Are you making one of these biggest job search mistakes?

When you’re job searching mistakes don’t go over well. In today’s competitive job market something as small as a typo can knock your chances of making it further in the job interviewing process. When you are job searching you have to be careful about what you write, what you say, how you apply and how you present your qualifications to hiring managers. If you do any of these wrong then it could make your job search more challenging. We have put together a list of some common mistakes that people may make when job hunting.

Having a lengthy CV

You don’t have to include that summer job that you had working in a cafe when you were 16 and every single thing from that point until now. Your CV should be about what you can offer the employer and not what you want in a job. The hiring managers just want the highlights about you as quickly possible. If you are sending your CV to a recruiter they will normally spend between 5- 15 seconds looking at a CV so you only have a few seconds to make a good impression.

Click here to find out how you can cut down your CV and improve it.

Using unnecessary buzzwords

If you think adding loads of buzzwords in your CV is going to make you sound more qualified and impress the hiring manager or a recruiter, you’re wrong. It doesn’t tell anyone anything. You may show up higher on search results on LinkedIn but if your CV is filled with jargon and buzzwords a recruiter will probably just dismiss it. The language in your CV should be straightforward and simple and make sure that any layperson is able to read it and is able to understand it.

Putting in the wrong contact information

This is a common mistake that recruiters see all the time. CVs without any contact information, typos in email addresses, the wrong number or an outdated number etc. Before you send your CV out you should double check that you have your current phone number is listed on correctly and you have the correct and up to date email address. Double check, quadruple check if you have to. If employers and recruiters can’t reach you then they can’t give you the job.

Not matching your qualifications and the job

Job searching can be a bit like dating. There needs to be a perfect match between the job and the candidate. So it’s important to take time and make sure that your skills and qualifications match with the job description.

To increase your chances of getting to the interview tailor your CV to every job you apply for. Each position will list different requirements so each application you submit must highlight the qualifications and past experience you have that match that job. So before you send off your application, take a look at the job description, research the industry and the company.

Dressing inappropriately for an interview

Research the company and the workplace to see what the dress code and the culture of the company is. If you are unsure ask. You want to make the best impression and what you are wearing is the first thing that the hiring manager will see.

Bad Mouthing Your Old Employer

You should never bad mouth your old employer no matter how bad the old job was. This will just leave a bad impression on the hiring manager because they will think that you will do it again when you leave their company. When you’re talking about a previous employers you should keep the tone neutral and positive. And focus on what you have learned from each experience.

Lacking enthusiasm

For some hiring managers interviewing candidate after candidate is not the highlight of their job. You can make the interview process a little more exciting and fun by acting like you’re happy to be there. This will also help to show the interviewer that you’re genuinely interested in the job. And this is also very important to do during a phone interview because they can’t see your facial expressions or your body language so you will need to express a lot of excitement in your voice.

Looking for top tips to help you ace your next interview? Check this out.