The Biggest Mistake Online Job Seekers Make - And How Not To Be Guilty of Them

Not worrying about your privacy when posting your resume online – I know you want to give a potential employer every chance in the world to connect with you, but your privacy is important. When you post a resume online, be sure to omit any specific, personally identifying information. If they are interested, they will contact you and you will have ample time to give them an unedited copy of your resume. Be sure to never post your references online as well. You don't want to risk making a bad impression on the very people you are counting on to tell an employer how wonderful you are. If you think about it, posting your complete resume online gives internet scammers all of your information including home address, phone number and employer. Protecting your privacy shows that you are internet savvy and that you pay attention to details.

 

Only using big name job boards – Many companies prefer to post job openings on smaller, industry specific job boards, so don't rule them out. Job listings like the ones on Nexxt and FinancialJobBank can be excellent resources. The reason that many companies chose not to list on the bigger name boards is that all too often, they end up receiving hundreds of resumes from people who aren't even remotely qualified or interested in the job. They are just sending out resumes to every job they see.

 

Applying for jobs you aren't qualified for – When you are desperate for a job, it can be tempting to apply for jobs that you aren't actually qualified for, hoping that maybe they will take a chance on you. This rarely ever works. If you are honestly interested in a job that you only meet some of the requirements, make sure you include a compelling argument on why you should be considered for the position in your cover letter. Otherwise, you can be sure that you resume will be deleted without even being considered.

 

Searching for a job while at work – Employers aren't stupid. If you currently have a job and you are sending them resumes in the middle of the day, they are going to assume that you are doing it while at work. Even worse are the people who use their work email to send the resume. Think about the impression you are making. If you are willing to look for a job on your company's time, there is no reason for a new employer to think that you wouldn't do it if you worked for them. And, don't think that your current employer won't find out about your job search and show you the door before you find a new job. This sort of behavior is just plain tacky, so don't do it.

 

Not using the Internet to research the company you are applying at – Doing a web search is simple, so there is no reason for you not to know something about the company before your interview. Employers actually want to see that you have done your homework. Find out where they are located, how many people they employ, what their corporate culture is like and what they do. Have some questions prepared based on what you have found out about them. This isn't snooping, it is being prepared.