Let’s face it. Finding a job - regardless of your level of experience - can be a challenging task. In this blog series, we plan to equip you with the power to land the job of your dreams with 10 helpful tips for the job-seeking ECP. Let’s get started!
Job Search Tip #6: 3 Things to Avoid in the Job Search
Searching for a job is a delicate balancing act of do’s and don’ts in a world where everyone has an opinion about everything. Although searching for a job may seem like a relatively simply task on the surface, there are several pitfalls one can encounter unless the necessary precautions are taken to avoid them. We’ve seen and heard from a lot of employers and hiring managers alike who are always looking to hire qualified candidates, and based on their grievances, we’ve put together this post that highlights the to three things most employers do not want to see or deal with from job applicants.
1. Spamming Employers
Maintaining a line of communication with a potential employer throughout the job search process is important for a successful job search. There are, however, some limitations surrounding how much (and how often) you should communicate with these employers so as to avoid negatively impacting your job search efforts. It’s easy for anyone who is in the midst of a job search to feel disconnected from the process. Therefore, it is possible for one to use extreme methods to effectively acquire the attention of hiring managers. Instead of exhausting your efforts on incessant calling, emailing, and downright stalking the people you so badly want to work for, try following up to an application at first via email 5-7 days after submitting your completed application. It oftentimes takes a few days for the application to get through the system, so be courteous and allow adequate time for the process to run its course. If you don’t hear anything back after your first attempt, it’s customary to wait an additional week to 2 weeks for things to settle down before reaching out again via email or phone. (In the meantime, apply to other positions at different companies so you don’t lose steam in your job search). The best thing to do in every case is to exercise patient persistence. Keep up with the employer until you hear something back, but also know when to take a hint and stop bothering them. It’s a delicate balance, but its one that’s guaranteed to save the sanity of the hiring manager, and to rescue you from getting tangled in a web of desperation and wasting precious time.
2. Using a Neglected Résumé
When it comes to the job search, using an updated and relevant résumé is critical to securing a job interview with a potential employer. Even in today’s world of technology, a professional résumé is still very important for job search success because it effectively delivers a brief summary of your education, certification, and qualifications for the job at hand. What you choose to list on your résumé has the ability to make or break your chances at being called in for an interview, so keeping yours updated is crucial to job search success. One way you could work to ensure that your résumé never goes stale is to periodically give it a facelift - even when you’re in a position you love and don’t plan on leaving. The fact of the matter is you never really know what tomorrow will bring, so you don’t want to get caught off guard with an old résumé. Updating your résumé also includes formatting and layout. Believe it or not, how you present your professional information is part of the intended overall effect your resume will have on the hiring manager. Therefore, it’s important to consider both content and style when updating and preparing your résumé for the modern job search.
3. Applying for Jobs You’re Not Qualified for
One thing you should always be aware of when conducting your online job search is whether or not you’re actually a good fit for the position. Even though this may go without saying, there are many people who feel that applying for every job at a given company who may be hiring for several different positions shows just how interested they are in working for that company. This, however, is actually not always the case. In fact, many employers see this as an act of professional immaturity and will more than likely disregard that applicant as a potential candidate due to their apparent lack of sincerity. Unless you actually are qualified for every position, it is our recommendation that you avoid this tactic altogether when conducting your job search. It is generally better to apply for jobs in which you feel you are qualified for, or think you have a decent chance at being interviewed for in an effort to convince the hiring manager your ability to perform the necessary tasks for a particular job.
Overall, there are several pitfalls one should avoid when applying for jobs online. Whether it’s spamming employers with desperate emails and pseudo-stalking voice messages, using an ancient résumé format with content to match, or applying for every job you come across - regardless of wha the job description actually calls for, there are dangers lurking around every virtual corner. The good news is, these hazards can be easily avoided by employing the tactics we have equipped you with in this post. Now all you have to do is get out there, and find the job of your dreams on Local Eye Site!
What other pitfalls have you encountered in the Job Search? Comment to let us know!
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