12 Deadly Sins That Kill Your Job Search

From NewGradLife

Job seekers often make mistakes during their job search - but
in these tough economic times even the slightest detail must be taken
care of. From resumes to cover letters, and from the interview to the
reference and background check, there are 12 huge mistakes that can be
avoided with just a little bit of effort on the job seeker's part. Read
on to see what they are and improve your job search!



RESUMES and
COVER LETTERS



1. Not customizing your resume for each job submittal:
Each resume you submit should be tailored to the position, highlighting
those dimensions of your background that are most important to the job.



2. Only using job boards to search for opportunities:
The least effective way to find a job is by applying to job listings on
job boards. Other, more useful tactics for identifying job opportunities
include networking with colleagues, targeting specific companies, and
attending professional association meetings, to name just a few.



3. Not using a cover letter: Cover
letters provide a way to highlight the personal qualities and
accomplishments that differentiate you from other applicants. Your cover
letter also allows you to draw the reader's attention to the parts of
your background that are most applicable to the specific job.



4. Not following up on resumes and interviews:
Professional follow-through on resume submittals and interviews helps
set you apart, puts your name in front of the hiring authorities, and
demonstrates your interest in the company and position.

5. Not taking extra copies of your resume and cover letter to
each interview: Interviewers are notorious for forgetting to
bring your resume to the interview, so demonstrate your preparedness by
taking extra copies for them. You may also meet people who have not seen
your resume before.



6. Lying on your resume or at any point in the
hiring process: Lying is very high risk, both during the
selection process and after you get hired. Many people have been fired
for lying on their resumes, even after years of high job performance.
Positive spin is good; lying is bad.



7. Putting personal information on your resume:
Personal data is irrelevant to the hiring process. Companies are
governed by law to not discriminate based on personal characteristics or
circumstances. Listing personal information on your resume, which used
to be standard, is now viewed as unprofessional.



8. Using too many fonts and text effects on
your resume: A resume must be easy to read and understand. Use
no more than two fonts - one is best. It's good to highlight specific
words in your resume by making them bold, but you should generally avoid
underlining or heavy use of italics, which can affect scan ability.



INTERVIEWS




9. Not preparing intellectually and emotionally for interviews:
The interview is the most important moment in your job search
and as such, it requires solid intellectual and emotional preparation.
Researching the company is just the beginning. Research the background
of the people you will meet (use the corporate web site or online
profiles). Practice answering the most common interview questions, and
the questions you fear most. Prepare five questions you will ask during
the interview. Finally, get yourself in the most resourceful and
positive mood for the interview. Candidates perform their best when
feeling spectacular.

10. Not sending a thank you note after interviews: Send
a thank you note to every interviewer. This one technique demonstrates
your professionalism and interest, and can make the difference between
getting and not getting an offer.



REFERENCES and
BACKGROUND



11. Disclosing unflattering data on social network profiles:
Many employers check social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, etc.)
for additional data about potential employees. Review your online
profiles and disclose only professional and positive information.



12. Not pre-qualifying your references:
Make certain your references are absolutely comfortable providing a
stellar recommendation for you.