You updated your resume, apply to jobs and network every day, yet you’re still unemployed. What is wrong? Many job seekers are blaming economy and forget to consider that the problem might be themselves.
Many employers consider finding qualified applicants their biggest challenge. Among other things, they value initiative, multitasking, creativity and problem-solving skills. Something most of us have. However job applicants often inadvertently display signs that let employers know that they’re not the best fit for the job.
There are fewer jobs and more competition, but are you doing everything possible? Here are a few reasons for employers to consider somebody else:
1. Not enough experience
Employers don’t want to spend time to train and mentor new employees. The more experience you have, the less training you’ll need. The best way to demonstrate your experience is to give the employer specific examples.
2. Not giving examples
The more you can quantify your work, the better. Employers want you to help their business succeed. If you just give them a bunch of empty words about your accomplishments, but not able to give any specific examples, you’re out of luck.
3. Not doing your homework
Having no knowledge of the company is a big turnoff, as well as, not asking good questions during an interview. Explore the company online and prepare answers/questions.
4. Not demonstrating long-term potential
Employers would like people to work their way up in the organization. If you tell them where you see yourself in a few years and it is not related to the company, kiss your chances goodbye. It’s best to show that you want to and can grow with the company.
5. Lie
Any small lies, whether on your resume or during an interview may come back to you. Half of employers reported that they caught candidates lying and half of those employers automatically dismissed the applicants.
6. Talk negatively about current or previous employers
It’s definitely tempting to tell what you think of your current boss, but not to the hiring manager. Employers say that it is one of the most detrimental mistakes a candidate can make. Turning negative things into positive is the best strategy in this case.
7. Not displaying positive attitude
A little enthusiasm will never hurt, especially when it comes to a new job. No employer want to hire disinterested or arrogant candidate.
8. Talking about money too early
It makes employers think that you care about the money, not about the job. As a general rule, never talk about salary before the employer does. Be honest about your salary history as employers can easily verify it.
9. Inappropriate online content
Online search and social networking sites are new places where many employers are checking up on prospective candidates. Every other employer does that and in 30% of the cases they find something that caused them to dismiss the candidate. Make sure to remove any inappropriate content that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
10. Being too personal
Candidates who provide too much personal information in the interview can reduce their chances to get the job. You might be setting yourself up for bias or may even offend some people. Though it’s illegal to discriminate, some employers will do so, regardless.
Here's a little inspiration that recruiters as well as job-seekers could heed in the economics we're in that would have a positive effect across the entire spectrum if employers would take the initiative to be part of.....
Coming together is a beginning! Keeping together is a progress! Working together is success!
Joe Karp
Great article. I think the key points are in being prepared, being confident in yourself, and knowing what questions to ask as well as being skilled at listening. And then having a fully prepped LinkedIn profile, cover letter, if necessary, and updated resume matching what's said on the LI profile can make all the difference.
Stacy Hutchinson
Great information!
Darian
In response to the recruiter above who invited anyone to wear their shoes...
I speak for the countless job seekers out there who have felt the hand of neglect slap them more than once by recruiters. I understand that there's a natural tendency for people to think that nobody else has it as bad as themselves (myself included). I also acknowledge that recruiters today have more work to deal with than they've seen in recent years. But I respectfully put to use the comment made before: "suck it up."
Unfortunately, it's not just the recruiting industry, but others as well, that has devolved into a world where "I'm just too busy to get back to you" has become the norm. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon, sadly, given the way we depend on technology to communicate or to avoid communication as the case may be.
That being said, it would be great to see tips for interviewers as I think a good portion of them need to be reminded they're dealing with people's futures, which should be handled with care and respect.
Paul Clemson
I am prepared to do any preparation, any hoop jumping and business plan creation etc, but the one thing that really gets up my nose is the arrogance and ignorance of employers that do not even have the decency to let you know if you haven't been succesful. I was told by an interviewer that most people only stay in a job these days for an average of 20 months! Is this because people have become social and professional climbers or because companies are getting worse to work for?
Lalit Sharma
I suppose in some cases employer also give a look at overall personality of the candidate so it's very vital for you to look potential employee as well.
Shawn S. Smeltzer
It's always about what the APPLICANT is doing wrong...I'd like to add a couple of things that the EMPLOYER does wrong: 1. If you are looking for someone, KNOW waht position it is and what that person will be doing. If you advertise for a MARKETING, don't be surprised if you get MARKETING, and not SALES applicants. I don't know how many times I've seen an opening for a MARKETING position, only to get an interview based on the description and find out it's a SALES position. They are NOT the same thing. 2. There are rules for misstating resume experience and "fudging" on items, yet employers constantly mislead in ads. A Community Outreach or Marketing and Public Relations representative are just that, don't title them as such if you are looking for a Customer Service Rep or a cashier. Again, it's a waste of your time as an employer and a waste of my time to consider working for you if you are going to mislead even before I start to work for you.
Vivek
I fully agree with has been mentioned above. But I have some doubts regarding the last point mentioned. Giving more personal information makes someone more open and honest is what I feel. How that information will be used against you in the long terms remains to be seen.
Bill Nelson
I am in aggrement with Morris, when you are older people do not want to take the chance on hiring you. They think that you have less desire to advance and do not have the drive to excell. Also, they don't really look at your resume until you get there and are very unprepaired for the interview. I agree with the ten points but as a seasoned professional, I have been prepaired for every interview, after my last interview for a position, I was told I was a very nice man but the present managers would eat me alive as I wasn't aggressive enough. During the interview I calmly gave them examples of how I had successfully handled similar situations as what was occuring at their companies. If they just look at just a few of the accomplishments and objectives achived on my resume it is apperant that those type of achivements do not happen if you are not aggressive. So to ramble so long.
The recommendation about knowing as much about the company with which you're interviewing is often cited as extremely important. Oddly enough, what people don't seem to mention is knowing as much as possible about the particular person with whom you're interviewing. I think knowledge in that domain is even more important than knowledge of the company. Without going into much detail as this isn't the format to do so in, each individual that works for a company has his or her own view regarding what is important to the company, since such things, while having an objective component, also have a powerful subjective one.
monica april l. de leon
Be prepared and honest...
Morris Wilburn
A mistake that many people make is to get over 55 years of age.
|What a Recruiter would never
Jane Q.
Expecting Red carpet treatment without asking what to expect is a one sided argument.
As I read your greivance, here are my initial impressions from an outsider employer standpoint.
High maintenance. = PASS
Follow through from the requestor should ALWAYS be a common courtesy regardless of Pass/Fail
Lesson: Request Full Itinerary of whom you will be speaking to and when. Always ask for duration and what to expect.
Not being prepared is not the employers fault...their objective is not always yours. See through that and take advantage.
To Address:
1.) was this a desk job or a field job?
2.) One who takes initiative would bring their own water..
3.) (Quagmire) "Its not what the company can do for you.." however courtesy pays forward..
4.) VALID POINT. One should always know the caliber of whom she/he will be working with before choosing
5.) 6.) Another Valid Point = Courtesy (Employers are also self centered. however recognizing this at an early stage can be at the applicants advantage)
7.) HR. Deal with it and Suck it up
8.) Courtesy of the employer. Applicants: please keep in mind that if an employer sent an email to everyone they rejected, it is a very good reason as to why the role is still open (It would take forever) keep in mind that if ANY employer including recruiting agencies have the couresy to anounce your decline, you can BET that that person values you as a future potential hire.
9.) As a recruiter, I deal with disappointment regularly from candidates. I also know that many have had negative experiences with recruiters. I do not exclude myself however I do speak from courtesy and respect for the majority of respected recruiters out there that there is no intention of neglect. I invite anyone to wear my shoes in this regard.
Gilbert Key
A wise Director once shared with me that there are 3 questions that should be asked during the interview phase: 1) Can I do the job? 2) Will I do the job? 3) Will I fit in?
Connie Bearden
I agree with "Jane"... I have a positive attitude, have done all my homework, jumped through hoop upon hoop, have been told it is between me and one other applicant as well as driven hours to get there...then nothing. No phone call,. no rejection letter, silence. And when you call them to check in... they don't return phone calls or email. Is this lack of professional courtesy something that is commonplace in this new economy because there is so much competition for positions?
Kyle Smith
If you are interviewing at an industrial site or plant, be prepared for a tour. Have safety glasses, a warm overcoat, and steel toes in your car. When it is time for a tour, you can show the team that you are prepared and have a good understanding of the type of work that is being done at this facility. If it is an industrial facility, the team is more than likely looking for a candidate that is comfortable walking through the plant and interacting (even if you are applying for an office job). How you interact with the line workers may be more important to the interview than you ever realize.
Peter Ward
Great article/list. I think all points mentioned are so very true and relevant even more during these times with so many people chasing fewer jobs you really need to stand out in a crowd. Another point could tie to the part about asking key questions of the interviewer is when you ask silly or non-topical questions.
Jane Q. Applicant
I'd like to see an article on the 10 mistakes that INTERVIEWERS / Recruiters make during an interview. I can name a few that have happened to me: 1.) Not telling the applicant ahead of time (a big surprise) that they will be taken on a complete tour of the plant/construction site. The applicant shows up in a suit and dress shoes, and is then dragged across broken concrete, oily floors, countless series of steps and ladders, with dress shoes on. Goodbye suit, shoes, shirt, and hair style. 2.) Not asking the applicant if they would like a glass of water, at the very least. After 2 hrs. of talking, your mouth is like cotton and there is no relief. 3.) Not offering to pay the applicant mileage for their long drive to get to the interview: especially when the recruiter is aware that it took 4 hrs. one way to drive there. 4.) Not offering to introduce the applicant to others on the team, so they could see who they would be working with. 5.) Not offering to show the applicant a quick tour of the office. Sometimes it helps to see what your office would be like ahead of time: a sweat shop with a desk on wheels, exceptionally noisy, or an office with a door for privacy? 6.) Scheduling the interview for over lunch time, then not offering the applicant any lunch. Especially after they drove 4 hrs. to get there. 7.) Making the applicant fill out a 6 page application form before they are even spoken to. In complete detail, of course. A real waste of time until you think you might actually be interested in hiring the applicant. 8.) Not sending a letter of rejection so the applicant is left wondering forever .... 9.) anybody out there have any other pet peeves about interviews?
Number one mistake in not getting the job you want is lacking knowledge of the national job hunting culture. Every mistake mentioned in the article is a serious one, but it all starts with cultural understanding as looking for work abroad requires more than translating your CV. Have a look at international job hunting tips at www.labourmobility.com/individuals/jobhuntingab... to get to grips with looking for jobs abroad (and do not make any of the mistakes mentioned in the article :-) .
Aasim Hassan
All the mistake mentioned in the article are very relevant. I would like to add one more in the list and that is Cultural difference between the candidate and the hiring manager. If hiring manager or the candidate don't understand the cultural behaviour then even the simple answer can be interoperated in a different way.
You updated your resume, apply to jobs and network every day, yet you’re still unemployed. What is wrong? Many job seekers are blaming economy and forget to consider that the problem might be themselves.
