Are you making mistakes in your job search that are causing you to be passed over for a job? Take a look at the 5 most common job search mistakes.
We all make mistakes, and in this every changing job market, many job seekers are unknowingly making mistakes that are costing them jobs. Make sure that you aren't making any of these errors to increase your chances of landing the job you really want.
Social networking is being used by companies both big and small these days. Added to that, most job searching is happening online. This makes it difficult to remember that behind each online job listing sits a real person, who has real feelings and they make judgments about candidates from their social networking profiles, from their cover letter and resume, from their conduct during the interview and how the behave afterward.
Here are 5 Job Search Mistakes that you might be guilty of-
- Unusual Resumes- Let's face it, creative resumes look really cool. They are fresh, interesting, attention grabbing and a good idea for people who are looking for a job within an art field. So, unless you are applying for positions in graphic design or advertising, these types of resumes are just annoying to the hiring manager and typically get thrown out without so much as a glance. If you are applying for a non-artistic job, stick with a standard format resume. You won't get extra points for expressing yourself.
- Applying for every job opening- Going through job boards and sending out the same generic cover letter and resume to every job you think that you are remotely qualified for is a waste of time. Quality wins over quantity every time. Look for a position you think would be a good fit for you. Once you identify the opening, take the time to research the company. You should find out who they are and what they do. Next, customize your resume and cover letter to the job opening. Tell them why you are a good fit for that particular job. You can make yourself stand out by demonstrating that you are interested in that job rather than just any job.
- Stalking the hiring manager – Even though a recruiter may give you a business card with their name and cell phone number on it, it doesn't mean that you have the right to contact them wherever you can. This means it's not appropriate to find their Facebook and send them a friend request. Just because you have their cell number, do not text them. It is unprofessional and will likely rule you out of the hiring process. Of course, if you are researching them, you can certainly look at their Facebook or Linkedin profile in order to get information about who they are. However, contacting them through these means is just pushy. They won't like it, and most of the time won't hire you.
- Taking follow ups too far- It is very important to send an interviewer a thank you note immediately after an interview. It is also expected that you should contact them at some point to follow up on their hiring process. That being said, there is a point where it is too much. You should have only one contact with them before the interview, and afterwards send a thank you not and contact them once to follow up. They may ask you to contact them again at a certain time, if so, of course follow their instructions. However, if, after the interview and thank you contact, you don't hear back from them for a week or two, it may be appropriate to contact them one more time. Whatever you do, don't keep calling them every day. You may imagine that you are showing them how motivated you are and how much you want the job but, in their eyes, you are just harassing them.
- Acting as though you already have the job- During the interview, it is not appropriate to ask about money, benefits, vacation time or bonuses. Don't ask where your desk is going to be or behave as though they had actually offered you the job. Acting like you already have the job might project confidence but it is very forward and would give most people the impression that you are pushy. Most employers are turned off by candidates who show a sense of entitlement.
The most important thing to remember is that employers are looking for the best qualified applicants, but they are also looking for people who are a good fit for their company. Most hiring managers would prefer to hire someone who may not be as qualified but have great attitudes than hire superstars. Skills can be taught, but attitudes are much more difficult to change.
What other mistakes do you think job seekers make? Have you ever made one of these mistakes? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for CollegeJobBankBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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