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The 10 Worst Job Hunting Mistakes
GovCentral
Whether you are a first-time job-seeker or you’re a veteran in your field, it is important that you take the right steps toward landing you ideal job. There’s more to a successful job search than ironing your best suit and printing out extra resumes.
Today’s employers are looking for the best of the best, and one typo on your cover letter can can get you thrown into the “Do Not Call” pile. Avoid these common mistakes to score your dream job.
2. Not Being Concise
Don’t confuse telling your story with creating your autobiography. Recruiters are inundated with applications and are faced with weeding out the good from the bad. The first step involves quickly skimming through submissions and eliminating candidates who clearly are not qualified. Therefore, your application needs to pass the skim test. Look at your resume and/or KSA’s and ask yourself:
1) Can a hiring manager see my main credentials within 10 to 15 seconds?
2) Does critical information jump off the page?
3) Do I effectively sell myself on the top quarter of the first page?
Many workers are proud of their careers and feel the information on a resume should reflect everything they’ve accomplished. However, a resume shouldn’t contain every detail and KSA’s should only address the question at hand. So be judicious. If your college days are far behind you, does it really matter that you pledged a fraternity or delivered pizza? The editing step will be difficult if you are holding on to your past for emotional reasons.
If you were a recruiter looking at a resume or an answer to a KSA, which of the following entries would impress you more:
• “Wrote news releases.”
• “Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.”
Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer’s accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of difficulty involved in the task. Numbers are powerful resume tools that will help your accomplishments draw the attention they deserve from prospective employers. With just a little thought, you can find effective ways to quantify your successes on your resume.
jfischer
11 days ago
2 comments
Don't say "I." Use bullets, and say accomplished.
Be polite, personal, professional, serious, and friendly.
Show respect.
Don't speak bad about your previous employer. Highlight the things you loved most about your previous career.
Research your new potential employer. Make comments showing your research, and raise appropriate questions.
Don't underestimate yourself!
DO NOT take a job that is below you and your salary limits!
Follow up, after your interview; but don't bug them, more than necessary.
Be tactful.
Land the job.
JerryGJones
about 1 month ago
10 comments
Good tips, but one you left off is: Don't be so ashamed to do a job that is below your level of education. Simply having a job in these tough economic times is a good thing. If you are too picky and only apply for one type of job, then you will most likely be looking for a job for a long time. Take the other job, but in the meantime, keep looking for the job you really want. The key is to keep money coming in however you can.
guntertimb
about 1 month ago
10 comments
Roberts, be thankful you have a job, though it's not what you want to do. It is good that you are working on your Master's Degree. Hang in there and press on!
guntertimb
about 1 month ago
10 comments
Mutombi, you have a strong point. An appliance manufacturing company laid off 300 workers last month who have worked there for 22 years for some of them. I am one of them. Since then, they have been making profits and their shares of stock have increased dramatically. This company has sent many good jobs to Ramos Arizpe and all they have now is the bad jobs left, making older workers who need to retire to do those jobs. Now, they are hinting that the company may call some workers back as they now experiencing an increase in production.
cbkk42009, I have been there. I have applied for 3 different jobs since the layoff last month and I have not heard from them at all! I am "eligible" for state jobs in the Human Services dept. But, I haven't received an answer from them yet for an opening. The Workforce dept. has an interview for me and I am keeping these 10 points in mind.
cbkk42009
about 1 month ago
4 comments
I applied for a position with the federal prision. 2 weeks later recieved an email from the FBOP stating I was found "eligible" and my info would be forwarded to the prision. Another 2 weeks have passed and I've heard nothing. What should I expect? I've called and left messages with the HR dept but it is nearly impossible to get someone on the phone. Any ideas? I'd prefer to be aggressive if it wouldn't hurt.
mutombi
about 1 month ago
6 comments
Number 1 Worst Job Hunting Mistake: Living in America. Outsourced jobs... sold out workers... no viable retirement/pensions... what else could make working here worse? IBM just recorded vast profits for the last quarter... yet laid off 10,000 American workers. They are sending the jobs of hard working Americans that built their company great to Ching and Abu.
yolandasturgis
3 months ago
10 comments
duties on a resume usually indicate what you were required to do in getting the job done. I've not yet been asked by an interviewer what did you accomplish? I've only gotten that question from one in competition in the same job class.
cejones6
11 months ago
30 comments
I concur. The email address example provided, as a former hiring manager, does not inspire me to contact that person and even less to consider hiring them.
misiuplease
about 1 year ago
86 comments
Bull...t!
The person on interview is not same at job duty if hired!
Same as the person you marry is not the same in life!
MWHITE
about 1 year ago
2 comments
This article was very helpful. Thank you for the career brush up.
Jbishop07
about 1 year ago
6 comments
I have a BA in Comparative religion and M.E. Studies, but I'm having a hard time finding a job as well. I would love to even get an interview, but I'm not sure if it's the economic times and ppl just are not hiring, or if I am looking in completly the wrong places. Be nice to try out my interviewing skills.
Dude781999
about 1 year ago
2 comments
I was recently in an interview and the hiring mgr. knew less about the position than I did. I do not think I was over qualified, but the hiring mgr. knew very little about regulatory requirements for the position I was seeking.
It is hard to NOT emphasize your skills without being considered overqualified.
The interview skills of the hiring mgr. should give a hint as to how to tailor your responses as the interview progresses.
Roberts
about 1 year ago
2 comments
have a B.A and I am working in motel as a housekeeper because I can't get a job in my field which is either working as an assistant in an office, or working as a teachers assistant I am working now on my Masters in Educational Counseling. Help me because I am depressed and I need a job.
peacebe
about 1 year ago
29616 comments
Great reminders.
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
Please don't keep say "I" in your resume!