Five Things That Will Kill Your Job Application

Trying to land that perfect job can be a bit daunting. Competing with other applicants is tough when you cannot see what you are up against, which is why it is essential that you show the best version of yourself possible. Job applications usually include a resume and a cover letter that give you an opportunity to prove your worth to the company, or lack thereof. The following are common mistakes to avoid.

1. Laziness

It may be tempting to copy and paste a well-written cover letter that you found online and send it with your job application, but that is never a good idea. Even if writing is not your strong point, it is still worth it to sit down and take the time to write the letter yourself. Human resources departments see countless cover letters, and they can definitely tell the real deal from a form letter. Your cover letter needs to be completely unique, and it must be catered specifically to the position for which you are applying. It may be time consuming, but if you really want the job, take the time to do it right.

2. Carelessness

As you fill out your job application, write your cover letter and get your resume together, remember that every single detail counts. You must be vigilantly meticulous as you go along. One minor spelling error may not seem like a big deal, but it is; many human resources workers see dozens or even hundreds of cover letters every day, so it can really come down to one minor error between you and the next candidate. Proofread everything multiple times; send it to a couple of friends for review. Once you send it in to the company, there is no going back.

3. Selfishness

As you write your cover letter, remember that this is your chance to sell yourself. It is an opportunity to tell the company why it should hire you. You are an investment and a risk. The organization you are applying for needs to be confident it will make a return on its investment because at the end of the day, that is what it is all about. Do not talk about how the position is your dream job or how you have always dreamed of working for the company. Instead, tell the company how you will directly benefit it.

4. Monotony

Nobody likes to read through tedious cover letters and resumes all day. Make your job application stand out by making it interesting. There is a difference between being creative and being unprofessional, so try to find a balance. Avoid using generic buzz words because hiring managers have heard it all before. If you want to get called in for an interview, make yourself sound like someone worth calling.

5. Timidity

While you never want to sound arrogant, it is important to make your skills very clear. Use your job application, resume and cover letter to deliberately highlight why you are the best choice for the job. Lay everything on the table as soon as possible; do not hold anything back.

Although applying for a job can be a nerve-racking process, the end is worth the means. Do not rush, be yourself and keep the content in your job application unique and succinct.

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