When you’re searching for a new job, everyone always wants to give you helpful tips and hints in hopes they’ll help you get hired. “Be sure to have a copy of your resume with you,” they say. “Make eye contact and know your strengths and weaknesses.
And, of course, those are great pieces of advice.
But today, we’re going over some of the things that will most certainly keep you from getting hired.
You can wear the most professional outfit and have a firm handshake, but if you commit any of these faux pas, you’re never going to get the job.
1) Your resume or cover letter has spelling errors:
Sure, you might be in a hurry to send in your application and therefore whip together a customized resume and cover letter in hopes of catching your interviewer’s attention before the flood of other applicants arrive. But what you didn’t realize in your hurriedness is that you misspelled the company name or left out a few periods in your sentences.
Pro tip: Slow down. Proofread your written materials several times and get a second pair of eyes to review it before sending it over.
2) You aren’t really qualified for the role:
If you’re desperately seeking a job, it’s likely that you’re applying for anything and everything that is remotely close to your skill set. But when you’re a marketing professional applying for an accounting position, there might be too much of a gap in your skill set.
Pro tip: Don’t waste time preparing and sending in applications for jobs that you’re under or over qualified for.
3) You ask questions about details too early in the interview:
When your questions during the first interview are focused around vacation time, pay, flexibility, or benefits, you’re moving too fast. First interviews are all about getting to know the job, each other, and laying the foundation of a relationship.
Pro tip: Save your detailed questions for later down the road—like at a final interview or once you’ve been offered the job.
4) Your interviewer wasn’t impressed with your online presence:
A quick search for your name can yield some negative impressions for your interviewer if your social media and online presence showcase you in a negative light. Be cautious when posting photos, personal opinions, and using certain language in a public forum (especially while job hunting.)
Pro tip: Clean it up! Do a quick search of yourself and get rid of anything you wouldn’t want a potential boss or co-worker to see.
5) You were unenthusiastic in your interview:
An air of cool confidence can certainly be a good thing, but when you reach the point of seeming generally uninterested, that’s bad news. You should be actively listening, have questions prepared, and use attentive body language during your interview.
Pro tip: Videotape yourself doing a practice interview with a friend. When you watch it, you’ll be better able to understand your body language and responses from an outside perspective.
In Conclusion
The bottom line: There are just as many ways an interview can go wrong as there are that can go right. Prepare yourself for the general dos and don’ts of the job-hunting process so you begin your search with realistic parameters.
Now get out there and start job hunting!
