Recently, one of the headhunting companies I work with asked if I’d tackle the following question in my next blog. Thanks, gang, for the suggestion! I love recommendations, and I think you’ve chosen a great topic:
What are some of the most common mistakes job-seekers make during the job-search process, and what can they do to avoid them?
Let’s jump right in. At this point in my career, I’ve conducted literally thousands of seminars for job seekers, and there seem to be two fairly common “mechanical” mistakes as well as two “psychological” mistakes people make—all four of which can derail a successful job search. So let’s look at the mechanics of resumes and cover letters, and let’s also examine what the voices inside our heads are saying to either help or hinder the process.
1. Becoming discouraged. No matter what, you simply must remain positive. Studies confirm that positive thinking reaps all sorts of benefits, from increased energy, to better health, to a sharper mind. And the best part: positive thinking is a learned behavior. You can actually teach yourself to think positively, by substituting positive thoughts for negative ones. So the next time you say to yourself, “I’m never going to find a job,” stop, reframe the situation, and come up with a different take on it: “Wow—job hunting takes a whole lot of perseverance, which is exactly what I’m made of! I’m pressing onward, and I’ll never give up.” The more you substitute positive thoughts for negative ones, the more automatic and natural it becomes, until finally, you’re doing it without any effort whatsoever.
Here are just a few of the benefits of positive thinking: positive people are more likable (an important trait to possess when you finally land an interview), more likely not to admit defeat and give up on a goal, more self-confident, and more self-reliant (again, great traits to have when you’re in interview mode).
2. A less than stellar resume. It’s not unusual for job seekers to send out a lot of resumes—don’t be surprised if you send out hundreds. So now that you have the quantity part of the quotient covered, how about reviewing the quality? Do a quick check on the following:
A. Is your resume completely free from all errors—not just spelling or grammar errors, but formatting errors, syntax errors, and factual errors? If you’re not sure, ask a trusted friend to proofread your resume. Hopefully, you did this before you ever sent out the first resume, but it won’t hurt to look again. You’d be surprised how many mistakes I find in people’s resumes on an almost-daily basis.
B. Is your resume easily readable? It’s important to choose a simple font, plain white paper, black ink, and a format that’s immediately intelligible and digestible to the reader. Resume readers will toss your resume almost instantly if they can’t quickly navigate their way through it.
C. This should go without saying, but make sure your contact information is both accurate and findable—you want to make it simple for them to call you for that interview!
3. A “so-so” cover letter. You already know that your cover letters, whether sent via email or through the postal service, must be customized to the point of mentioning the company’s name, the department you’re applying to, and the job you’re applying for. Studies show that customized cover letters get read and responded to far more than “To whom it may concern” letters. Why? That’s easy. With a customized cover letter, you look like you’re interested in one specific job, rather than any old job. And that you’re interested in one specific company, rather than a random company that popped up on the job search. So next, take the customization thing a step further—and I do realize that I’m suggesting a very labor-intensive way of sending out resumes:
A. Call the company you’re applying to and ask for the actual name of the person who’ll be reading your resume. If at all possible, address the cover letter to them specifically, as in “Dear Ms. Wilkins,” or “Dear Mr. Lopez.”
B. Reread the job description or the “want ad,” and then customize the body of the letter to fit exactly what they’re looking for in a candidate. For instance, if they say they’re looking for “motivated, self-starters,” tell them you’re “a highly motivated individual who’s known to be a self-starter.” Or if they say they want someone who’s “familiar with Microsoft Excel,” let them know that you’ve “worked in Excel for the past five years” (if it’s true, that is). It’s subtle, it’s psychological, and it works. You’re feeding their words back to them, which is why you sound so appealing to the cover letter reader.
C. Check out the company culture via the company’s website, news releases, Glassdoor, or any other means you can think of. Is the company culture relaxed and casual? Formal and businesslike? Playful? Serious? Young and hip? Techno-edgy? Then make your cover letter’s style match the style of the company you’re applying to. Again, it’s subtle, but you want to sound as if you already work there. They’ll be more likely to call you if they think you’re going to be a good fit for the organization.
4. Lapsing into uncertainty mode. Sooner or later, it will happen: you’ll receive a call, text, or email from a prospective employer, and it’s suddenly show time. In the meantime, it’s crucial not to let your guard down and go on cruise control while you’re waiting. Keep your shoes polished and your suit pressed. Make sure you have clean, crisp copies of your resume at the ready. Keep your USP at the top of your mind (that’s your “unique selling point”—that one distinctive and valuable trait that you alone can bring to the organization), so that you can tout your amazing abilities without faltering. The last thing you want to do is get out of interview practice, so think of it the same way you would if you were in training for a tennis match or a spelling bee—you must remain in that mode until you get the call.
Why? Because if you start to detect on any level that you’re starting to “go soft,” you’ll lose your interviewing confidence, which will definitely be noticed (not in a good way) by the interviewer. Practice your interview answers, and work on your dazzling smile, your assertive handshake, and your confident stride. Stay sharp! This game isn’t over until you’re sitting at your new desk, smiling at all your new colleagues, and knowing that you’ve landed the job of your dreams.