Answer: Yes.

There is an adage that says, "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Please do not apply that adage to your job search.

A job seeker who I met via Twitter some months ago recently asked me if there was such a thing as being overly eager/aggressive when using social media to look for work. After reviewing the seeker's LinkedIn profile and Twitter timeline, it was clear the seeker was frantically trying to secure the attention of someone - anyone - who could help.  I advised the seeker to read this article and suggested some changes be made to the overall profile and social media search approach to give the appearance of a less frenzied contender. 

Assertive vs. Desperate
I attempted to elucidate my point by using the stock analogy that recruiting is a lot like dating. In this love story, a man is decidedly uninterested in a certain woman for whatever reason.

Assertive Scenario: The woman approaches the man, gives him a compliment and her number, then walks away, leaving the next step up to him. 

Desperate Scenario: The woman approaches the man, gives him a compliment and her number. Instead of exiting stage left, the woman continues to flirt overtly with the man. She mentions she is single and unattached, and still, the man does not ask her out. The woman goes further and mentions what a great girlfriend she is (and provides the man with references to her previous boyfriends). The man remains steadfast in his decision not to pursue her. She then takes it a step further and secures the man's phone number/email and reminds him of her viability as a potential girlfriend on a weekly (or even daily) basis. Is this overly eager woman suddenly going to convince the object of her desire to ask her out?

The Allure of the Casual Job Seeker
Some recruiters want to feel like they are attracting 'passive' candidates (or at least hard to find talent). A job seeker does not need to mention that they are 'available for hire' on their LinkedIn profile multiple times, tweet their resume blindly to the masses 25 times a day, or use employer's Facebook career page walls to state a case for why they are the best candidate for the advertised job(s).

If a recruiter is interested in a job seeker's background experience and skills as presented on social media, the recruiter will find a way to contact that seeker. Period. I advised the job seeker who asked this question that companies often pay me to research and uncover contact information for professionals who don't list any information on their LinkedIn/Facebook pages (or more commonly, for those who have no digital footprint at all).

Here are some indicators that you, the job seeker, may have crossed the line between proactive and desperate.

• You "like" every job post on LinkedIn/Facebook Careers; you publicly comment on every job post that you are "qualified and available" and list your full phone number
  • Better: Like and comment on LinkedIn/Facebook statuses and feeds selectively. Inbox the poster directly if interested in a job rather than commenting on numerous feeds (which will be viewable on your activity feed to your entire network, unless you adjust your settings)

• You're saying everything you think the recruiter wants to hear, i.e lowering your salary requirements, saying you'll take 'anything', and agreeing to terms you know you cannot adhere to
  • Better: Be firm but flexible in your salary range/commute preferences/work hours. Be true to yourself and honest with the recruiter. There's no point in faking your way to the top if it will last only as long as a hollywood marriage. Do the pre-work and create a list of must-haves. Take the time to exhaust all options and invest time in finding the right long term fit.

• You're literally saying, "I'm unemployed and desperate for a job" to the recruiter
  • Better: I am passionate about the brand and am available for freelance and project/contract work. (via Laura Bonetti aka @Rieur1114)

• You've been asked to stop contacting various members of the recruiting team and/or to stop abusing the career site by applying for excessive positions
  • Better: Apply selectively. Network actively. Be assertive, but respectful. Refrain from applying repeatedly to the same jobs (tracking your job search efforts will help) or using the "spray and pray" technique to applying. After interviewing, send a thank you note, and at most one check in email or phone call to check on the status of the recruiting process. If you don't hear back, continue to pursue other leads.

• You have resorted to lying/falsifying documents to "fit" the job, or paying someone to lie for you
  • Better: Express your willingness to pursue additional coursework or professional development to make up for perceived skills gap.

• You show up for interviews far too early (45 minutes or more) and you're mentioning the personal hardships you're facing due to being unemployed to the recruiter during the interview
  • Better: Arrive 15 minutes before your schedule interview. Keep your answers targeted. Smile. Be gracious. Focus on the opportunity before you, not the rejections of the past. Know that you are making progress and even if not offered the position, you are strengthening your interviewing skills and getting an inside peek at the company. You may also make a lasting network connection.

Maintaining a Game Face

I completely empathize with long term job seekers, and understand how disheartening the job search process can be as a job seeker in 2012. You will have tough days, but keeping your game face on for the recruiters and managers you interact with during the interview process is crucial to your long term success. Feel free to vent to family and friends as often as you need to, but refrain from venting on social media and in email/phone conversations with recruiters and others in your professional network.

Recruiters: What other ways have candidates let their job search frustrations show?

For More on How to Avoid Being Perceived as a Desperate Job Seeker

CNN: Don't Be Desperate

The Undercover Recruiter: Don't Let Your Desperation Show

CareerBuilder: When Job Search Desperation Kicks In

Business Insider: 11 Ways to Ruin Your Chances of Getting a Job

Photo: Source

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Maisha Cannon is a Senior Recruiter and Researcher committed to introducing employers to talent that will enhance and grow their businesses. Over the span of her 15 year career in Human Resources, Maisha has filled over 1,000 positions, and has coached hundreds of candidates on resume writing, interviewing skills, and career planning. She spends her free time blogging, engrossed in social media, and singing along to the thousands of songs in her iPod.