September 19, 2013
Beware: 7 Mistakes to Dodge at All Costs
By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, Expert Resume Writer
Are you in the process of searching for a new job but can’t seem to get the callbacks you want? It may be that you’re making some common yet avoidable mistakes along the way. Don’t continue your job searching without being sure. Take a look at the following seven job-seeking mistakes that you should dodge at all costs:
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1. The Aimless Search
If you’re sending out resumes without knowing what your ideal job is, you’re wasting your valuable time. So before shipping off another application, be sure to sit down and define what type of job you’re looking for. This way, you’ll have a more focused search and can create a goal-oriented resume to match.
2. Bad Interviewing Habits
Do you have bad interviewing habits? In other words, do you assume you’re on a first-name basis with interviewers? Or do you slouch in your seat? If so, be sure to learn about appropriate body language and ways to address interviews so that you can always come across as a confident candidate with plenty to offer.
3. Bad-Mouthing a Previous Employer
Many interviewees get stuck with the question, “Why did you leave your previous employer?” While you may want to say that your previous boss was a jerk, this is not the time or place to mention it. So if you’re asked this question, just say you were looking for new opportunities to broaden your horizon.
4. Not Attending Job Fairs
While job fairs may feel like impersonal functions for individuals who are desperate for work, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, some great networking opportunities can be found at job fairs, not just with company representatives but other job fair attendees.
5. Wearing Unprofessional Attire
When interviewing, company representatives are watching your every move, including how you’re dressed. If your attire is too casual, sexy, or plain outrageous, your amazing resume or interviewing skills may do little to get you hired.
6. Forgetting to Follow Up
Another mistake to avoid is not following up with an employer after your interview. To make sure you remain on the employer’s mind, send a follow-up e-mail of about three or four paragraphs that summarizes your skills, reiterates your eagerness to be hired, and thanks the entire staff for their time.
7. Sending an Ultra-Long Resume
Although your professional history may be so amazing that you want to share every piece of it, it’s important that you avoid creating a resume that stretches out too long. By focusing on related positions and highlighting the top moments in your career, you can easily reduce your resume to two or three pages.
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to make mistakes when conducting your job search. The good news is that mistakes are avoidable if you are aware of them and make a determined effort to sidestep them at all costs.
About the Author
Jessica Hernandez, is a resume authority for the Job Talk America radio program and multi-published expert author for resume, career, and job search publications. She boasts more than ten years in human resources management and hiring for Fortune 500 companies and utilizes her extensive experience to support job seekers in their quest to move onward and upward in their careers. Find out more at Great Resumes Fast.
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