As a job seeker, you may have spent months trying to find the perfect job, but you’ve yet to get a decent offer. This can be for a variety of reasons, including a limited work history, lack of credentials or just not being in the right place at the right time. However, sometimes it comes down to the ways in which you approach the job search and interview process that could be sabotaging your success. You may not even realize this and it’s not entirely your fault at all.
To boost your ability to land a great job, here are some of the top reasons why you lose job opportunities – avoid them at all costs!
- Ineffective Cover Letter – While some recruiters have done away with the cover letter, many others are requiring them to weed out less desirable candidates. However, make sure you actually take the time to write a meaningful cover letter. Skip the “form letter” and write a compelling and personal cover letter than gives the hiring manager a glimpse into who you are and what you bring to the table.
- Unreachable References – One of the most frustrating aspects of being a recruiter is not being able to get in touch with candidate’s past work and personal references. Make sure you are providing the most up-to-date and responsive references and their accurate contact information on your application so that you will get called back for an interview.
- Bad Resume Format – A bad resume can make even the best candidate look terrible to a hiring manager. Poor formats, misspelled words, and dates that don’t make sense are the reasons why a recruiter may toss yours into the nearest trash bin. Be sure your resume is easy to read, correct and in a friendly format.
- Lack of Credentials – Take the time to carefully read each job description before applying. Note that the educational level and any industry certifications are generally necessary for consideration. If you want to go after more jobs in your chosen industry you may want to head back to school to obtain those credentials.
- Poor Professionalism – Your appearance and behavior during interviews is critical to success. Arriving late, not dressed in business attire, forgetting to bring a pen, or using inadequate communication skills can hurt your chances of getting hired.
Finding a job can be a challenge, but with the right effort and attention to details, you can land a great assignment by working with a local staffing agency, like Advance Staffing Solutions. You will be able to browse through hundreds of new jobs and be matched to the best fitting assignments by a caring recruiter.
