When you are looking for a job, it is important to make sure that you are taking advantage of all the opportunities you can, but there are times when even the most savvy of us are guilty of making some common mistakes that can make a recruiter or hiring manager take us out of the running for a job.
With the rise of social networking and job searching happening online, it can be difficult to remember that behind each computer screen in a real person, with real feelings and they make judgments based on a candidates actions both during the interview and after.
Here are 5 Mistakes that you may be making during your job search-
- Non-Standard Resumes- Creative resumes look really cool. And they are a good idea for people who are looking for a job within an art field. For people in advertising, web designers and graphic artists, making a creative resume is a way to show of their skills. But for anyone else, these types of resumes don't show your personal flair, they are just annoying to the hiring manager and typically get thrown out.
- Applying for every job and not doing the research- If you are going through job boards and sending out a form cover letter and resume to every job you think that you may be remotely qualified for, you are just wasting your time. Quality wins over quantity every time. When you see an advertisement for a position you think would be a good fit for you, take the time to research the company, find out who they are and what they do. Then, tailor your resume and cover letter to the job. Demonstrate that you are interested in THEIR job rather than any job.
- Inappropriate contact- Just because you have a recruiter's cell phone number or have found their facebook account, this doesn't mean you are supposed to contact them this way. Do not text a hiring manager under any circumstances. The same goes for facebook friends requests. If you are researching them, you can look at their facebook to get information about who they are, but sending them a friend request or a text message is just intrusive and pushy. They won't like it, and most of the time won't hire you, even if you are very qualified.
- Following up too much- While I firmly advocate calling or emailing a recruiter or hiring manager after an interview to thank them or to follow up, there is a point where it is too much. One contact before the interview, one after is the most you should try. If, after the interview and thank you contact, you don't hear back from them for a week or two, it may be appropriate to contact them one more time, but don't keep calling them every day. While you may think that you are expressing a sense of urgency, to them, you are just harassing them and it leaves them with a very bad impression of who you are as a person.
- Asking about benefits and vacations- During the interview, it is not appropriate to ask about money, benefits, vacation time or bonuses. It is too forward and leaves them with the impression that you have a feeling of entitlement that is not at all becoming in an employee.
It is important to remember that the people hiring you are people who are looking to find not only the most qualified employees but also to find hard working people with great attitudes who would be an asset to their teams. Skills can be taught, but personality can't. If you make a bad impression, odds are slim that they will be contacting you with a job offer.
Are you looking for a new job in Logistics? Take a look at Logisticsjobsite.com
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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