It doesn't matter how extensive your experience and skills are, a new job hunt is always stressful. And in every time you compete for a competitive position, the margins of error are tiny; and you feel you must ace every interview.

It's easy to make mistakes when you have all of that pressure bearing down on you. Some are forgiving but others aren't such as answering I don't know to a question in an interview.

There are things and behaviors that will kill your momentum on your job hunt completely dead.

Neglecting Your Cover Letter Or Worse, Your Resume More companies rely on computer software to screen candidates. So if you're hunting for a job, you've completed your fair share of online applications. These applications often ask to upload your resume/cover letter. You should always consider it mandatory to submit a cover letter as well.

Getting too Creative Unless you're a graphic designer, there is no reason to get creative with your resume or show up for a job interview in a costume. When in doubt, try color within the lines when it comes to the application process. Once you're in front of the interviewer, you can describe your creative approaches to successful projects. Not before.

Getting too Pushy Ok, so you sent in a job application for a job you really really want. And you haven't heard back yet. After waiting a few weeks, you shoot the recruiter an email who didn't respond back. What do you do?

Whatever you choose to do in the face of silence, there's one thing you shouldn't engage in. Obsessively phoning or emailing about the gig. Blowing up a Hiring Manager/Recruiter's inbox or voicemail is a sure fire way that you'll end up blackballed by that company for good. Regardless of how good of a candidate you are.

Lying about your Skills I've interviewed people who embellished their skills and experience. I usually catch it on quickly and when I did - it definitely backfired on them. For example - A woman I interviewed for a GM position - she talked the talk - knew what she was talking about, so I was impressed. After her 90 days probationary period. I let her go. She didn't know how to do a damn thing. So don't lie. You will get caught!

Not doing your Prep Make sure your social media is scrubbed of anything that makes you look bad. Have you scanned your resume/cover letter for grammatical and spelling errors?

Do not just jump into a job search without being prepared. Make sure your references are aware that you are job hunting. Otherwise, you could very well be spinning your wheels, looking for a job for a long time.