Even if you’re amazing in pretty much every way, you’re bound to make mistakes at some point in time, including during your job search. While you may think that your credentials speak for themselves – well – they don’t, and you’re going to have to approach applying for positions with a high degree of strategic wisdom and finesse. If this is your first round in the employment ring, or perhaps if you have been out of the game for a while, then you should brush up on all the things you should avoid doing so you can astound recruiters and potential bosses alike.
Sure, you probably hear a fair amount of gloom and doom about the current state of the job market. Although there are some factors that are completely out of your control, such as the perpetual roller coaster that is the global economy and the skittishness that a portion of employers may feel with regards to taking on more staff, there are others that are 100% up to you. For example, take a look at your modern resume: That document can only show off your stellar qualifications if you let it. Bearing that in mind, you should really bring your A-game when it comes to creating these short snapshots of your professional profiles so that possible employers will be impressed enough to offer you an interview.
Refine your resume
Jayne Mattson, senior vice president of Keystone Associates provided some expert insight into a couple of common mistakes made by younger applicants. It is particularly difficult for job seekers with limited professional experience to find their way into the workforce, as the items they can put on their resumes are slim pickings. For this reason, Mattson recommended that if you’re in a similar situation, you can add some more meat to your CV by focusing on the knowledgebase and talents you have gleaned from personal experiences rather than simply sticking to professional positions.
List relevant volunteer projects or even coursework that was instrumental in terms of you developing a certain set of skills. After naming these experiences, you will want to highlight exactly what you learned, in addition to any notable accomplishments you made in the process, both of which are apt to catch employers’ attention. This way, they will see your potential, rather than focusing on your lack of time spent in the job circuit.
Eliminate errors
On top of this, you will most definitely want to guarantee your modern resume appears polished so it doesn’t come across as unprofessional. This means you need to go over your CV with a fine-tooth comb and even have other people have a look.
“Always use the spell check on your computer,” wrote Mattson. “That is why it is there. Also, it is imperative that you have someone else proofread it for you, multiple times! Errors, however minor, can be the reason you did not get the job.”
Network with potential employers
Once you’ve sorted out your resume, you should tackle perfecting your approach to applying for jobs in general. If you continuously send a steady stream of online applications, Mashable pointed out that you’re doing it all wrong. The source explained that for every time you send in your credentials to express interest in an opening, there are other people who have some sort of connection that gets them one step ahead of you.
To prevent this from happening, Mashable suggested that you at least try to form bonds with professionals via LinkedIn. If you start to form your own network, you will be able to lay the groundwork for getting picked out from a pile of applications.
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