Seven Mistakes To Avoid When Job Hunting

• 2-minute read •
One morning about a year ago, I was quietly sipping coffee and watching the news when the phone rang. I looked at caller ID and sighed with relief: I’d been waiting for this call.

“So, how’d it go?” I asked immediately.

There was a sigh on the other end of the line, “Terrible,” came the voice. “I came on way too strong.”

Before I could ask him to elaborate, he continued: “And I got lost on my way over...so I was a little late...”

Read More

These 5 resume mistakes are keeping you from getting hired

• 2-minute read •
Writing a resume is time-consuming and, let’s face it, a bit of a chore, even for those who can string a few good words together on occasion. It’s never easy talking about yourself, or recounting all your life’s work (literally) in a page or two. So, once you’re done writing, and before you email your CV to a hiring manager, take a minute to proofread it closely — very closely — for a few common resume mistakes. It could just mean you save your application from hitting the trash, instead of the “to interview” pile.

Read More

Five Stupid Job Search Mistakes That Smart People Make

• 2-minute read •
You’ve seen job search advice articles about embarrassing resume bloopers, like misspelling the word "running" to comic effect (“Instrumental in ruining entire office"). You’ve read about cringe-inducing interview mistakes, like asking the interviewer to "hold on" while you respond to a text message. And you’ve said to yourself, “I’m too smart to make a stupid mistake like that.”

Read More

Avoid the Top 10 Interview Mistakes

The best way to avoid the most common and dangerous interview mistakes is to think ahead and decide not to make them... Read on for a whistle-stop tour of the top ten interview clangers!

1. Lying
Although it's tempting, it doesn't work. By all means gloss over the unflattering things. But out-right fibbing NEVER pays.

Mark Twain said: "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything." Think about it. They will catch you out later.

2. Slating your current company or boss
Fed up with your current job and would give anything to leave because they've treated you badly? Your job interview is NOT the time to seek revenge. Bear in mind that the interviewer will be listening to your answers and thinking about what it would be like to work with you. Ask yourself: do you like working with people who constantly criticise others? Isn't it a bit wearing? The trouble is that the interviewer draws massive conclusions from your answers. So your throwaway comment about your boss or employer may be interpreted to be your "standard" way of thinking. It makes you look bad, not your employer.

3. Being Rude
If you find you were accidentally rude, then apologise calmly and genuinely. Then leave it behind you and get on with the rest of the interview. If you dwell on it, it will affect your performance. What's "rude"? Well, that depends on your audience. As a rule of thumb, avoid cracking jokes about potentially sensitive topics and beware of being too "pally" with the interviewer: polite and friendly is enough. After all, you're not in the pub with them. So stay professional. Also bear in mind that everyone you meet could be involved in the selection process. So blanking the receptionist or talking down to the junior members of staff could cost you the job.

4. Complaining
Ok, so your train journey might have been a nightmare and maybe you thought the tube would never arrive, or the tailbacks on the motorway were endless. But your interviewer doesn't want to know that!
Complaining, even in jest, is not a recommended icebreaker. It may be completely harmless, or it might simply make the interviewer switch off. Don't let complaining set the tone for the interview!

5. Talking about people you don't get on with at work
These days, it's common to be asked how you deal with conflict. Companies realise the importance of interpersonal relationships in the working environment. So if they ask you about difficult people or situations, make sure you hold back from character assassination and blaming others for problems because it won't do you any favours! If you accidentally do "break" this rule, apologise and explain what you "really" meant.

6. Not Being Prepared
Re-read the relevant version of your CV and the job advert, just before the interview. You'd be surprised how many people can't remember what they wrote on their CV. And if you remember what type of person the job advert was looking for, it's easier to demonstrate that you have those qualities.
Make sure you've brought with you anything you were asked for. It's fine to bring a note-pad and pen, but make sure they're tidy. It's even ok to bring notes with you; particularly if you have any questions you want to ask. It shows you're taking the job application seriously. Ill-prepared candidates rarely get job offers.

7. Appearing to be too nervous, or too confident
If you appear too nervous they'll think you're not confident enough to do the job. However, appearing too confident will make them think you won't fit into the team. If interview nerves are an issue for you, it's worth getting practical help from a professional, such as an interview coach.


8. Making a weak first impression
Unfortunately, no matter how hard the interviewer tries, a lot of "don't want to hire them" decisions are made in the first few minutes of contact. If you make a strong first impression, the interviewer will be more inclined to overlook "imperfections" in your answers.

9. Not having researched the company

As a general rule, the more famous the brand, the more they will expect you to have done your homework. Researching the company shows you're serious about the job.

Example from a real interview for a major food brand:

Candidate: "Hello Mr. Interviewer. Yes, I'd love to work for your company. I think your brand is great and I really believe I could make a contribution to your marketing strategy."

Interviewer: "So what do you think about our current merchandising, compared to our competition?"

Candidate: "Oh... Errr.... Well, I haven't had time to check it out, really."

Likelihood of getting the job? Low.

10. Putting your foot in it and not noticing
Yes, we know, you didn't mean to put your foot in it. But it doesn't really matter what you intended. What counts is how the other person reacts. So what can you do? Be prepared to simply say "sorry, that's not what I meant!" This requires you to actually be paying attention to the interviewer, rather than your own thoughts and feelings. Once you've apologised, leave it there, take a deep breath to help you relax and move on with the job interview.

Enter your email address:

Pass it on for Referral Bonus. Not the right role for you, but know someone we should meet? Share with him to earn $1,000 referral bonus.

Resume Mistakes That Will Kill Your Job Search

There are many things you don’t have control over during your job search. You can’t control whether or not a hiring manager will call you, what questions you are asked during your interview or if they will call you back for a second interview.

Thankfully, there are some aspects to the job search process that you can manage and the way you are represented in your resume is one of them; this is one of the main reasons why your resume is so important.

In order to create a successful resume, it is essential to be aware and avoid the following resume mistakes:

"Borrowing" Resume Copy
Resumes can be hard to write. It is easy to get stuck on how to best phrase your accomplishments or what to leave out of your resume. When difficulties arise, it is tempting to seek help from other sources, such as copying accomplishment statements from resume books or borrowing information from a friend’s resume. This tactic almost never works. It can also backfire on you. For example, if you copy from a book, you run the risk of the hiring manager reading that book and seeing your resume in there!

Your accomplishments, skills, and abilities deserve to be showcased in an original way that best sells you. Take the time to create your own style and look to your résumé.

Writing a “Me-Oriented” Introduction
Your objective or profile statement is the first section of a resume that hiring managers read. This section must be compelling and showcase the immediate contributions you can bring to an organization. This can be the hardest part of the resume to write and unfortunately, most job seekers don’t pay much attention to this section. Many write a statement that is meaningless.

For example, the most famous resume introduction – Seeking a challenging position where there is room for growth. What is this objective statement really saying about you? Nothing at all! By using this type of introduction, the only message you are sending to an employer is that you are not interested in the hiring organizations needs, only your own.

Unfocused Job Objective
Without a doubt, writing a resume with the premise of, “I don’t care what type of job I get, I just need a job,” will lead to failure. A resume must be targeted to a specific objective. If this means that you need to develop more than one resume for each job objective, then so be it.

A focused job objective tells the reader the type of position you are seeking and describes key marketable and transferable skills you can offer.

Poorly Written Resume Copy
Many job seekers try to write a resume in an hour without taking inventory of their qualifications or researching the hiring organization. They also don’t take the time to evaluate who they are, what they can do for an organization, and why an organization will want to hire them.

Compelling resume copy has three criteria:

1. Key understanding of the audience
2. Strong, succinct message of qualifications
3. Relate past successes to the hiring organizations immediate needs

If your resume doesn’t meet these three criteria, it won’t make the needed impact on the hiring manager.

Wrong Resume Format
The resume format you choose to showcase your career history is very important.

The two widely used formats are:

• The chronological resume arranges your experience and education in chronological order, with the most recent dates first.
  
• The functional resume highlights specialized knowledge, marketable talents that are in demand, and your strong vocational and transferable skills.

Regardless of which format you choose, be certain that the format supports your objective.

No Visual Impact
Fortune 500 companies spend a great deal of money on product packaging and presentation because they know customer’s buying decisions are influenced by how a product looks. This same philosophy holds true for a hiring manager. When they have to sift through a pile of resumes, they will automatically be drawn to the resume that is easier for them to read. Combined with strong resume copy, a clean and easy to read resume layout will generate more positive responses.

Over-use of Bullets
The only purpose of a bulleted statement is to draw the reader’s attention to key accomplishments. If every statement is bulleted, the reader will have a difficult time differentiating between them. Also, for maximum visual impact, combine the use of paragraphs and bulleted statements.

7 Job-Search Mistakes New Grads Make

This year's crop of college seniors is, unfortunately, graduating to a soft job market. A weak economy means fewer opportunities -- and greater competition for every single opening.

Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, says, "In today's employment environment, there is less room for error when looking for your first career opportunity."

Don't let one of the following seven missteps cost you the career of your undergraduate dreams.

1. Keep It to Yourself

When you're looking for work, you want your burgeoning network to know it. Messmer, author of "Job Hunting for Dummies, 2nd Edition," advises, "Spread the word about your job hunt to everyone you know, including family members, friends, professors and former coworkers." Make use of online networking sites and reach out to your local business community and staffing firms.

2. Treat Every Opportunity Equally

One resume does not fit every job opening, so don't use the exact same document or cover letter when you apply to different companies. States Messmer, "Tailor each resume and cover letter to the particular opportunity, and try to obtain the name of the hiring manager so you can personalize your cover letter. A little detective work can go a long way in helping you stand out."

3. Make Careless Errors

Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. Every document you send to a potential employer must be error-free. Go through your resume, cover letter, emails, thank-you notes, and any communication with a fine-tooth comb to make certain they don't contain typos or grammatical errors. If you're not a grammar guru or lack an eagle eye, Messmer suggests, "Ask a detail-oriented friend to review all of your job-search materials."

4. Don't Do Your Due Diligence

When applying for a position, go beyond the job description to find out about the company as a whole. A little online research can go a long way, according to Messmer. He says, "Applicants who uncover beyond-the-basics knowledge of the job and the company are better able to communicate specific ways they can contribute to the organization's success."

5. Air Your Dirty Laundry

Before you meet someone in the flesh, online image is everything. Pictures of you goofing around with friends may seem funny, but they also may lead a recruiter to question your judgment, especially if they are salacious in nature or show you doing things that are illegal.

Messmer urges applicants, "Don't post anything that would appear unprofessional (think spring break photos, rants about a former employer, etc.) to a hiring manager or recruiter."

6. Act Casual

Once you begin your job search, make certain that you're acting like the professional you aspire to be. States Messmer, "Keep land line and cell phone voice-mail greetings clear, professional, and succinct. Likewise, avoid using off-color or overly cute email addresses or signatures."

7. Forget Your Manners

You probably won't get every job you pursue, but it is important to be gracious to everyone you encounter on your journey to employment. "Express appreciation to everyone who helps you in your job search, whether or not their efforts on your behalf are successful. Also be sure to send thank-you notes to every hiring manager you meet," he says.