Facts About Your Job Search That You Should Never Ignore

The job search can be an uphill battle, full of roadblocks and challenges. Recruiters and hiring managers see their fair share of mistakes made by well-meaning job seekers; don't be one of them. Consider the following job search advice from recruiters to make more progress and get that dream job faster.

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Most recruiters are bored by nearly every resume they come across, so don't spend too much job-search time on minute details such as font or color. Just make it easy to read, concise and relevant. Highlight your greatest accomplishments so that employers are able to get the gist of it with just a skim of the page.

Grab Attention With the Cover Letter

Your cover letter, like your resume, can only hope for a quick skim from a busy hiring manager, so make it short and to the point. Highlight your greatest achievements, talents and relevant qualifications as they relate to the specific position. Address it to a specific person, keep it under a page and cut the filler.

Tell the Truth

In this digital age, it is simply not worth it to lie about yourself at any point in the job search. Employers can very easily get to the bottom of things, so don't try to embellish your resume or fabricate salary history, employment gaps or other details. Be honest about your past, and be able to explain potential red flags. Employers are looking for progress from job seekers — not perfection.

Edit Your Online Presence

Before any new job search, review all your social media accounts. A quick Internet search may turn up unsavory photos or status updates that you don't want employers seeing, so make sure to remove anything from your Facebook or Twitter page that could potentially embarrass you. In addition, make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is a professional-looking headshot and not a goofy vacation picture.

Prepare for the Interview

There's no such thing as being too prepared for an interview. Research the employer and the position thoroughly, and be prepared to answer questions regarding the company's history, products or services ahead of time.

Don't Call

After the interview, you may be eager to see where the hiring manager is in the hiring process. This is understandable, and it is certainly expected of you to follow up with the hiring manager – just don't call him. Hiring managers are very busy people and don't have time to have phone conversations with dozens of candidates every day. Calling them incessantly won't make the process go any faster and may actually turn them off. If you want to follow up, send a polite and succinct email instead.

When it comes to applying for jobs, it is essential to employ every possible technique at your disposal. If your job search is stalling, it may be time to evaluate your habits.

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