5 Qualities Employers Loathe About Job Seekers

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October 17, 2013

Boost your chances of finding a job by avoiding these 5 qualities employers loathe in jobseekers.

By Angela Rose for BioSpace.com

Finding a new life science job can be challenging, but you’re not the only one investing time in the process. Life science employers also spend valuable hours searching for suitable candidates, interviewing those with the greatest potential, and narrowing their selection to the best of the best. If you want to improve your chance of making the short list and landing that coveted position, avoid these five things employers hate about job seekers.

1. Cluelessness
People who don’t know what they want to do with their lives apply for any and every job advertised. Professionals, on the other hand, look for positions that will help them further their careers. If you don’t want your resume to end up in the trash, don’t apply for jobs for which you are significantly under or over-qualified. When you do so, you’re wasting more time than just your own.rejection.

2. Inability to Follow Directions
Few employers will believe you’re capable of running experiments in a lab if you’re unable to follow the simple instructions included in a job posting. Not only is it possible that the person in charge will never receive your resume if you ignore pertinent submission directions, but you’re also guaranteeing a horrible first impression.

3. Lying and Subterfuge
It may be tempting to alter previous dates of employment or spiff up your last title, but lying and subterfuge are unlikely to win you a new position. In fact, a recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 64 percent of employers did not offer a potential employee a job after a background check revealed inaccuracies.

4. Laziness
A job seeker who fails to research an employer before coming to an interview appears naïve at best and lazy at worst. It’s impossible to communicate the reasons you’re the best fit for any particular biopharmaceutical job if you are unfamiliar with the company’s history, mission and current goals.

5. Relentlessness
It’s important to be enthusiastic about a job opportunity, but you must walk a fine line between motivated and relentless. Employers hate the latter, and it’s easy to understand why. Repeat phone calls, daily emails or “dropping by” the company to enquire about their decision takes up even more of their valuable time—a fact that is unlikely to go unnoticed or unpunished.

Avoiding these five unfortunately common things employers hate about job seekers is one way to stand out in the crowd. Another is to conduct your job search on an industry specific job board such as BioSpace.com. With thousands of jobs posted by life science employers across North America, you’re certain to find several ideal opportunities.

About the Author

Angela Rose researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for BioSpace.com.

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