Typos to lies in your cover letter and resume can stop you from getting that job you saw advertised online. You’ll want to avoid these errors in your job search to help you get beyond the first stage of applying to actually being interviewed and maybe even hired.
The first thing you should do is make sure your work history closely matches what’s listed in the job description. If the employer is looking for someone with 10 years experience and this will be your first job after college, you’re asking to be ignored if you email your information for this job.
Pay attention to the details in the job ad. You could be failing your first and only test if the online ad asks you to, for example, attach five work samples and you send eight.
The employer is looking for the best person for the job to help the company run smoothly. So, you shouldn’t write about how the job will benefit your career, but what advantage it is to the company if you are hired.
Print out, read out loud or have someone else read your cover letter and resume before clicking send. The fastest way to get your job email deleted is to send it out with obvious typos and errors.
It doesn’t help you or the potential employer if you lie about your experience. Blatant lies that stick out on your resume, like writing that you have 25 years experience and you’re 22 years old, will get your paperwork quickly tossed out. Likewise, exaggerations about work abilities will be found out if you get tested or hired and can’t deliver on your claims.
Just like you shouldn’t make up extra abilities that you don’t have you also shouldn’t point out your shortcomings in your cover letter either. One way to get rejected is saying something like, “I don’t know how to do what you’re asking for, but I’m a fast learner.” There are so many more qualified people looking for work, it doesn’t benefit the employer to take the time to train you to do what others already can do.
Always include a cover letter with your resume. You should put the qualifying information from your resume that you want to make sure the would-be employer knows about you in your cover letter.
Mention the title you want to be hired for in your cover letter. The employer may be accepting resumes for more than one position.
Don’t refer to yourself as “he” because the employer knows you’re writing the letter about yourself. Also, you don’t want to start each sentence with the word “I,” but keep the letter in the first person.
Respect the employer’s time and realize that you could be one of hundreds of applicants for a job opening. Don’t get your information ignored because it takes too long to read. Your cover letter and resume shouldn’t be more than two pages each.
What other mistakes might be hurting your employment chances?
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!