5 common mistakes by job seekers
By Rick Berg
M
Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
any job seekers think the first step for them in the hiring
process begins with the interview. However, proper
preparation prior to the interview can go a long way.
1
Not properly prepping for
interview
Don’t walk into an interview without
preparing and expect to successfully
wing it. Put together a list of questions
you think they may ask based on your
résumé, experience and education,
especially to those skills that translate
to the position. Think about answering
these questions in a way that shows
value to the company.
3
Spelling and grammar
mistakes in the resume
You’ve proofread your resume, but go over it
again with a fine-tooth comb. Ask someone
else to go over it as well if you’ve made
major changes, especially to a cover letter.
Spotting a spelling or grammar mistake
already gives the first impression of lacking
attention to detail or limited effort.
Reviewing again just before an interview
can help keep things fresh, just don’t
stress yourself out.
Even worse, not replacing all of the
mentions of another business or role you
applied to with the new one or misspelling
the name of the person or company you’re
addressing will not help your chances.
2
4
Not doing thorough
research on the company
Showing up prepared with knowledge
and information about a company, its
industry, and the role you’re interviewing
for speaks volumes and can put you at a
significant advantage.
Showing up with the bare minimum
in knowledge is easy for employers to
recognize. You should at least have a
thorough understanding of what the
company does, their history, how they
operate and have a good idea of the role
you’re applying for.
TIP: Come prepared with a couple of
great questions that display a deep level
of research in the company.
Not following applications
instructions
Another note on attention to detail: make
sure to correctly follow the application
instructions. Read the job description and
post again before hitting send just to make
sure you didn’t miss anything. This mistake
can also give the perception of lacking
attention to detail or not being able to
handle instructions correctly.
5
Not tailoring resume to the
job description and company
Get personal with your cover letter and
résumé. You want the company to know that
you want to work there. A bland, generic
cover letter that you sent to 10 different
companies with minimal changes won’t
stand out.
Best of luck on the hunt!