5 Job Mistakes That You Should Avoid

Finding a new job can be as simple as finding a job opening that you are interested in, sending in your resume, scheduling and interview and getting hired for the new position. Unfortunately, that is not nearly as easy as it sounds. In this competitive job market, it is important to take every advantage you can get to be sure that your applications stand out from the rest.

Even though there are many things that you can do in the interview process and in writing your resume that can help, there are still mistakes that many applicants make that keep their resume from even being considered. Even if your resume is well written and you interview skill are flawless, if you are still making these mistakes when you apply for a job, the odds are good that your resume isn't even being read.

So, here are 5 job mistakes that you should avoid-

• Attaching your resume to a blank email- This is a big one, and many, many people are guilty of this. When you are trying to apply for as many jobs as you can, it is much easier to just send the email with only the resume attached. Unfortunately, employers also know this, and they don't want to waste their time with applicants that look like they are just trying to find any job. Hiring managers want to think that the people they chose to interview are people who really want to work for their company. No one wants to be someone who someone “settles for”. Employers feel the same way. It is a good idea to paste your cover letter into the body of the email, so that the employer has a reason to download the attachment.

• Cover letters that are too long- Keep your cover letter down to three short paragraphs at the most, because most of the time, a hiring manager doesn't have time to read a lengthy email. Look at your cover letter as your sales pitch to answer the question “Why should I read your resume or consider you for the job?”. This isn't the time to restate your resume, but rather a chance to give them the highlights and tell them why you are a candidate who they can't afford to pass up.

• Attaching the cover letter as a text document- This works into number 1 and number 2, but again, many job hunters attach the cover letter as a document file along with their resume. If you do it this way, odds are it won't be read. Employers receive hundreds of resumes and aren't always willing to download both a cover letter and resume without being given a good reason.

• Having an odd resume file name- Again, employers want to feel that the person they hire really wants to work for them and isn't just looking for any job. Desperation doesn't make a candidate look good. So, when you title your resume document, name it JohnDoeResume, rather that JohnDoeSalesResumenumber4. Again, employers pay attention to the details, and they want to hire people who are detail oriented as well. So, don't make it obvious that they are not first on your list.

• Incompatible file formats- You have no way of knowing what word processing program the company that you are applying to uses, so it is a safe bet to save your resume as either a word document or a pdf. Pdf formats tend to look the most professional, and you can save documents into this format by using a free, open source word processing program like Open Office by Sun Microsystems. If you use Microsoft Works, be aware that most businesses can't open files that are saved in a works format. If they have to download a new program in order to read your resume, you can bet that they will just delete it rather than going to that much trouble.

Attracting a new employer is sort of like dating. You want to make sure that when you communicate to them, that they feel like they are the only one you are talking to. No one likes to feel like they are receiving a form letter or that you don't really care about their company. So, take the time to show them that you are a detail oriented person that has a burning desire to work for their company, and they will most likely give you a fair shot to prove to them that you are the best person for the job.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.