We recently discussed 5 mistakes hiring managers can avoid with the help of a recruiter. But what if you find yourself on the other end of the process—looking for a job? Good news; recruiters can help you, too! Whether it’s a faulty resume or poor networking skills, there are a number of things you might be unknowingly doing to sabotage your job search. Here are some of those mistakes and how working with a recruiter can help you avoid them:

Getting caught up in one method of searching. In our technology-driven environment, many jobseekers find themselves applying to jobs only through job boards. While this can be an effective technique, it isn’t the only way. In fact, many who stick only to online searches often find that it takes longer to land a job than those who vary their strategies.

•  How recruiters can help: A recruiter can pull you off the internet, get your resume out into the market, and help make connections for you. He or she might have some jobs in mind for you already, and in many cases, staffing agencies have several jobs to fill that are kept confidential—i.e., aren’t posted on job boards. Working with an agency can be like uncovering a secret treasure trove of jobs that few others have access to.

Not networking. It’s an old adage that stays true today: if you want to land a job, you have to network. This is a large reason why searching only online can be less fruitful than other tactics such as attending conferences, meeting people in person, and passing your resume to people you know.

• How recruiters can help: While you’ll eventually have to invest in your own professional network, a recruiter can help be your very own spokesperson. He or she will have met with you before kick-starting the search and, as a result, will be able to attest to your personality, skills, etc. upon connecting you to a potential future employer.

Falling victim to resume faux pas. There are a number of mistakes we make on resumes, from including pictures to making them too long to turning them into a laundry list of job functions. It’s well-known that a hiring manager often only spends seconds on your resume, but these mistakes only take a second to stick out and potentially fudge your chance at a call.

• How recruiters can help: When you work with a recruiter, they will get your resume first and suggest any changes that need to be made before passing it on to potential employers. Should you need further help with formatting, wording, or any other key aspects of a successful resume, your recruiter can work one-on-one with you to craft the best CV possible.

Treating the interview process as an audition. Interviews aren’t only aimed to impress the hiring manager—they should be other way around, too. You need to decide for yourself whether or not the job and the company are the right fit for you. But in the sometimes nerve-wracking process, it can be easy to fall into practiced interview clichés and routines that prevent you from getting the most out of your time there.

• How recruiters can help: When it comes time for you to meet with a hiring manager, your recruiter will spend time prepping you on possible questions, etiquette, and strategies to help you make the interview a success. While you can research interview tips on your own, recruiters can help further by matching you up with companies that they believe are the best cultural fits for you, which can take some of the pressure off you.

Not researching. At any stage of the job search process—applying, interviewing, accepting an offer—research is a huge factor in ensuring success. Is the job definitely one you’d be interested in? What is the company culture like? Are the benefits and pay what you’re looking for? There is a lot to consider at each step, and without thorough researching, we may miss something important.

• How recruiters can help: Recruiters will match you with companies based on a number of factors to ensure the best match and brief you on them at each stage. It’s still important to do your own research, but in many cases, the recruiter has already worked with the clients and knows their needs and culture. This will allow for a more effective match and ensure that you go into the process confident and knowledgeable.