If you need a job, you’ve probably had tons of people tell you what to do. But have you had anybody tell you what not to do? Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do when job hunting. Take a look at these points to make sure you’re not making any mistakes:
Focus on Money
If you need a job, you shouldn’t focus on the money aspect side of things. A job is a job, right? Although you need to know that you’ll be able to live off the amount of money you’ll be earning, you shouldn’t ask questions about pay when handing in a resume or to an interviewer. They’ll tell you in due course. You don’t want to make them think that all you’re interested in is the money, rather than adding value to their company!
Show You’re Desperate
Even if you’re at your wits end when looking for a job, don’t show that you’re desperate under any circumstances. Begging for a job or explaining why you badly need it will only put off employers. This can be seen as a weakness on your part, and making them feel guilty about hiring you right from the get-go isn’t going to help. Keep your desperation to yourself. You wouldn’t like to be friends with someone who was desperate, or in a relationship, so nobody is going to hire you if you are.
Decline to Ask Questions
Asking questions after an interview is essential. Think of some beforehand so you aren’t put on the spot, and take some paper and a pen with you so you can write down their answers. Again, this isn’t the time to ask about pay or time off! Instead, ask questions that you think will make it clear you’re very interested in the position. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t look as if you’re interested enough in the job.
Dress Sloppily
You should never dress sloppily, under any circumstances. I don’t mean just at the interview stage either! You should look smart when enquiring about jobs, when you apply for jobs, handing over your resume, and even when you’re networking. You never know who you might meet when you’re not looking, and you don’t want to be caught off guard and give off a bad impression. If you aren’t sure what to wear, do some research on fashion blogs and clothes websites. Many will be happy to give you advice. You should dress in an appropriate way for the industry you wish to work in. If you want to work in a professional industry, you should look smart at all times. If you want to work in fashion, you should always bring your most impressive, fashionable outfit to the table. You also want to make sure your body odour is in check, and that your breath doesn’t smell.
Lose Your Confidence
It can be hard to keep your confidence when you’ve been job hunting for a long time. Try not to lose faith in yourself! You’ll get there eventually if you persevere. It’s OK to be nervous if you get an interview; in fact, it’s normal. Some interviewers admit they’d think it was strange if you weren’t nervous. However, this doesn’t mean you have to admit how nervous you are. Practice calming techniques and think positively at all times.
Babble
Babbling is the worst; almost as bad as not saying anything at all. Your responses, whether you’re in an interview, networking, or somewhere else altogether, should be measured and well thought out. If you try to fill every silent and babble on, you can almost talk yourself out of a job. There’s no need to talk and talk and talk, unless you have something amazing to say.
Lie
Telling lies and saying misleading things won’t get you very far. Sure, putting them on your resume might get you an interview, but you’ll have to back up what you’ve said with evidence. You may be asked questions about what you’ve said that are difficult to answer. Even if you end up getting a job due to a lie you’ve told, you’ll nearly always get found out if asked to do something relating to it in your role. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to qualifications and achievements.
Forget to Follow Up
Let’s say you’ve handed in a resume or had an interview, and you don’t hear anything back for a few days. Don’t forget to follow up! Accepting defeat at this stage is silly. Simply call up and ask how you did. This can be a great way to get feedback on your resume/performance. It can also be the extra push an employer needs to be convinced of your commitment to their company. A simple phone call is all it takes.
Give Irrelevant Information
Your applications should be targeted to a specific company. You need to only include relevant information for that company. Giving irrelevant information wastes time, and makes it look as if you haven’t done your research properly. Employers can tell if you’re just handing out your resume all over the place! Avoid giving irrelevant information unless asked about it. Only include great qualifications and achievements that will help you to perform in your new role. You don’t want to look as if you’re going after something that isn’t suited to you!
Make Spelling and Grammar Mistakes
One major issue that puts employers off an applicant is spelling and grammar mistakes. Even if this was obviously an honest typing error, it’ll still have a negative effect. Use a spellchecker or a qualified person to check over your resume and cover letter for any mistakes. Make sure any emails you send are fine too. You may be asked to do a task of some kind for the interview process, so make sure you concentrate on spelling and grammar while doing that also.
Now you know what not to do, you can do all of the right things when job hunting. Thanks for reading!
