Follow these best practices to ensure your job application bypasses the job-search black hole.
Now that you’ve clarified your job goals, crafted the perfect resume and cleaned up your online presence, let’s talk about submitting effective job applications. 
There’s nothing worse than submitting an application and never hearing back. Below are ten tips to help you avoid that job-search black hole.
Make Sure You’re a Match
Read the responsibilities and requirements sections of the job description carefully – what skill sets, education level and years of experience do they require? While the employer likely doesn’t expect you to have every single desired skill, they will expect you to meet all the core “must-have” requirements. Only apply to jobs where you possess these must-haves.
Apply Within 72 Hours
A recent study by TheLadders found that your chances of getting a call back plummet 72 hours after the job is published online, even if you were considered a good fit for the job. If you find a job that you’re truly interested in and a fit for, buckle down and get that application out as soon as possible!
Tailor Your Application
Before your resume is reviewed by a recruiter or hiring manager, it first has to get past an electronic gatekeeper called Applicant Tracking Software (called ATS for short). Before you submit your application, review the job description for key terms and requirements and make sure they are incorporated into your resume (assuming you possess those skills).
Customize Your Cover Letter
A good cover letter fits on one page and is broken down into three main sections: an introductory paragraph that explains why you’re interested in the job, a middle section that explains your qualifications and a closing paragraph that ends with a call to action. I recommend using a t-format for your cover letter to quickly show the reader how you meet the core requirements for the role. If the application doesn’t allow you to use columns, try bullets instead.
Remember, It’s Not About You
When you’re a job seeker, your mission is to show organizations how you can provide value to them. A hiring manager doesn’t care that you’re applying for your dream job with your dream company. Rather, they want to know why you’re interested in and passionate about working there. Focus on the skills and passions that are required to do the job.
Cross Your T’s and Dot Your I’s
If 54 percent of recruiters have reacted negatively to spelling and grammatical errors found in candidates’ tweets and Facebook posts, imagine how they’ll react to mistakes in your application! Beyond proper etiquette, poor punctuation and capitalization can confuse the ATS software and scramble your application in the system. Chances are, the recruiter will ditch your application rather than taking the time to manually re-enter the information properly.
Work the System to Your Advantage
You’re ten times more likely to get a call back if your application includes an employee referral. If you’re being referred by an employee, make sure the ATS knows it; the software is smart enough to care. Choose to upload your resume instead of cutting and pasting it if this option exists in the application process. This feature often parses information and saves it in the optimal format, ensuring the cleanest presentation.
Use a Professional Subject Line and Email Address
If you’re emailing an application, use effective subject lines that reference the position you’re applying for, rather than “hello” or “intro”. Use an email address that incorporates the name you use professionally on your resume and cover letter. Cutesy, offensive, flirtatious or sexual addresses send hiring managers the wrong message.
Be Prepared for the Call
Record a professional voicemail message for the number listed on your resume. If your resume is strong enough to convince the recruiter or hiring manager to reach for the telephone, be sure the greeting on the other end of the line represents you in the best light – this includes recorded messages and whoever might answer the phone in your place.
Read the Fine Print for Follow-ups
Read the job description carefully. If an application deadline is listed, then follow up one week after that date. If you can’t find a deadline, send your follow-up note one week after your initial application. Remember, if the job listing states “no calls,” do not call to follow up. The employer will assume you can’t follow directions.
Click on the following link for more tips to improve your job applications.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Share what you've learned from your fathers, too!
With Father’s Day a few days away, many of us are spending the time trying to round up last-minute gifts that are meaningful and well thought-out for the main men in our lives. (Although I’ll admit to opting for the tried-and-true golf balls more than once.)
Father’s Day is a difficult holiday to shop for. This is not because power tools and shaving kits are hard to come by, but because many of us have a father or father figure who gave us innumerable gifts, the most significant being the wisdom learned from a lifetime of experiences.
My dad – or as I call him, “Papa” – has taught me so many lessons about life and business. He instilled in my brother and me the value of a strong work ethic at a very early age. Whether he was closing a deal in the office or out in the yard meticulously manicuring our lawn during the weekends, my dad put 110% into everything he did – and he still does today. He taught us to always try our hardest, to do our very best and to never cut corners in the process.
Additionally, my dad taught me to be true to myself and to not sacrifice my morals for the sake of a job. He believes that when you hold true to your core beliefs and work hard, you’ll find success. You don’t need to compromise your values to be a success in the business world. His successful career has shown us that this is possible. I am incredibly thankful that my dad has served as my role model for the business world.
Now that you’ve heard from my dad, I’d love to hear about yours. What’s the best advice your father gave you? Celebrate his knowledge by sharing it here!
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Take a page from your kids' playbook and leverage social media for your job search.
Father's Day is just around the corner. It’s a time to honor the father figures in your life and thank them for their support and guidance over the years. It’s also a popular time to share fatherly advice and life lessons.
There’s much you can learn from your parents; however, don’t overlook the lessons your children can provide, especially when it comes to the job search. In today’s digital society, if you’re not incorporating social media into your job-search strategy, you could unknowingly hurt your chances of landing that dream job.
If your children are in their teens or older, it’s safe to assume they are familiar with most social media channels. This Father’s Day, instead of asking for another tie or golf club, ask your children to give you a lesson in social media. Here are five ways you can apply your new knowledge to get ahead in the job search.
Help employers find you
A Jobvite social recruiting survey revealed that 92 percent of recruiters and HR professionals use social media as part of their recruiting strategy. Develop at least one professional online profile that aligns with your resume and supports your job goals. Actively participate in targeted groups on LinkedIn and industry-specific membership associations. Post comments, attend meetings and events, and share relevant articles – recruiters also join these groups and associations to scout for potential candidates.
Uncover additional job leads
When you’re looking for a job, use every tool at your disposal to find as many relevant job leads as possible. This includes social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Find your target employers and follow them to keep an eye out for new openings. Join a few relevant online groups and start connecting with other professionals in your field. This will often lead to new networking opportunities, informational interviews and ultimately, additional job leads.
Improve your odds of a call back
Studies have shown that you’re ten times more likely to land an interview when your application includes an employee referral. Social media is a great way to manage your network and meet new connections. Always check your network and find out if you know someone at the company before you apply. You should include this person’s name in the online application, mention the connection in your cover letter or have your contact pass your resume directly on to the hiring manager.
Prepare for interviews
In our technology-driven world, there’s no excuse for arriving to an interview unprepared. With just a few keystrokes, you have access to a ton of information about your prospective employer and their business. Incorporate social media into your research by following the company on Twitter, and taking a look at their Facebook page and Pinterest boards. These channels can provide great insight into the company’s culture, and will help you develop questions for the interview process.
Develop your digital story
A study found that 86 percent of HR professionals and recruiters admit to reviewing candidates’ social network profiles as part of the screening process. Use your online presence to support and expand upon the story you tell through your resume and during interviews. Share articles, solicit recommendations from colleagues and clients, display your professional affiliations and share your work. These additional details add color to your career history and provide employers with a more rounded view of your expertise and passion for a particular industry.
While it isn’t necessary to adopt your kids’ social media habits – and frankly, you shouldn't – it is important to have an understanding of how each channel works. Ask your kids to give you a crash course in social media this weekend so you can kick your job search up a notch next week.
Need more help? Click on the following links to learn more about utilizing social media for your search and cleaning up your online brand.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Don't let your social media habits derail your job search.
In last week’s article I offered tips to improve your resume. This week the focus is on cleaning up your online presence and building the right professional brand. When I coach seasoned professionals, I often have to encourage them to explore the world of social media and build a professional online presence. However, if you’re a recent college graduate, it’s pretty safe to assume you’ve had a social media presence since you entered high school, if not earlier.
This works in your favor because you’re already familiar with social media and should feel comfortable incorporating it into your job-search strategy. However, this comfort also comes at a price. Chances are you’ve built up a long, online history that’s publicly visible and not necessarily appropriate for the professional world.
A Jobvite social recruiting survey found that 86 percent of HR professionals and recruiters admitted to reviewing candidates’ social network profiles. 70 percent turned down a candidate based on something they found out about them online. If you’re not carefully controlling your online brand, you could be unknowingly hurting your chances of landing that dream job. Here are five tips to manage your online image and build a professional brand that employers will notice for all the right reasons.
Keep your story consistent
Google your name regularly to monitor your online image. Remember, your online brand should tell the same story as your resume, so make sure your name, education, and work history are consistent. Increase the security settings on any site that’s not related to your job search and change the account name (I recommend using your first and middle name) so no employer will find them.
A picture says 1000 words
Take down any photos that show you doing something illegal, or merely paint you in a bad light. This includes smoking cigarettes (or anything else), drinking, skinny-dipping - you get the point. If you wouldn't want your mother seeing it, don't put it up there. Also check the settings on sites such as Facebook to make sure you have control over photo tags.
Stop the hate
Don't post comments or status updates bashing your colleagues, professors or interviewer - those things have a way of getting found. No one wants to hire a negative Nancy (or Ned). Not to mention, your prospective employer doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of your next rant.
What the @#$!?
Refrain from dropping f-bombs or other 4-letter words in status updates and comments. When you're trying to find a job or get ahead in your career, it’s important to have a professional online brand. Need more convincing? A study found that 61 percent of HR professionals reacted negatively to job seekers who used profanity in their posts and tweets.
Keep the profile pic G-Rated & professional
Use a professional-looking photo for any social media account associated with your professional brand and job search. Just you - not your dog and you, or a group shot of you and your best friends. This should be a friendly, professional looking head shot (hint: not the right spot for your bikini pic). If you need a new pic, have a friend help you - the web cam or DIY Instagram picture with your arm in the shot looks unprofessional.
Be mindful of what you post on the Internet – once it’s published, it’s there forever – whether or not you delete it. Think twice before hitting the send button on every status update, tweet and email.
Need more help? Click on the following links to learn more about utilizing social media for your search and cleaning up your online brand.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Learn the ground rules of effectively working with recruiters.
In a perfect world, recruiters would reply to every application they received and provide answers about the progress of each job seeker’s candidacy. Unfortunately, this behavior is rarely the case. All too often job seekers find themselves stuck in the dreaded ‘black hole,’ wondering why their application was rejected, or if it was ever reviewed at all.
While I can’t eliminate all the frustrations of the recruiting system, I can arm you with information to make the most of the situation. Here are five tips to help you effectively work with recruiters.
Make it personal
Identify specific recruiters to reach out to individually, rather than posting your resume on the agency’s site. There’s more incentive for a recruiter to speak with you when you’re not already in their agency’s database. Whenever possible, locate the recruiter’s email address on their company site or online professional profile so you can email your message and attach your resume. Your message should clearly state what type of role you’re targeting and how you can provide value to one of their clients.
Play the odds, but stay targeted
Keep in mind that recruiter outreach is a numbers game. Reach out to at least five new recruiters every week, and follow up one week later. Search online for top recruiter lists such as TheLadders’ Top Recruiters and ELITE Program, and other directories to identify recruiters or agencies that recruit for the types of jobs you’re qualified for and interested in. Additionally, look for recruiters or agencies that routinely pop up in your search results when you’re looking for online job postings. If you’ve worked with a recruiter in the past or have a trusted colleague who has, don’t be afraid to reconnect or ask for an introduction.
Help recruiters find you
Build a strong online presence so recruiters find you. This includes uploading the most current version of your resume to all the targeted job boards you use and maintaining a professional online profile that’s aligned with your resume. Actively participate in targeted groups on LinkedIn and industry-specific membership associations. Post comments, attend meetings and events, and share relevant articles – recruiters are notorious for trolling these groups to scout for potential candidates.
Spell out your qualifications
Only apply to positions for which you meet the must-have requirements. Applying to a role for which you’re unqualified is not only a waste of your time and the recruiter’s, but it also shows the recruiter you didn’t read the job description carefully. Recruiters are extremely busy – they spend an average of 6 seconds looking at your resume before deciding if it’s a fit. Make this as easy as possible for them by spelling out your qualifications in your cover letter, and incorporating key terms from the job description in your resume.
Become a resource
If a recruiter sends you a job that’s not the right fit, refer talented friends and colleagues who might be a better fit. This gives you a chance to pay it forward and keep your name top of mind with the recruiter. You’re also helping to clarify your brand and job goals to the recruiter so when the right opportunity pops up, you’ll get the call.
Click on the following link to learn more about working with recruiters.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Craft a strong resume that says you’re ready for the workforce.
Here are seven tips to help you send the right message to prospective employers with your resume.
Ditch the objective statement
We’ve all seen an objective statement that goes something like this: “Looking for an entry-level position that will help me gain skills and allow me to contribute to an organization.” This tells the reader nothing about the person’s goals or relevant skill-set. Instead of your run-of-the-mill objective statement, use the space to give the reader your elevator pitch. In three to five sentences, explain what you’re best at, most interested in, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer. We call this your professional summary.
Include relevant buzz words
Incorporate common terms and key phrases that routinely pop up in job descriptions you’re interested in applying to (assuming you honestly have those skills). The ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software is programmed to scan your application for specific buzz words to determine if you’re a likely fit for the role. You typically have to make it past that check point before a human will ever set eyes on your application.
Describe your contributions.
Use bullets under each job description to describe how you contributed or supported your team or manager’s projects and initiatives. A recruiter or employer is not expecting you to have a long list of professional accomplishments when you’re fresh out of school – that’s one of the reasons why your education section is above your work experience on the resume. However, they want to get a sense of what you’ve been exposed to and if it’s relevant to the role they’re filling.
Play up your strengths
Your relevant work experiences and internships are key selling points to employers. However, if you don’t have much experience to list, focus on highlighting the areas where you’ve shined the most. For example, if you’ve received a number of awards for academic achievement, such as academic scholarships or making the honor roll, then create an Honors section below your education information. If you were cum laude, include that in your education section. If your GPA (cumulative or in your major) is brag-worthy, then include it next to your degree. If not, leave it off and focus on your other accolades.
Highlight your leadership skills
As an entry-level professional, there’s more flexibility with the resume format. For instance, it might make sense to divide your experience into “Relevant Work Experience” and “Additional Work Experience” sections so that your relevant internships are at the top of your experience. Other students can benefit from including a “Leadership” section after their “Work Experience” to highlight their involvement in leadership programs or volunteer work, or to mention any positions they held within extracurricular activities.
Include a skills section
Don’t assume an employer knows what skills you possess. If you’re well-versed in social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, list them. The same goes for your familiarity with Microsoft Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Depending on the role you’re pursuing, these skills could be valuable selling points.
Keep the presentation clean
The average recruiter looks at a resume for 6 seconds, so stay away from crazy fonts, colors and images. You want the focus to be on your qualifications, not the photo you included. Be consistent in how you represent locations (“Atlanta, GA” vs. “Atlanta, Georgia”) and time (“Summer 2012” vs. “May 2012 – August 2012” vs. “05/2012 – 08/2012”). Stick to a black font that’s easy to read on and offline, such as Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Tahoma or Times New Roman, and a plain white background.
Click on the following link for more information on crafting the right resume. Want some expert help? Call 1-800-235-1170 or email the Career Services team to learn more about TheLadders’ resume services.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
The Muse’s Founder and CEO talks to TheLadders about career transitions and becoming an entrepreneur.
Prior to founding PYP Media and The Muse, you worked in both private and public sectors. Did you find any of these transitions particularly challenging?
Compared to the public sector, the private sector tends to be a lot more bottom-line-driven – and, in my experience, that translated to a lot more rigorous analysis of costs, expected profits, and the like. Not to say this is absent from the public sector, but in the private sector, it takes on a different importance. There's plenty the two have in common--understanding costs, navigating complex relationships between various partners, working out deals--but the goal of a government isn't to build a great product or service and sell it in the same way that it is for a company.
What advice would you give someone looking to make a switch to the private sector to ensure a more seamless transition?
My best advice is to stay open-minded. Any time you make a major career switch--from the public to the private sector, between industries, even from a large company to a small one--there's going to be a lot of change to get used to. But, there's also going to be a lot that you learned at your previous position that's going to set you up to make an impact in your new career.
What led you to create The Daily Muse?
I've felt for a long time that there was a disconnect between what we tell kids: "You can be anything you want to be! Find work you love!" and the tools we provide adults to actually discover and realize those dreams. Personally, I went through a period of deep introspection over "what I wanted to do with my life" and the result of that was TheMuse.com.
One of my goals has always been to illuminate the different options on the table. Kids grow up knowing they can be a doctor, a lawyer, and a scientist, but there are thousands of other choices, and I don’t think we provide enough information about the rest. I wanted to build a place where an outsider could see inside the offices of Facebook, Gucci, or thousands of other companies, and listen to videos of their employees talking about what it’s like to work there. It’s extremely gratifying to see that playing out on The Muse and The Daily Muse (our community’s publication), though I think we have a lot more up ahead!
What is the most important thing a professional should consider before starting her own business?
You’ve got to start with a deep understanding of yourself, of how ready you are to be pushed outside of your comfort zone. Starting two companies has been the most beautiful, passionate, challenging and painful experience of my life. I had to watch everything I’d built the first time get wiped away in a matter of days, and then start all over again from square one.
As an addendum, I always remind people to make sure they’re protected legally when starting out – sign contracts for any partnerships, don’t spend money on a business without proper documentation, etc. I see so many people work on businesses without formalizing their partnership or ownership arrangement, and it often ends in a very bad place. My own situation with my first company can testify to that. As hard as it can be to pay a lawyer in those early days, make sure you get your business properly set up. If anyone working with you drags their feet on doing so, it may be a red flag.
The Daily Muse does a great job of showcasing different employers and shedding light on their cultures. How important do you believe cultural fit is for the candidate and prospective employer?
Cultural fit is absolutely critical – I’d venture to say it’s one of the top three things a potential employee should be looking for. Outside of your relationship with your spouse or partner, your relationship with your company – with your colleagues, boss and surroundings – is one of the most impactful in your day-to-day life, so make sure it’s working for, and not against, you. I also want to add that cultural fit is a very personal thing. A company can be a great cultural fit for some and a terrible cultural fit for others, so don’t let the opinions of others override your gut. Even if your coworkers can’t stop talking about what an amazing company you’re at, if it’s not a cultural fit for you, that’s OK. Just accept it, do your best, and choose better next time.
How would you describe the culture at The Daily Muse?
We want to be a company where everyone on the team feels valued and pushed to grow. We've divided up the world in terms of who does what, but we're always looking for ways to give our employees a chance to get their hands dirty with something new, or pick up a new skill they're looking to develop. We want everyone on the team to be constantly growing.
We also want our team to be happy, and for this to be a job they can see themselves staying at. Being a startup, there's a lot of work to be done--and I mean a lot--but we're big on being flexible, which means everything from flexible hours to getting input from our team members about how they want to see their role grow. I think that's the only way to build a company where people feel not only like everyone's invested in the product, but also invested in them individually in their careers.
Finally, we’re big on transparency – we have an “all-hands” meeting every other week where anyone can ask anything, and we strive to create a culture where we’re as open and honest as possible.
What’s the best piece of career or job-search advice you ever received?
When I was in high school, I remember going to our school’s career day and hearing numerous people talk about how they got where they were. During the course of their speeches, I noticed every one of them had a common vignette in their career-path stories: At some point, they were given an assignment, a project, or a role where they didn't know what to do, and they decided to wing it, and it became a springboard for an important step in their career.
If I look back on my own career, the same has been true for me. There have been so many times I've found myself looking at an assignment or hurdle where I didn't quite know what to do: as a business analyst at McKinsey, during my first week on a job in Rwanda, when I started my own company, when I had to price an unbuilt product, etc. In each one of those situations, I’ve examined the situation critically, reached out to mentors or experts I knew, and forged ahead to figure it out. Now, when I come across something that I just don't know how to do--and believe me, there's still plenty--I have the confidence that I can handle it. I don't always know how, but I know that if we, as a company, are going to blaze our own trail, then there isn't going to be a path ahead for us to follow, so I might as well get used to it.
Kathryn Minshew is the Founder and CEO of The Muse, a career website dedicated to long-term professional development. Kathryn has appeared on CNN and Bloomberg, spoken at MIT and Harvard, and contributes on career issues to the Wall Street Journal, INC, and the Harvard Business Review. She was recently named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Media for the second year in a row, as well as Inc.’s 15 Women to Watch in Tech. Say ‘hi’ to her on Twitter: @KMin
Five targeted tips for military professionals in transition.
Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. As retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Walter Hitchcock,
first said, “Freedom isn’t free.” So what better way for a career coach to serve our troops than to provide them with job-search advice? Read on for five targeted job-search tips for military professionals.
Highlight your strengths.
Emphasize key words, accomplishments, and transferable skills on your resume in order to be more easily captured by online applicant tracking software (ATS).
Get out there and network.
Create an online professional profile, participate in discussions on social media sites, and coach your kid’s soccer team. You might meet someone who shares your interests and who can help you find a new opportunity.
Don’t stress the resume gap.
Searching for a new job now can take an average of 6-8 months. Find ways to bridge that potential time by doing volunteer or contract work, or participating in professional organizations.
Reach out to recruiters.
Their sole purpose is to recruit top talent for the organizations they represent. If you fit the bill for some of the jobs they are looking for, recruiters can be your best friend in this process.
Reach out to veteran organizations.
They are great resources for leads, companies hiring, and places to network with other veterans and active military members who understand the process you’re undertaking.
TheLadders is committed to serving those who have served our nation by helping them find opportunities that match their skills and expertise. Please click on the following link to download a complete list of resources for military professionals.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Reassess your career path to jumpstart its advancement.
A career can be quite a roller coaster ride. At times you’re flying forward with tons of momentum, and then there are periods of time when you seem stuck on a
plateau with nowhere to go. If your career path has seen very little movement up the corporate ladder in recent years, it’s time to reassess your situation.
Here are five reasons why your career has hit a stalemate – and what you can do to get things moving in the right direction again.
You’re too comfortable
When a job becomes routine, it’s difficult to keep yourself motivated. Often times, when motivation declines, so does your professional edge. If you feel like you could do your job in your sleep, it’s time to make some changes. When was the last time you read an article on your industry, or attended a webinar or conference to strengthen your skill set? Volunteer to help out with a project on another team or seek additional responsibilities from your manager. The goal is to challenge yourself again so your skills can shine.
Your brand is damaged
Whether it's an emotional outburst in the office or a drunken mishap at a company event, a workplace blunder can do some serious damage to your personal brand, and sabotage your potential advancement at the organization. To get your brand back on track, make any necessary apologies and move on. It goes without saying that your new goal is to be a model employee at the company. Also, look for ways to add value to the organization outside of your day-to-day activities. For instance, you could volunteer to manage the company’s co-ed sports team or head up the next fundraiser for charity.
You’re a cultural misfit
You can have the best skill set in the world but if you don’t get along with the team, you won’t be successful in the organization. It’s not a coincidence that recruiters and hiring managers spend the majority of the time in an interview determining cultural fit. Consider your core values and your ideal working environment, including communication style, leadership style, and so forth. If you and your current company don’t see eye-to-eye on these topics, then it might be time to make a move to a team that does.
You haven’t spoken up
Remember, managers aren’t mind readers. If your career is stalling, speak up and let your goals be known. Sit down with your manager in a private meeting to discuss your goals and concerns. Reiterate your interest in working and succeeding within the organization before addressing your concern. Together, you may be able to develop a growth plan or take the next steps to repair any damage or fill in any skill gaps that are holding you back.
You don’t know the right people
Networking is an important aspect of every professional’s career advancement, whether they’re looking for that next promotion or wanting to make a transition. If you want to advance your career, you need to meet the right people. Consider approaching a more senior colleague to be your mentor – he or she can help you navigate office politics and build some of the softer skills required to get ahead. Also, join industry-specific professional associations to meet people outside your organization so your network continues to grow.
If you’re unhappy with your current career path, now’s the time to take action. Use the tips above to get your career back on track.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Ever hugged an employer during a job interview? What about calling your wife and asking what you’re having for dinner? How about being asked to be paid under the table?
If you think these are fabricated examples of how some candidates act in job interviews, you’re wrong! According to a recent survey, many job seekers make interview blunders that could cost them the job. Though some are not as extreme as the above examples, there are others that can cause red flags.
Let’s explore some of the more common interview stigmas, and what candidates can do to solve them beforehand.
(1) The Underprepared Job Seeker
This job seeker doesn’t seem to have their professional life in gear. Not only did they forget their portfolio, they also failed to research the organization, don’t know anything about the interviewer, and can’t name off their last three accomplishments. In fact, 34 percent of employers believe that not providing specific examples and vague responses are huge mistakes.
How to be prepared: Do your research before you step into the interview. This includes looking up company and industry information, as well as delving into your past accomplishments. The combination of these will show your interest in the job, as well as your value.
(2) The Stumbler
It’s perfectly normal to be nervous during a job interview. However, it goes beyond normalcy when your nervousness masks why you’re a great candidate. Stumbling through every question can make you seem uninformed about the position and the industry. Though this may not be the case, the interviewer may not know you outside of your initial meeting. First impressions mean that much more.
How to avoid stumbling: Be confident! There’s a reason why you got the interview in the first place. Again, being nervous is normal. Practicing with a colleague or a mentor can help you combat those nerves and avoid stumbling through questions.
(3) The Unenthusiastic Interviewee
HR managers love a candidate with some enthusiasm. In fact, appearing disinterested in the position is the number-one turn-off. After all, why would an employer hire a candidate who seems to have zero interest in the job? Disinterest from the beginning doesn’t bode well for the organization, as well as the performance of the employee.
How to be enthusiastic: Enthusiasm stems from an interest in the industry and the job. So, if you’re not feeling those things from the get-go, you may want to apply to other positions. If you are passionate about the company, try doing some research on the organization, which can help you to pinpoint why you want to work there in the first place. This knowledge will be reflected in the interview.
(4) The Inappropriately-Dressed Candidate
According to the survey, 60 percent of job candidates were dressed inappropriately in interviews. As I previously stated, first impressions mean a lot in a job interview, especially if you don’t have a prior connection with the interviewer. So, for the employer, what they see may equate to what they get. Unkempt hair, shabby clothes, or loud colors may reflect negatively on you, which is particularly troublesome in a job market where employers can just move on to one of the many other applicants.
How to dress appropriately: If you have to question your attire, it may be best to change it up. A good rule of thumb is to dress conservatively, such as a pantsuit or business attire. Put some personality in your wardrobe as well. A lightly colored shirt or blouse underneath a blazer or nice piece of jewelry or tie can make your outfit pop, helping you to stand out from others.
Though interviewing can be tough game, getting through some common stigmas will help you to win over the employer. So, be prepared, avoid stumbling, be enthusiastic, and dress well. The outcome of your interview will likely be a positive one if you do so.
What do you think? What are some other interview stigmas and how can you get over them?
Alan Carniol is the Founder of InterviewSuccessFormula.com an online job interview training system. Learn more here. Or, follow Alan and Interview Success Formula on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.