In
job searching, it's frequently the little things that you don't do or don't
do right that keep you from getting the competitive edge you need.
According
to best selling author Tom Peters:
Advantage
comes not from the spectacular or extraordinary; advantage comes from a persistent
seeking of the mundane edge.
In
other words, taking proper care of the details can give you a real advantage.
Even a small error or
omission can have a negative impact on your job search, so it's important to catch
them early.
Outlined
below are common errors, their typical consequences, and job-winning moves to
get you back on track.
Many
employers discard resumes that contain typos and spelling errors. While some resume
reviewers don't care about errors, others use errors as justification for disqualifying
an applicant.
Even
worse, a misspelled (critical) keyword or e-mail address can befatal.
Job
Winning Moves
Always
double-check your resume and cover letter before using them. Proofread as if your
career depended on it, because frankly, it might! And
do not rely exclusively on your spelling-checker because it won't catch the most
common errors(i.e., missing words, wrong words, incorrect dates, extra
numbers, and technical terms).
Proofread
carefully!
Wrong
Resume Format
The
Problem
Many
job seekers are unsure which resume format is "right" for a given situation.
For example, the list below contains the most common resume formats. Click on
the links for more information on how that resume format is used.
Sending
the wrong resume format can knock you out of the running before you even start
the race. Always follow employers' directions explicitly when it comes
to resume format preferences.
In
other words, if an employer requests a plain text or ASCII resume, don't send
a Microsoft Word attachment. When
a scannable resume is requested, make sure that your documents are scannable.
If an ASCII resume is requested, it is NOT okay to send a PDF file or a multimedia
Web resume.
You
can, however, include a URL and/or live link (from your ASCII resume or ASCII
cover letter) to your Web resume – making your Web resume or portfolio accessible
with just one click of the mouse. More
information on ASCII cover letters
Job
Winning Move
Get
up to speed on e-resumes and
the electronic job market. If you're new to the Internet or struggling with
your job search, taking the time to learn how the job market works can make all
the difference.
No
Job Target
The
Problem
Most
resumes are too generic and have no clear focus. Ideally, resumes should:
Be
aimed specifically toward a job target/objective
Include
a keyword-heavy qualifications summary
Be
strategically edited
Consequences
Generic
resumes (i.e., resumes with no job target or job focus) rarely hit any mark
and are notorious for failing to attract employers' attention. The well-known
principles of targeted marketing apply to resume writing and determine resume
effectiveness.
Whether
you're trying to communicate your skills to a human being or an automated "keyword
search command" your resume should contain:
The
right combination of keywords – to optimize keyword matches when the resume
is "read" electronically.
The
right job target emphasis – to position you for the job target and focus
on most relevant qualifications.
The
right resume-writing strategy– to convince the human reader who needs
to be persuaded that you are a solid candidate.
If
you have a combined telephone / fax line (requiring manual switching of the line
from telephone to fax mode) are you diligent about making sure the line gets switched
back to telephone mode after receiving a fax?
Make
sure potential employers can reach you quickly and easily during your job search!
Do
whatever it takes to make yourself accessible. Cell phones, answering machines,
and other communication tools can easily pay for themselves when used properly.
Missing
Keywords
The
Problem
Most
resumes (even long, detailed ones) do not include the specific
skills employers are looking for – i.e., right keywords.
Consequences
No
keyword matches = No interviews = No job offers!
Without
the right keywords, your resume won't make it through the electronic screening
process. Since more than 80% of resumes are processed electronically, using the
right keywords is critically important.
Job
Winning Moves
Develop
your "resume-writing strategy" based on your job target's core keywords.
How do you know
which keywords to use? It's
simple: Use keywords extracted from examples of "ideal" jobs:
Advertised
jobs from your local newspaper and help wanted ads
Online
job postings from sites like FlipDog, Monster.com, etc.
Any
number of e-mail errors can wreak havoc on your job search:
No
e-mail
E-mail
with typos
Silly
or personal e-mail
addresses
Using
your current employer's e-mail
Long,
non-intuitive e-mail addresses
Forget
to check e-mail
Consequences
In
some circumstances, failing to include an accurate e-mail address on your resume
has the same dire consequences as forgetting to include your telephone number!
Job
Winning Moves
Most
employers favor candidates who are computer literate and "tech-savvy."
So first of all, be sure to include your e-mail address on your resume. An e-mail
address not only infers that you are computer literate, but it gives employers
the option of contacting you by e-mail if that is their preference.
It's
a real "marketing" advantage to use an intuitive, professional sounding
e-mail address on your resume. If your current e-mail is not appropriate, check
with your Internet Service Provider to see if you can get another e-mail address
– or sign up for free e-mail at various sites (like Yahoo.com) on the Net.
Most
job seekers fail to follow up after an interview. This is good news because it
means that the thank-you letter you send after an interview will be among the
few received – a great way to reinforce your candidacy and make yourself
stand out from the crowd.
Statistically,
thank-you letters do influence hiring decisions – so you should always
take advantage of the opportunity to say "thank you."
Job
Winning Moves
Develop
a basic prototype thank-you letter NOW, so that LATER (when you're
under the gun with no time to spare), you can quickly customize it and send it
to your interviewer.
In
most cases, time is of the essence, so make every effort to get thank-you
letters out within 24 hours.
Instructions
on how to write follow up letters are provided in Jumpstart
Your Job Search's Learn2Center.
dvantage
comes not from the spectacular or extraordinary; advantage comes from a
persistent seeking of the mundane edge.
hat
are
dvantage
comes not from the 
