Most, if not all, fresh graduates are in a hurry to get a job right after getting their diplomas. This could be attributed to several reasons. First in the list is the need to get a job to support one's basic needs. Second is excitement. All of us have experienced this - the itch to find a job and enter the corporate world. For us, it seemed that a first job is our pass to a more elite and privileged world.
However, in our hurry to be called a yuppie, we end up ignoring the basic details a job hunter should know, or more importantly, we pass our resumes and show up in job interviews not knowing which mistakes to avoid. Here, I have compiled some of the most common mistakes job hunters end up doing.
- Non-inclusion of a cover letter - Most job hunters pass their resumes without a cover letter. This should be avoided. It is a fact that most employers, especially huge stable companies, are very picky and sensitive when it comes to choosing possible employees. Normally, for every position available, there are at a minimum, ten applicants. This could go as high as a hundred if the position and the company are considered hot. Just imagine how your application would look like compared to those other applications that do have a cover letter. One word: unprofessional. Take time to prepare a cover letter, probably sighting your interest about the company and the position a well as a short introduction of yourself. Avoid sending generic cover letters for all of your applications just like the one being used as a default in JobStreet and JobsDB.
- Submission of a Dragging Resume - This is one of the most common mistakes job hunters do. Keep in mind that a resume should only be one to two pages long and could go to as many as three if there really is a long list to cover. Never submit an essay type resume and always keep yours updated on the latest formats. Times change and your resume which was a “wow” a year ago may probably be a bore to the eyes of the HR people today. Check also that there are no errors and typographical errors. Again, this shouts unprofessionalism.
- Showing up in an Interview Unprepared - This includes two things - your appearance and your knowledge of the company. Never show up in an interview wearing faded jeans and no collar-shirt. It may be a different case for artists who apply for positions such as graphic artists in ad agencies or fashion designers in a clothing company, but it is a basic rule to always look like you spent time thinking about your outfit. Remember that the rule “First Impressions Last” applies in this case. When you show up looking like you just woke up and grabbed the first shirt you saw, you might not even get the chance to prove your real worth.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the interviewers expect that you know at least a little about their company. Yes, you may have prepared for the standard “How do you see yourself five years from now?” line of questions, but researching about the company shows your interviewers that you are indeed interested about them, seriously now.
Knowing what to do and what to avoid in hunting for your first job is the key to success. It may sound too “Yeah, yeah, right”, but if only job seekers are to take these things seriously, maybe they will get that elite pass sooner than later.
