- 1. Not knowing anything about the company where you are interviewing
- 2. Not knowing why you are the right person for the job
- 3. Your references give you a bad reference
- 4. Giving your work business card or your work
email address onyour resume - 5. You’ve not googled yourself (lately or at all)
- 6. You did not spell check
your resume - 7. You spend all of your time applying to online jobs
- 8. You don't leverage
your network - 9. You don't send a thank-you note
- 10. You don't have a
job search plan
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Last Updated on January 22, 2023
We’ve all experienced that “yikes!” moment in a
But what about the
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1. Not knowing anything about the company where you are interviewing
Hopefully, you are not just applying to every job that looks good. You should be focusing on the companies that are the best fit for your industry and job title (see # 10 below). Whether or not your interview is with a company that is on your
2. Not knowing why you are the right person for the job
The hiring manager is trying to hire the best person for the job and if you are not it then you should not be on the interview. You’ve read the job description and you think you are a great match – be prepared to talk about that in your interview. Before the interview, you should cross-reference your resume to the job description and be prepared to focus on your skills and experience that best match the job description. Think of specific achievements that will demonstrate you are the best person for the job.
3. Your references give you a bad reference
Sounds crazy? It’s not. You would be surprised how many people give the names of references to hiring managers and then their references don’t give them a good reference. Before adding contacts to your reference list you should have a conversation with them to ensure that they are comfortable giving a reference. No one should be surprised (least of all you) about a reference call. Needless to say, current managers and co-workers should not be on your list of references.
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4. Giving your work business card or your work email address on your resume
A
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5. You’ve not googled yourself (lately or at all)
While you might be very comfortable that there is nothing on any of your social networks that will embarrass you, you never know what might show up on the Internet with your name. Maybe you’ve been tagged in a compromising photo by a “friend”, or maybe you posted some political comment that might not be mainstream. There is also the possibility that someone who has a similar name to yours shows up when a search is done on you. While there is not much you can do (in the short term) about embarrassing information/pictures on the Internet, being aware of what is out there gives you the advantage of being in front of the issue and addressing it head-on.
6. You did not spell check your resume
There is no excuse for having spelling errors on any of your
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7. You spend all of your time applying to online jobs
Job search engines can be addicting. While there is definitely value to using
8. You don’t leverage your network
Your network is your most important
The key to success in the current job market is breaking through to the hidden job market. Over half of all jobs go to someone who did not apply to a posted opening at all. What are they doing and how are they doing it? They’re finding new jobs before the posting hits the Internet.
9. You don’t send a thank-you note
You may think that thank-you notes are “old school”, but they are not. While a generic thank you note is a waste of time, a targeted thank you note can make all of the difference in you getting to the next round in your interview process. What, exactly, is a “targeted thank you note”? A targeted thank you note is a note that lets the interviewer(s) know that you listened during the interview (by repeating some of what you discussed) and it’s your opportunity to remind the interviewer why you are the best person for the job.
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10. You don’t have a job search plan
You wouldn’t drive somewhere without knowing how to get there and you shouldn’t start your
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