After the recession, many Americans took low-paying jobs to simply make ends meet. Now that the economy is recovering, they may begin to look for better-paying jobs. A job that offers more money can allow these people to no longer have to dip into their emergency funds to cover expenses. However, with high competition in the labor force, they must avoid mistakes that could cost them a job.

Some common mistakes that job seekers make could lead to them not getting a job, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Not Following Up With Networking Contacts
Networking is one of the best ways to potentially land a job. But it becomes useless if you fail to follow up with the contacts that you meet. Many job seekers are guilty of not following up. For that reason, they may be costing themselves a job. People you meet networking can be very valuable. Even if they don’t get you a job, they could potentially prove helpful in the future. To give yourself the best shot at obtaining a job, you should stay in contact with these people.

Not Including Targeted Keywords In Your Resume
Before a potential employer meets you, they will learn about your skills through your resume. In order to stand out, you’ll want to include targeted keywords on this document. The company will likely be getting tons of resumes. Targeted keywords will help you get noticed. The best way to do this is to analyze the job description and find words that best describe your skills in relations. Failing to do this simple task could result in you being passed over for a position.

Making Your Resume Completely About Your Past
When making a resume you want to make sure it outlines what you want to do next. While your past is important, an employer will want to know how you can help their company improve in the future. It is necessary to make connections between your accomplishments and what you want to do in the future. If your resume is just a document of your history, you may not obtain the job you are seeking.

Failing To Have Someone Review Your Resume
Having someone else review your resume can be the step needed to help perfect the document, according to Forbes. Failing to do so could result in mistakes on your resume that you didn’t notice. A second party should look over your resume to check for spelling errors, irrelevant information or skills you haven’t highlighted.