7 Stumbling Blocks to Avoid on the Job Search

By Courtney Bousquet
Career Services Contributor

Still waiting to hear back about the 10+ resumes you recently sent out? Perhaps you have committed one of the ‘7 deadly sins of job seeking’ and your resume has been set aside by potential employers. Lucky for you, after reading this blog you’ll be able to rectify and learn from these highly common mistakes. In his article 7 Deadly Sins of Job Seeking, David Clough of Recruiter.com shares his thoughts on some of the snares that very often entangle job seekers earnestly hunting for work. Below you’ll find my explanation of each ‘sin’ and some ways to overcome them.

1. An Unappealing Web Presence. In this day and age, having an unsightly web presence is one of the top ways to get you disqualified from a job search. Clean up social media profiles, get on LinkedIn and do a weekly Google search of your name!
2. Poor Grammar. The use of poor grammar in your social media profiles, application materials and emails is closely scrutinized, whether you’re an executive or entry-level candidate. Although this is not a deal-breaker, it can hurt your chances if an equally competitive candidate has a better grasp of grammar.
3. The Missing Thank You Note. This is a must have for any job seeker. Send a quick note to interviewers after every single interview. Handwritten notes can have a greater impact sometimes, but a quick email will suffice, especially if the company actively promotes environmental sustainability.
4. Stuck on the Money. Being concerned with the pay and benefits in the first meeting can send the wrong signal to employers and look like your priorities are misaligned. Avoid talking about money at the first meeting as it can make the organization feel as if you do not care about the company or position.
5. Fast Tracking the Hiring Process. Every once in a while, advice pops up to fast track your resume and send it to the CEO. While this can be helpful if you know the individual, it can hinder your application as it may never get to the people who really make the decisions. Do yourself a favor and send it through the traditional route and if you know someone else in the company. Provide them a copy of your resume so they can put in a good word for you.
6. Generic Resume and Cover Letters.  Resumes and Cover Letters that are not customized are not going to get you anywhere; they show employers this is just another job that you are applying to. Take the time to change some keywords to match the language of the job announcement and include something about the company’s mission statement or values in your cover letter to grab the reader’s attention!
7. Done After the Interview. Great job! You went on an interview, but now have decided that it is in the interviewer’s hands. Wrong- Don’t sit back and wait for your eggs to hatch: keep searching, applying, and interviewing until you hear the magic words, “You’re Hired!”