5 Things Hiring Managers Do Not Care About

In a competitive job market with many qualified candidates competing for the same positions, making a good impression on hiring managers is often just as important as having a great resume. However, it's important to keep in mind that candidates and hiring managers typically don't have the same priorities, and some of the things that seem very important during a job hunt may matter very little during an actual job interview.

It is common for most job hunters to obsess about their resumes. While a well-written resume that represents your strengths as an employee is essential to landing your dream job, there are a couple of common resume myths that many hiring managers agree you can safely disregard. The first of these has to do with the length of your resume. Countless career advisors believe that resumes should not be longer than one page. However, if you have worked consistently for more than five years, you probably have enough experience to justify going over this limit. Just make sure that the information on your resume is up to date and relevant to the job you're applying for.

Behind every great resume, there should be an equally great cover letter. However, cover letters don't have to be too complicated. Hiring managers want you to know that cover letters don't have to be wordy, creative or too elaborate. Rather than spending time writing a charming hook that makes your cover letter memorable, focus on laying out your qualifications and explaining why you'd be great for the job. Like your resume, your cover letter should directly relate to the job position.

Just because the interview is over doesn't mean job seekers should relax. Candidates still have post-interview etiquette to worry about. Many hiring managers notice when job candidates send thank you notes following an interview, but the form this note takes isn't really important. While some job advisors tell job candidates to send hand-written notes through the mail after interviews, many hiring managers agree that it is perfectly okay to follow up with an email. Sending a thank you note to hiring managers is not just about displaying proper etiquette. These notes also allow you to remind hiring managers of your skills and add anything you didn't get a chance to say during the interview. This is a great opportunity, so don't waste it.

When seeking employment, don't let yourself get sidetracked by focusing on things that hiring managers generally don't care about. When it's time to prepare for a job interview, spend time practicing your answers to common interview questions, getting your interview suit ready and researching the company to which you are applying if you truly want to impress hiring managers.

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