The task of looking for a job, sending out applications, and meeting with potential employers can be very draining. The longer you go without finding something, the more disparaging the feeling you get as you send out resume after resume.
However, there are small things that may be hurting your job search; things you hadn’t even considered. There are five key mistakes people make when they’re on the job search; mistakes that can hold them back.
Take note and make sure that you’re not making these mistakes yourself. It may have a huge impact on your job search.
1. Grammatical Errors
This is one of those golden rules of the job search that is routinely disregarded by those submitting applications. Grammatical errors can completely erase your chances of landing the job. Companies receive hundreds of applications; grammatical errors are an easy way to tease out those who didn’t take their applications seriously.
Go over your resume and cover letter a couple of times before you submit them. Then, for good measure, have someone else go over them too. It can make a world of difference.
2. Mismatching Qualifications
It’s wise to still submit job applications when you have the majority of the qualifications the employer is looking for but fall short on a few necessary skills. However, when the disparity between the qualifications they’re asking for and those you have becomes too wide, it reflects poorly on you.
For example, if a company is asking for someone with at least five years of experience in the field and you don’t have any experience, you’re obviously not the right fit. And in the meantime, you’ve wasted their time and your own. This can get incredibly irritating for those who spend hours looking through resumes.
3. Not Enough Research
It’s important that you treat your job search like a job in and of itself. You don’t just apply blindly. Instead, you should be thoroughly researching each and every company that you submit an application to. That includes learning about their work policies, company structure, and the tasks you’d undertake should you get the job.
In an interview setting especially, your prospective employers will be able to tell immediately if you haven’t put in the time to learn about their businesses. Doing your research can make a positive impression that in turn can land you a job.
4. Being Late
When meeting with a prospective employer, you should always be attempting to make the very best impression possible. Being late is one of the easiest ways that you can work to undo any good impression you make.
Tardiness shows a lack of organization, which does not bode well. Tardiness isn’t just about in-person meetings either. If someone has sent you an email, reply in a timely fashion. Waiting two days to respond is going to irritate the other party; by the time they’ve received your response they might very well have decided to move on.
5. No Follow-Up
Whenever you’ve had any sort of professional contact, meeting, or exchange with a potential employer, you should always follow up. Not doing is perceived as unprofessional.
It’s a common courtesy to send a brief and polite email thanking the person for his or her time and attention and going over some of the more salient aspects of your conversation. Without a follow-up, prospective employers can easily get the impression that you don’t care too much about whether or not you get the job. This is obviously not the impression that you want to make.
A follow-up demonstrates enthusiasm and dedication, both highly desirable traits in candidates.
