact. But that doesn’t appear to stop some people from telling a few whoppers as they attempt to weasel their way into a job. Giving in to the temptation to lie when applying for a job is risky though. You could miss out on a job offer, damage your reputation, or even get fired once your fibs are revealed.

Plus, it’s easier than ever for a hiring manager to discover you’re not telling the truth about your past.  Here are 10 ways employers discover the truth behind your resume lies.

1. Your alma mater can’t confirm you graduated.

Claiming to be a Harvard graduate when you really have a degree from a no-name state school is one of the worst things you can lie about on your resume, according to hiring managers surveyed by Hloom. And while some employers will take you at your word when you say you went to a fancy school, others will check on your educational background by calling the school directly or using a service, such as the National Student Clearinghouse.

Sometimes, it’s interested third parties who clue an employer into a lie, such as the student journalists at a Kansas high school who discovered their new principal had inflated her educational credentials.

2. You can’t pass a skills test.

It’s easy to say you’re proficient in everything, from conversational French to coding, on your resume. But proving you actually have those skills is another thing entirely. Employers realize how simple it is for people to exaggerate their skill set, so don’t be surprised if you’re asked to demonstrate your talents.

An interviewer might ask you a question in the language you claim to be fluent in or give you an on-the-spot quiz. Failing such a basic test is a sure sign that you’ve either stretched the truth or overestimated your abilities, both of which are likely to take you out of the running for a job.

3. Dates don’t add up.

Roughly a quarter of resume liars are fibbing about their employment dates, according to OfficeTeam. If you’re tempted to cover up a resume gap by fudging employment dates, don’t do it. A quick call to your past employer is all it takes for someone to find out that you got laid off back in January, not June.

Trying to cover a gap by listing your job history by year, rather than month and year, is also suspicious and might prompt a hiring manager to do some further digging. If you’re worried about a resume gap making you look like a slacker, fill it with volunteering or consulting work, not lies.

4. Your resume and cover letter don’t match.

A sparkling, error-free resume paired with a messy cover letter is a red flag that a candidate is not being totally honest. Such a discrepancy suggests you got a helping hand with your C.V. or maybe even stole another person’s work history to pass off as your own. Being unable to recall key details of your past experience and jobs during an interview is another huge giveaway that you’ve fabricated your past employment.

5. Your job titles are too good to be true.

Two years out of college and already sitting in the C-suite? Expect an interviewer to ask some pointed questions about your responsibilities to make sure you’re actually telling the truth about your title. Inflated job titles will also come to light if the prospective employer calls your ex-boss to confirm your past employment. That’s when the promotion you gave yourself from marketing intern to senior marketing manager is going to be revealed.

6. You’re vague about your skills and experience.

Job candidates might stretch the truth by using vague terms to describe their skills and experience. Perhaps they reason that as long as they’re not spouting an outright lie, it’s OK. But savvy interviewers will spot people who aren’t quite as knowledgeable as they initially appear. “Using ambiguous phrases like ‘familiar with’ or ‘involved in’ could mean the candidate is trying to cover up a lack of direct experience,” noted OfficeTeam. In other words, claiming to be familiar with event planning because you sometimes pick up doughnuts for the weekly staff meeting isn’t going to fly.

7. Your body language betrays you.

You might think you’re an impeccable liar. But subtle body language cues in the interview could be giving away your resume lies. “A lack of eye contact or constant fidgeting may suggest dishonesty,” noted OfficeTeam, though those behaviors aren’t guarantees of dishonesty.

Touching your nose, looking down when you’re answering a question, and turning your body away from the interviewer are other ways you might inadvertently signal that you’re not telling the truth, according to the Los Angeles Times.

8. Your references don’t back you up.

If you’re a skilled liar, you might get away with embellishing your skills or past responsibilities in an interview or on your resume. But you won’t necessarily be able to count on your references to back you up. An honest reference will reveal the real extent of your job responsibilities or the truth about your so-called accomplishments.

Even if you find a reference willing to go along with your charade, the interviewer might do some extra digging on their own, reaching out to mutual connections or independently contacting your old boss or co-workers to find out what you’re really like. And remember, there are no laws restricting what an ex-employer can say about you, despite what some job seekers might think.

9. A Google search reveals the truth.

Seventy percent of employers snoop on candidates before offering them a job. You better hope that what HR finds on social media or as part of a basic Google search matches what you have on your resume. Of employers who decide not to hire someone after researching them online, 27% did so because they discovered the candidate had lied about their qualifications, CareerBuilder found. A little Nancy Drew-style sleuthing is all it takes to discover that your alma mater is a diploma mill or that the company you claimed to work for last year went out of business a decade ago.

10. The employer conducts a background check.

Not all employers conduct formal background checks. But if you encounter one that does, it will sink you if you’re being untruthful. If a prospective employer conducts a background check and discovers you’ve lied (either directly or by omission) about your work history, criminal past, education, professional certifications, or other key facts, don’t expect a job offer.

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So you’re doing a good job at work. Your boss seems happy. And now, you’re ready to take on more.

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to take on more responsibility is a great way to grow personally and professionally. It can be uncomfortable and hard at times, but that’s what will help you make real progress within an organization. So give yourself a challenge, and try these five ways to step up and have your colleagues see you shine!

1. Talk to Your Boss

Go to your supervisor and see if there are any additional projects you can work on. Make it a discussion rather than a direct question: you can share your own career goals and talk about how you see yourself fitting into the company’s future.

Think about what skills or knowledge you want to develop, and see if there’s an opportunity that’ll let you do just that. If possible, have a few concrete ideas in mind so you can suggest areas where you may be able to get more involved.

If you don’t have regularly scheduled meetings with your supervisor, try to get time on his or her calendar for the conversation. But if that’s a long way off, mention it in passing and follow up. A simple “Hey, I think I am ready for more responsibility and would like to help the team” may be just what he or she needs to know to give you the opportunity.

2. Look for Busy, Stressed Out Co-Workers

Look for the people who need help, be it in other departments or in the cubicle next door, and offer to lend a hand. Make sure that you don’t get taken advantage of, though, or become a victim of a credit hog: those colleagues who will attempt to have you do their extra work, and then take all the credit. Learn to identify and avoid these people.

Also, be sure not to overwhelm yourself with others’ work. If you’re risking neglecting your own responsibilities, you’re going too far.

3. Become an Expert

Acquire new knowledge continuously and stay on top of trends or developments in your field. If you’re seen as an expert in a particular subject, you’re more likely to be needed for new projects coming up.

One simple way: set up a “Google Alert” for topics relevant to your industry, company, or team’s area of responsibility. Pick your search terms, and any new articles featuring the terms you’ve chosen will be sent to your inbox in a daily update email. Another great option is to use Twitter’s news hashtags.

When you find articles relevant to your team’s work, send them out with a brief accompanying summary. You’ll be helping all of your teammates look better and stay up-to-date on the latest industry news, which can gain you a lot of credibility as a team player. Remember though, when you send an article out to your team, make sure you anticipate any questions that may come up about what you sent.

4. Be Proactive

Sometimes you can’t wait for someone else to give you the green light. Take initiative, and do what needs to be done before someone asks you (or someone else) to do it. Start by identifying tasks that are falling through the cracks and completing them. Your foresight will be appreciated.

If part of your planned activity involves reaching out to clients or other external members of your company, make sure that you have approval to do this. “Jenn, I thought that a press search would be helpful here, and I wanted to reach out to Erik on the PR team” is a simple way of confirming your team is okay with you reaching out, and also of communicating what you’re doing so it doesn’t end up being done twice.

5. Start With the Fun Stuff

Lastly, some workplaces have extracurricular activities you can get involved in, be it the softball team or the sustainability initiative. Show your leadership skills there and get to know more people at work as a first step towards more official responsibility. Plus, it can be good for your co-workers to get to know you outside of your traditional professional environment.

The post 5 Ways To Take On More Responsibility At Work appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Your current sales job isn’t working out, and you’re ready to move on to greener pastures. But as you start looking for jobs, you notice that every post looks the same. So, how do you choose the right one?

To find the best jobs, you need to do more than apply to every position that comes your way — you need to evaluate employers, learn as much as you can about the job, and choose the best one for you and your career. But where do you start? And what should you look for?

Use these steps to start your search for the best sales jobs:

Step #1: Research, research, research

The job search starts with research, and to find the best sales jobs, you need to look at the products and services you would be selling. The 2018 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey, conducted by my employer MedReps, found that 52 percent of respondents said a strong product line is the most important factor when evaluating top medical sales companies.

Do your homework and research the company and its products. Pay attention to what investors, business outlets, and leaders are saying about the employer. Even more importantly, what are customers saying?

What do their recent press releases say about the company’s stability and performance? Where is the company headed and what innovative products are they developing?

Don’t just look for products that are strong in the market; you want products that interest you, as well. What impact do they have? Why do customers want them? Would working with the products or services give you a sense of purpose?

Step #2: Get the inside scoop

Now that you’ve narrowed down your search for the best sales jobs by product line, it’s time to look at company culture. You can see yourself working with the products, but can you see yourself at the organization itself?

It’s a tough question for job seekers to answer. A survey of more than 10,000 professionals who recently changed jobs, published by LinkedIn in August 2015, found that 49 percent of respondents said the biggest obstacle in the job search is not knowing what working for an organization is actually like.

To get a realistic sense of the company culture, you need to go beyond the company’s website and talk to people. Reach out to contacts you’ve made from industry-related events, past positions, and social media who have worked for the employer or who know someone who does. Ask them about the best and worst parts about the job, what it takes to be successful at the company, and what the work environment is like.

Step #3: Ask the tough questions

You’ve narrowed down your short list of employers, applied to some jobs, and you’re ready for the interview. But to find the best sales jobs, you need to interview the employer and ask some tough questions.

Before the interview, draft a list of questions that are most important to you. Some good places to start are asking why the last person left the position or asking about the main challenges of the job. You want to know what to expect from the job — the good and the bad. Even the best sales jobs will have downsides, but you may be equipped to deal with certain challenges better than others. Another way to position this question is to ask about the typical ramp up period for sales reps. In other words, how long does it take for new employees to get up to speed and start making commission?

It’s also a good idea to ask about work-life balance. Today’s workers are looking for better balance, and sales professionals are no different. In fact, 62 percent cited work-life balance as one of the most important values of an employer in the 2016 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey. Ask what a typical work week is like and how they reward top performers. While you do want a job that challenges you, you also want to know that the employer values you and your time.

Step #4: Talk money

Understanding compensation is critical when evaluating sales jobs, but talking about money with potential employers can get a little awkward. But to find the best sales jobs, you need to know your income potential and what the commission structure is like.

If the employer brings it up in the interview, great. Don’t shy away from the topic. Ask questions to get a better idea of the earning potential, and answer any questions about your current compensation as accurately and honestly as possible.

If the interviewer doesn’t mention it, bring it up toward the end of the interview. You don’t want to ask about the exact numbers until you’re negotiating an offer, but you can get an idea by focusing the conversation on the commission structure. Ask how performance is rewarded and if top performers are awarded bonuses or other perks.

Finding the best sales jobs will take some work, but the results are well worth the effort.

The post What You Need To Do To Find The Best Sales Jobs appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Every single roundup of career advice out there talks about the importance of networking. Less talked-about but just as important is doing it correctly. You might think you’re doing all the right things by hanging out near the boss at the sales retreat or passing out your business card to everybody you meet at the trade show reception — but in reality, bad networking technique can do as much damage to your career as not networking at all.

Here are some common pitfalls experts warn against falling into.

Relying on online social networks.

Yes, LinkedIn and its ilk can be a great way to further your network, but the point of networking is to actually, you know, meet people. James Jeffries, director of career development at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, says this is a mistake young workers especially need to be conscious of, since they grew up having simultaneous online and real-life relationships. “As networking becomes synonymous with online networking… they can neglect the importance of actually meeting up with people for coffee, making a phone call, or showing up at an event. So far online connections have not supplanted these traditional interactions,” he says.

Staying in your comfort zone.

Mingling with others at corporate, industry or alumni functions isn’t going to be nearly as effective if you just hang out with people you know. Yes, it’s a good idea to catch up with acquaintances, but unless you push yourself out of your comfort zone and meet new people, you’re limiting the effectiveness of your networking, says Amanda Augustine, job search expert at mobile career network TheLadders. “Casual networking events at local watering holes can quickly turn into mini-reunions with the friends you already see on a regular basis,” she says in a post on the company’s blog. Augustine says you should set a goal of talking to three new people at every event you attend. “They have the most potential to expand your network the furthest,” she says.

Doing the business-card “drive-by.”

Some people take the other extreme when it comes to networking. They’re so determined to meet as many new people as possible that they have it down to a science: A quick introduction, handshake and then they’re pushing their business card into the person’s palm and moving on before the other person can catch their breath. “Networking is not a race to distribute as many business cards or get as many cards as possible,” career coach Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta advises on the blog of her consulting firm, OliveBlue. To be effective, networking needs to be about relationship building, not card collecting. It’s not and will never be just a numbers game.

Focusing on what’s in it for you.

“Networking can be described as the process of interacting or engaging in communication with others for mutual assistance or support,” Akpoveta says. The mutual part is key here. If you’re always asking what somebody can do for you, it’s going to get old quick. Find out what the other person needs or is interested in, and make that happen. “We need to change our mindset from focusing on not just what we can get, but to also what we can give,” Akpoveta says. If you’re known as a person who can deliver, people are more likely to remember you — and more likely to reciprocate when you’re the one asking for a favor or a referral.

Not following up.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but how many of us have been rifling through a desk drawer and stumbled across the business card of someone who would make a great contact — if only you’d emailed them back when you met them months ago. “Think of each networking event as a speed dating exercise,” Augustine says. “If you get someone’s phone number but never call them afterwards, the evening was a waste.” Shoot off a quick note following your meeting. It doesn’t have to be elaborate: Just say, “Hi, it was great meeting you. I wanted to make sure you had my contact info, too, because I’d like to stay in touch.” Even a brief email can get the ball rolling.

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As Stephen Covey would say, when planning out your career, you always want to think with the end in mind. This means paying attention to how today will affect your ultimate goals. Every action you take and each relationship you build will impact your future self down the road. While it’s very important to look ahead when planning your career, it’s also necessary to think about how living in the moment will help you accomplish your career goals.

Take a moment to think about where you are in your career today. Are you a recent college graduate looking for an entry-level position? Have you been in your career for more than a decade, but you’re looking for a new start? Wherever you are in your current path, it’s important to pay attention to your daily actions and how they will impact the future of your career.

Sometimes when planning your career, it’s easy to forget about living in the moment. Whether you’re concerned about reaching a particular goal or landing your dream job, you must live in the moment to effectively plan out your career. The people you meet and the events that take place each day can change your career in a blink of an eye. When you become too focused on looking ahead into the future, you can miss out on valuable opportunities taking place in the present moment. Before you know it, you would have missed a great opportunity that could have changed your career!

What are you doing today to set yourself up for success in the future?

If you’re searching for your first job or you’re looking to change jobs, what are you doing every day to help advance your career? Are you taking the time to develop your personal brand? Are you making the most of relationships that cross your path? When planning your career, it’s important to understand how your daily career habits can affect your overall career.

Especially if you are searching for employment, it’s extremely important to carry yourself with confidence and to have a positive attitude. The way you present yourself every day can impact the connections you make. It’s also important to continue to develop your career, even if you are unemployed. By investing time every day in developing your professional image, you will begin to lead yourself to more opportunities.

What does opportunity mean to you?

As you plan out your career and search for opportunities to gain experience, where do you look? Do you wait for opportunities to come your way or do you make them happen for yourself? Believe it or not, opportunities can happen at any time, but you have to make yourself available for doors to open. If you are preoccupied thinking about the future, you can miss the opportunities that are happening today. When you become blinded by what you expect out of your future, an opportunity for a new job or promotion could simply slip away from your hands. Therefore, you should always be looking for an opportunity everywhere you go and making the most of the connections you have.

Choose a productive habit to do every day to set yourself up for success.

Make it your goal to do something productive for your career every day. For example, make it a goal to read one career development book per month or to wake up early three times a week to exercise for thirty minutes. By taking these little steps each day, you will develop new habits that will set you up for success down the road. Not only will you improve yourself as a professional, but you will continue to learn what you want out of your career and develop your goals. Plus, by adding positive habits to your daily routine, you will notice yourself increasing productivity and a gaining a more positive self image.

Be proactive with your career goals.

If your career goals include climbing the ladder in your profession or simply finding a rewarding job, do something every day to work towards accomplishing your career goals. It’s important to find a balance between looking ahead into the future of your career and being proactive with your career goals in the present. This balance will help you stay focused on finding a new job, gaining more experience, or developing your skills.

Remember, living in the moment when planning your career can play a huge role in your future. Every single action you take and each person you talk to has the potential to change your career in ways you could have never imagined. By living in the moment, you are allowing yourself to be open to new ideas and opportunities, which can lead you closer to the career path you desire.

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Five experts share their go-to strategies. The good news: It can involve plenty of TV time.

“When I’m in a rut, I try to do something that makes me feel really uncomfortable. Most recently, I took an improv class and did a comedy set at a fundraiser for my kids’ school in front of an audience of about 1,000 people. That experience gave me a year’s worth of energy. Doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable forces you to use a new skill set. I realized that the reason I felt so nervous backstage was that I cared so much. Sometimes when we get into a rut, we forget that we care.”

— Randi Zuckerberg, 36, author and founder of Zuckerberg Media

“Sometimes there is a big, looming task you need to check off so you can become more productive and creative. You’ve got to take some time to clear the deck a bit. I do retreats for myself when I need to write. I will go away for three days and say, “Don’t call me unless the place is burning down.“ Coming back, I feel really rejuvenated because I’ve had an opportunity to focus on myself. It’s not always exciting — sometimes I’ll just go to Panera and plant myself at a table for four or five hours. Being away from the chaos and turning the ringer off helps a lot.”

— Gregory Hicks, 46, professor and chair of physical therapy at the University of Delaware

“A work rut can mean a lot of things for me. It can be feeling overwhelmed by what needs to get done, or it can be a creative rut, when the synapses are just not firing. I find when there is a lot of output, whether I’m developing a story or content, I need to take time to recharge and refill the creative well. To do that, I watch a lot of television. I also listen to a lot of podcasts when I’m cooking and cleaning. That’s really helpful for getting my creative juices flowing. I get my best ideas when I’m linking them to real-life stories.”

—Sana Amanat, 35, Vice President of Content and Character Development at Marvel Comics

“I believe fear often holds us back, and to get myself out of that space, I have to literally create space. That usually means achieving the high of some sort of a workout, getting out of the building and pushing myself. I live in San Francisco on a big hill, and when I walk or jog to the top of that hill, it’s the closest I feel to being on top of the world. When I push up the hill and see a view of the city, I feel like I have the space and drive to think about what I need to tackle next. It really helps me get those endorphins going. That’s when I feel most powerful.”

— Cassie Divine, 40, head of Quickbooks Self-Employed at Intuit

“If I am in a rut at work, I change my schedule for the day. We ship everything out of our office, so if I’m feeling like I can’t think of what our next photo shoot should be or I’m stuck on a design concept, I’ll leave my space and help pack shipments. Sometimes I’ll head down the street to people watch. In New York City, there is not a second during the day that’s dull. I’ll put my jacket on and go outside, and right there in my face is so much to take in. Leaving the office and using my brain in a different way frees up room for new ideas.”

— Mignonne Gavigan, 36, a jewelry designer in New York City

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