Common Job Applicant Mistakes

This is a post by Danielle Leach of Elle Paige & Henry. Danielle is a blogger and an executive recruiter at Search Solution Group. She contacted me after we followed each other on Instagram and realized how much we have in common. Don’t worry, this isn’t the last you’ll hear from her. She’ll also be featured in a career profile coming soon! In the meantime, here are the most common job applicant mistakes she’s seen so far.

Following the “Submit and Pray Method”

The “Submit and Pray Method” consists of finding an opportunity posted online either on a job board (CareerBuilder, Monster, Ladders, Indeed, etc.) or a company site, uploading a copy of your resume, pressing submit, and then praying someone from the company sees your resume and contacts you. As the job application process becomes easier (most people can apply from their mobile device) companies are receiving an overwhelming amount of applications for open positions from both qualified and unqualified candidates. Often times, they do not have all of the resources to look at every single resume that is submitted. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to take initiative and let someone in the company know that you applied. As an Internet-savvy applicant, take the time to look up the hiring manager for the position and call them directly to let them know you applied. If you leave a voicemail, follow up with an email introducing yourself and attach your resume. Follow up is a great way to distinguish yourself as an applicant.

Forgetting the Details

We spend hours perfecting our resumes and sadly recruiters spend less than ten seconds reviewing them. You don’t want to give a recruiter any reason to skip over your resume due to lack of information. Make sure your resume is informative and includes pertinent information such as employment dates (month and years), titles, company descriptions (there is a big difference between a $4M company and a $4B company), company industry, and most importantly, numbers. Numbers tell the story that the hiring manager is looking to read. Did you produce 1 report per month or 12? Did you fill 4 open positions a month or 15? Did you manage a group of 1 or a group of 7?

Applying for the Wrong Position

Sadly, I see this one all too often. An Accountant with two years of experience applying for a CFO position. A cook applying for a human resources manager opportunity. A receptionist applying for a product development specialist position. Yes, it is easy to apply for a position but if you do not meet the desired skills, (5+ years of recruiting experience, 2+ years as a generalist, etc.) then you should not apply. Sometimes, I will a call candidate who applied for a position in Charlotte from Nashville only to find out they aren’t willing to relocate. Thoroughly read through the description and requirements before pressing submit.

Skipping the Homework Assignment on Company Research

As a recruiter, I hear all too often how a candidate did not show enough excitement about a position. With all of the resources available, it’s important to do your research on a company before speaking with them. In addition to visiting the company site, look up their financial reports, know their executives, visit their social media pages and see what type of branding they are establishing themselves as a company. If the company produces a product or is a store, familiarize yourself with their products and take a trip to their retail locations. Knowing the ins and outs of a company and being able to bring up a recent accomplishment or events they hosted, will allow you to make a strong impression during the interview process.

Having An Out of Date Profile

As the business world becomes more socially connected, employers expect to find applicants on social platforms such as LinkedIn. If an applicant has an out of date profile and it does not match their submitted resume, this sends red flags to the company. Companies check your profile and you want to make sure they are impressed with what they see. Have a current professional photo. Have all of your jobs, education, and volunteer work listed. Don’t be shy to ask for recommendations and endorsements. A company could be indecisive about whether to contact you and then discover that you volunteer for an organization that they are on the board of. Every detail matters.