Halloween is here! Along with visions of pumpkins, lots of sugary candy and awesome costumes, you could be scaring others with your job hunting tactics. Now, I’m not talking about applying to too many positions or calling the hiring manager incessantly during your job search. I’m talking about less obvious reasons why you make mistakes.

Don’t be that scary job seeker this Halloween season. Take off the mask and avoid these mistakes to combat a job search fright fest:

A recent Gallup poll indicated that only 43.6 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 had a full-time job in June 2013. That’s right — more than half of young Americans are un- or underemployed. This further proves how hard it is for young professionals to not only enter the workforce, but to find a stable gig that keeps them happy, engaged and productive.

Consider this: If you’ve been on the job search for months or years on end after college, is it time to explore alternative forms of employment? Below is a list of options that may not have been on your radar before, but should definitely be a part of your job search plan moving forward:

One of the positive aspects about job searching in today’s world is the amount of access you have to information about the process. For instance, we know referrals and job boards are some of the top ways employers find candidates. We also know networking is a pretty awesome way you can land contacts and referrals. But, how does this relate to job growth overall?

Recently, Simply Hired released their U.S. Employment Outlook for October. Overall, the U.S. experienced job growth, but let’s take a look at what this growth means for you and how you can capitalize on the report.

As a job seeker, you probably apply to coveted organizations, try to hit up as many networking events as possible, and nurture your online reputation quite a bit. However, have you ever sat down and asked yourself a very important question: What do I want out of an employer?

It’s something you may always ponder in the grand scheme of things, but never really hammer out the details. Understanding what you want out of an employer can help you to pinpoint the right organizations, identify the best roles, and assist with your overall professional happiness.

Christopher Columbus is famous for a lot of things, from discovering new countries to pushing the limits of his explorations. Though you may not realize it, you can learn a lot from the life of Columbus, especially when it comes to your job search.

In honor of Columbus Day, let’s explore some job search lessons inspired by the life of one of the greatest explorers in history:

Ben Affleck: One of Hollywood’s hottest actors, winner of multiple Academy Awards, and jack of many trades. He’s living the life, one hit at a time. He has earnings of $25 million as of June 2013. He’s a family man with three kids in tow. What could he possibly know about rejection, especially when it comes to his career? Quite a lot, apparently.

Affleck was recently chosen to star as the new Batman, a highly coveted role that has been played by stars like Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, and George Clooney. Though this was a win for Affleck, fans of the popular superhero were not impressed. Tidal waves of tweets were sent out, #Batfleck became the hashtag of the hour, and everyone seemed to have an opinion — a negative one, that is. People were overwhelmingly rejecting this decision, and it takes some thick skin to deal with that — even if you’re a millionaire movie star.

A recent Wall Street Journal article illustrated seven deadly mistakes many job seekers make in their search. That got me thinking — what are some additional blunders you could make that not only make you look bad, but also take you further away from the job of your dreams?

Here are seven more job search blunders that could cost you the position:

The life of a young professional often comes with some Catch-22’s: How can you do what you love when it may not pay the bills?

In college, you may have had plans to start your own business, be an artist, or travel around the world. But if you’re like most college grads, you may have an outstanding student loan balance equivalent to, on average, about 60 percent of annual income. Where’s the cash going to come from?

This is not to say you should give up on your dream job. Although you may be strapped for cash, there are some ways to maintain debt and other responsibilities while still pursuing your interests:

Connections, connections, connections.

Sometimes, it really is about who you know, who they know, and what a connection can do for you in your job search. Studies show referrals are one of the most popular ways employers source candidates. So, if you know someone influential, it’s probably a good idea to see what they may be able to do for you.

Here’s the catch: You don’t want to seem like you’re just using them for your gain. Professional connections should be a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship. You should be helping your connections on a recurring basis so you’re on their mind constantly. In other words, you have to be super sleuth about using your connections in your job search. You have to be proactive so you’re the first person they think of when an opportunity arises.