If you're not getting interviews or job offers, even though you're applying for jobs you know you're qualified to do, you may be making one or more fatal job hunting mistakes.
These job hunting mistakes are all the more tragic because they can be so easily corrected. You should know however, that correcting them will only make a difference if you're qualified by either training, experience or both to do the job.
Mistake #1--Not approaching your job search from the potential employer's perspective.
The vast majority of job seekers send resumes and cover letters all about me, me, me, and I, I, I.
Effective resumes and cover letters show hiring authorities what's in it for
them. Job winning interviews include a discussion about how having you as an employee could contribute to the hiring manager's success.
To gain a competitive edge in the job getting race remember:
The job search is
not about you and
what you want. It's
about you and
what the hiring authority wants. Sales professionals call this needs based selling.
Effective job seekers approach every aspect of the job hunt with what employers want top-of-mind. This starts with the crafting of your resume and submission of your candidacy; continues with screening conversations and interviewing; and follows right on through to negotiating your best possible pay rate.
Mistake #2--Not following up on the submission of your candidacy.
If you knew how many resumes certain job postings or advertisements generate, you would understand that passively waiting for a call from your resume submission is just wishful thinking. Add to that the proliferation of inefficient recruiting operations (both corporate and third party) and you have a recipe for disappointment.
Assuming you're qualified for the job, timely follow-up will substantially increase your odds of getting in front of the hiring manager. Timely follow-up happens within three business days of submitting your candidacy or resume. (And truth be told, after your interview as well.)
Ideally resume follow-up will be done by phone. In the real world however, it's more likely that early communication regarding job openings will be accomplished via email.
If the job posting or ad is blind (meaning the company name is not given) follow-up may be even more of a challenge. The company URL in an email address will be the first clue in an investigative trail that could lead to a phone number. (Beware of job postings that contain only hotmail, yahoo or similar throw away type email addresses. They may not all be job offer scams but these email addresses create room for doubt about the position's validity.)
Effective job seekers will follow-up to make sure..."My resume was received". You might also offer to answer any questions. (That's what you'll say, but what you'll really mean is, "Did you look at it?".) The person's response will tell you how to proceed from there.
If the person to whom you're speaking (or with whom you're communicating) doesn't remember your resume or can't say whether it was received, offer to resend it to her personally, "Just to make sure".
If she is not the correct person ask for the name and email address of the recruiter who is. (Asking for the hiring manager's name, department and email address can't hurt either. All she can do is refuse to give it to you. Nothing ventured; nothing gained.) At the very least this does two things: it gives you an additional point of contact and it increases your candidacy's odds of getting reviewed.
If, despite your best efforts, you have absolutely no point of contact other than where you submitted your resume, (a Monster posting for example), resend your resume three days after first submitting it. A job posting generates the highest number of resumes the first 2 to 3 days it's up. Resubmitting your resume after interest dies down can increase the odds of getting your candidacy reviewed.
Mistake #3--Not preparing properly for the interview.
This is the most fatal mistake of all. There is no doubt you want and need to be yourself in an interview. But expecting to wing it and still beat whatever competition you have for the job is just more wishful thinking.
Preparing well for interviews will boost your confidence which is one of the most important aspects of your personal presentation. Effective interview preparation includes:
- Researching the company and hiring authority.
- Reviewing all the information you have about the opening to determine how you meet the manager's needs (position requirements).
- Becoming familiar with and preparing to answer common job interview questions.
- Preparing to talk conversationally about your accomplishments and achievements.
- Preparing the materials you will take with you.
- Confirming (for yourself) your acceptable salary range in preparation for negotiating pay rate.
- Knowing (writing down) the questions you need to ask.
- Polishing your personal presentation.
Six of the eight actions listed here can and should be taken care of well ahead of an invitation to interview. But even if you're starting from scratch investing in yourself by preparing well for this important meeting will be time well spent.
Summary
There are, of course, other actions you can take to impact your success at winning a job. (Not limiting which job sources you utilize and making sure your resume is keyword rich are two examples.) But blowing it for these other actions is not as universally fatal.
The three job hunting mistakes discussed here are fatal because they result most often in the elimination of your candidacy. Avoiding them will allow you to take a giant step toward winning the job.