Cautions When Searching For A Job
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Common Job Application Faux-Pas
With the volume of information currently available on the preparation of a professional job application it is remarkable that candidates still get it wrong and yet so it is.
It is vital that you get your job application or your advertisement response exactly right and that the application is made in an utterly professional manner.
The most common mistakes that are made are as follows:
* Use of a standardized cover letter that doesn’t relate to the actual job advertisement and is generic in format and content.
* Mailing a resume without a cover letter.
* A candidate forgetting to sign their cover letter and sending instead a typed letter that appears to be a bulk mailing.
* Sending the incorrect application and making it obvious that an error has been made due to an extensive job search.
* Failing to include the advertisement or job reference with the application making it impossible to determine the exact job being sought.
These errors are clearly going to put an end to any serious attempt at being hired. A recruiter/employer is quite rightly going to look at this as carelessness and discard the application on sight.
Blanket applications are a mistake. Every job should be assessed on its merit and your ability to perform against the set criteria should determine whether or not this is an opportunity you should take.
Take the time to evaluate your background, experience, skills and education against the job specification before you spend valuable time preparing a response to a particular job advertisement that is not for you.
Taking a half hearted, half hopeful approach will not endear you to your prospective employer with recruiters and employers frequently disheartened by the poor quality responses they receive.
Take your time when preparing a response, very few candidates will get it completely right the first time. A quick response has no advantage over a professional response.
Recruiters/Employers will never settle on the first job application they receive and will instead ‘shop around’ from all the responses they receive.
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Job Advertisements, the pitfalls
When you look at a job advertisement initially don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s not for you or that you don’t conform to the specifications contained within the advert.
Most adverts are written with the express intention of ruling candidates out rather than in as they target specific levels of experience and knowledge. Very often there is a sublime message contained within the advert based on financial recompense for this position without actually stating the figures attributable to the job.
It is far easier for a recruiter to rule a candidate out based on specific criteria such as experience, qualifications, and knowledge base rather than the more subjective criteria such as personal attributes/characteristics, strengths or personality.
Ironic, considering that personality plays such a big part in the interview process itself, however at the initial screening these are the factors that are considered.
Don’t rely on job adverts, recruitment agencies or head-hunters as your primary link to the job market. Get out and network, take the initiative and make the calls to firms and organizations that have captured your attention and for whom you feel you would like to work.
Remember that accurate targeting of prospective employers is a far more effective way to conduct your job search and is not nearly as demoralizing as receiving rejection letters from your applications because you have failed to meet as little as one of the criteria set out.
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The Detrimental Mistakes That Job Hunters Make
Underselling - In order to succeed in the job market you need to sell your skills. Too many job hunters undersell themselves and forego job opportunities because they feel their not qualified. There are certain attributes that translate across industries, these are your transferable skills and you need to sell them. This is especially important if you are going for a job in a new industry.
Cover letter - There are a number of common mistakes people make when it comes to the cover letter. The biggest mistake is not sending one with your resume. Cover letters can be powerful tools if harnessed correctly. They can be extremely detrimental if they are not. Always write a specific cover letter for each new position. Formulated cover letters do not work. Do not rehash your resume in your cover letter. Instead demonstrate how your unique skills can benefit the company and how they match the role. Keep it brief and make a few high impact dynamic points that will grab attention.
Follow up - Follow up should be viewed as part of the process of getting a job. You should follow up after you have sent your resume, make contact with the employer to see how the process is going and reiterate your interest in the position. After an interview you should follow up with a thank you letter. Finally follow up with a phone call after you have sent your thank you letter. These are all expected parts of job search protocol and it will be detrimental to your application if you fail to follow through on them.
Embellishment - There is often a fine line between fact and fiction when it comes to resumes. It is ok to sell yourself and be creative with words and phrases to describe your attributes. There is a difference between embellishing your skills and lying. Do not lie on your resume or in a cover letter. Lying is detrimental to you career search and it will not go down well if uncovered later.
Your needs vs. company needs - Employer want to know what you can do for them not what they can do for you. Don't make the mistake of talking about you too much in your job correspondence. Instead highlight how you can help them achieve company goals and objectives.
Generic - A lot of job seekers use generic cover letters to reach a wider audience of potential employers. Generic letters won't get you interview; in fact they will properly land your resume in the trash. You need to appeal to a specific reader when you're addressing your cover letter. Demonstrate specific company and positional knowledge.
Mistakes - Spelling and grammatical errors are common in job correspondence. There is no excuse for these kinds of mistakes and they will detract from the impact of your content. Ensure you check your correspondence thoroughly and have someone else check over it too. Make sure you have the correct spelling for people you are addressing and company information.
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