Wouldn't it be nice if the career business had a little rule book? Maybe you'd get it when you were born or something, issued with your birth certificate. Then, during your lifetime, you could just flip to page 143 and there you'd have it! Read. Follow. Done. No worries.

While I'm certainly no authority on rules of the career game, here are a few common mistakes I've heard time and again in my work with others:

Lack of Career Direction. You've heard the saying no goals, no glory. How true when it comes to job search. If your response to "what type of work interests you" is "Oh, I'll take about anything," imagine how not helpful and how lame that is for your listener. Anything? Can you build a rocket ship? Can you teach a college physics class? Can you repair the engine of a BMW? The point is, when it gets right down to it, what can you do, realistically (and well) to help an organization solve its problems, meet its needs and bring you (and them) more joy than pain while you're at it?

Outward / external focus. Routinely, individuals who contact me express their unhappiness or uneasiness about their current job situation -- immediately followed by "so I just wanted to come in and talk with you about what's out there." What's out there is anything and everything -- you name it and it's probably out there or in the process of being put out there. Therefore, look inwardly and shift your focus to what's in here (your heart, your head) before you begin the job search process.

Turning your career over to someone else. While it's a good thing to enlist the help, guidance, and support of others as you pursue new options, remember, you're in the driver's seat. Make decisions based on your unique and distinct preferences, wants, and needs, not those of someone else.

Wrong job / right money. While the money looks good for a while, a bad fit is a bad fit, and sooner or later, you'll find yourself thinking about, or looking for, another position. Take a job for the right reasons, not the wrong ones.

Failure to understand the product (brand you) and its value/worth in a highly competitive market. Before you hit the streets, analyze your product and then practice speaking about it -- its best features, value and benefits to optimize your chances of success.
What has been your biggest mistake, to date, when exploring new career opportunities?

Source: Billie Sucher writes for the Career Hub blog. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.