New year new job? Don’t sabotage your search

New year new job?  Don’t sabotage your search

Does the new year signal to you it’s time for a new job? Or perhaps you are a recent graduate looking for your first job? In this blog we bring you a few essentials that prevent you from screening yourself out before you have had a chance to make your mark.

1. Typos and bad grammar in your application

Your CV and cover letter need to be perfect. Use spellcheck and get a friend or family member to look over your submission. Two eyes are always better than one.

2. One size fits all

No two jobs are the same, and so no two applications should be the same. You need to think carefully about each position you are applying for and consider what elements you can draw out that will be of most interest to the future employer. Usually you have a clear guideline about these might be, if you take some time to look at what is listed in the job description.

3. Lying on your CV

A single question is enough to catch you out if you have lied on your CV, says job search engine Monster.com. Hiring managers were not born yesterday. But they are much more open to transferable skills these days. It is far better to be honest about all the experience you have, and committed to continuous professional development and learning, than to lie on your CV.

Lies can range from massaged dates and responsibilities, right up to made-up employers and qualifications. But they also include not being honest about career goals. Telling a prospective employer you want to move into a management position over time, whereas really you’d prefer to stay in role without those responsibilities, is also deceitful. You may end up with a job you want but also with expectations of you cant or don’t want to deliver on over time.

Employers value honesty. And eagerness to learn and develop is something that is prized. Learn to showcase that spirit in place of risking not only your reputation but also losing a shot at a job you really want.

4. Arriving for an interview late or unprepared

Don’t arrive just-in-time, arrive early and grab a coffee or read a book. In that way, even if you end up in crazy traffic or the train is late, you’ll still be on time. Punctuality is always important. If you cant make it to your interview on time, how can a future employer be sure you can arrive each day for work on time?

Being prepared includes having researched the organisation you’d like to work for and being clear about what they do and where they’re headed. Usually you can find out a lot about an organisations mission and values on their website. If you cant, that’s something you might want to ask during the interview.

Being prepared also includes thinking about what questions you have for the employer. Questions signal a genuine interest in assessing whether there is fit between what’s on offer and what you’re looking for. It’s a missed opportunity if you don’t use this time to a few questions. If you are stuck for ideas of what these could be, take a look at this list of 28 suggestions from Business Insider.

We hope these pointers are useful for your next job search. As always, we welcome your comments on the issues we address in our blogs.

If you have a topic you’d like us to take a look at, let us know.