Job Search Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Memphis Business Journal  www.bizjournals.com/memphis

May 31, 2013, 10:02am CDT Updated: Jun 1, 2013, 5:02am CDT

The 4 most-pathetic job-search mistakes and 3 ways to avoid them
 

                     Typos or other sloppiness in your resume? That's a perfect way to not get a job.
Typos or other sloppiness in your resume? That’s a perfect way to not get a job.

If you are on an employment search, applying to jobs over and over, and getting no responses, then change your game!

Do you find yourself saying, “There are no jobs, I can’t get an interview, and I’m not getting any responses”?

Time to take responsibility and change the way you are going about finding jobs. Time to cut the crap, and get a job!

The “crap” comes in two forms: one, the mistakes you make and, two, the excuses you give. Both of which are sabotaging your job search success. Career advisers see the same common mistakes when helping those looking for a job:

• Just submitting a standard resume that isn’t tailored to the job specifications (job description)

• Typos, grammatical errors

• Boring descriptions rather than keywords and “power verbs”

• Applying for the wrong jobs –random acts of application (RAA) or applying with no relevant skills or experience

Hiring managers want to find the best candidate. They truly are looking for a good fit and the best hire for the position they need to fill. If there is a job description, then they are sharing the “specifications” for that job; you need to show how you fit those specs through your application.

Put yourself in their shoes: They can receive hundreds of resumes for just one position. They know what they are looking for and it’s your job to punch them between the eyes with why you are the best candidate for them. That doesn’t always mean that you have the most years doing a similar job.

You are selling yourself as a wise investment of their interviewing time, by appropriately touting your background and qualifications.

The application process is not about you. It is about the person reading your application. Do not use it as a venue to ramble on about how brilliant you are, how you were awarded top recognition in things the reader doesn’t care about or, worse, how you are the “perfect” person for their job. Nobody is. Everybody has gaps in some areas and it would be wise to point them out as “opportunities to learn” — both in the application and in the interview.

Three Tips to Make a Difference with Your Job Application

1. Research Before Applying: You may find amazing insights about the company, the division, the department, the hiring manager and more by researching on the web. These insights will help you with the next tip.

2. Cut-the-Crap Cover Letter: If the job posting asks you to attach a Microsoft Word or PDF document, then you can include a cover letter in the same file (do not attach two separate document files). That cover letter should look like a formal one-page cover letter with your resume beginning on page 2. Your Cut-the-Crap Cover Letter will only talk about the main skills and experiences you have that correlate to the specifications of the job description. Do not simply re-state your resume. Do NOT say, “I am the best candidate for your position.” without telling them at least 3 reasons why.

3. Highlight Relevant Matches: In your resume, highlight skills and experiences they are looking for, based on the job description. You may even find that you left some important things off of your resume (skills, tasks, experiences) that this position needs. Don’t leave anything out, but don’t stretch the truth. Be 100% truthful!

Finding jobs in today’s economy is hard enough. However, if you change your application approach, stand out, and Cut the Crap, you will get a job. Good luck!

For more resources and information, go to http://danamanciagli.com