Getting a job should be easy, or at least that is what we were taught. All you had to do is find a job you are interested in, send in a resume, fill out an application, go to an interview, be pleasant and get hired. Seems easy right? Well, maybe a few years back this would have worked. Now with all the unemployment, it’s not that easy.
You have to do a lot more than play the wait game. By now you have probably sent out countless of resumes and filled out more applications that you thought it was possible.
However, getting an actual interview doesn’t always happen. At this point you are probably frustrated. It’s as though you keep running into a brick wall and it will not go away. When this happens, frustration settles in and of course, it’s understandable.
But instead of getting frustrated and angry, try to look at the bigger picture. It can’t be that they are simply not hiring. Is it your resume, how you present yourself? Do you give up too easily? Here are a few reasons they say many do not make it to the interview.
RESUME
When the resume is received by the potential employer, they read it carefully. When they start noticing grammatical errors and inconsistency they just put it down and go to the next one. You may think your resume is perfect, there are no errors but that is not the case. It is suggested that when you complete your resume, have two or three people look it over. Our eyes get tired, so we tend to make mistakes. Also, what makes sense to you doesn’t always make sense to others. Having someone check your resume will save you lots of time and get you that interview you want.
FOLLOW-UP
Another mistake is we send our resumes in but do not follow-up. Sending your resume via email is not enough. Sometimes these emails do not go through. Send another resume along with a cover letter; indicate that you have already applied on-line. The most important thing is to call, ask if they have received your resume and check on the status of the position.
PERSONAL WEBSITES
Today, with the internet, your work history will not be all they use to decide if you are the right candidate for the job. Some interviewers will go a little further and check the different websites available today, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Make sure that if you are part of any of these it does not display any type of titles that make you look as though you are irresponsible. For those that show their favorite pastimes on these pages as “Binge Drinking”, “Partying”, or “Going Wild”, they will not show you as a responsible person and can quickly help you lose that position you so wanted.
GIVE UP
This is understandable but not good, you just simply give up. Since you are not receiving any type of response for all the resumes and cover letters you have sent out, you stop trying and become careless. What you have to do is try different strategies, change your resume, create a new cover letter; maybe you can take a few more courses and add to your experience. Remember, it is very competitive nowadays; you are competing with professionals and college students fresh out of school.
MISREPRESENATION
No matter how desperately you need to get hired, do not misrepresent yourself. Make sure that all the information on your resume is accurate. On your resume, provide exact dates, titles, position, and responsibilities. There may have been a time that some employers did not check references thoroughly but now they do. If they find one discrepancy, even if it was simply to fill a gap, they will not bother with you. They feel if you can lie about something as simple as when you left a previous position, then it will be easy for you to like about deadlines.
COVER LETTER
You should always include a cover letter with your resume but don’t do a generic one. The cover letter is sort of a prelude to your resume. When writing a cover letter, do not reinstate what is already on your resume. What you should note on this letter is how you found out about the position, what interests you about this company and why you want to work with them. Let them know you can be an asset to them, it should exude self-confidence, emphasize your strengths. Now don’t confuse self-confidence with cockiness. They want to know you are secure and confident about your skills, however if it shows that you are arrogant or cocky, they won’t even bother reading the resume.
If writing your resume is a bit complicated, maybe you should have it done by a professional service. It is hard at times to write in very few words what you did in a previous job. Sometimes our resumes are just too lengthy and they don’t have the time to read through all that. Besides the resume and cover letter, you have to remember that looking for a job is just like having a full-time position. You have to work hard to get your foot in the door. You have to be persistent and patient. Follow-up on all you do, sometimes, they are so busy they haven’t had a chance to look at your resume. Calling and checking on the status of a position always shows enthusiasm, desire and commitment. These are all good qualities.
Whatever you do, never show frustration or desperation, no matter how hard it has become for you. These types of emotions scare off potential employers, they feel that during stressful times or deadlines, you could snap and just walk away. While looking for employment, take a few courses. This will help you explain any lengthy gaps between jobs and it looks as though you are always striving to do better, another plus for you.