I'm sure I'll think of more, but really, I don't get people. I read over 50 resumes over the past few days and I think my faith in the intelligence of the general population has drastically decreased. I keep hearing people complaining about not having jobs/call-backs and I have to wonder why...
1) Do you proof-read any paper work you send in during the application process? If spelling isn't your strong point, use spell check. Read your letter over twice. Then read it out loud. Then send it to someone else to read for you. If the job description says I need someone detail-oriented, I am not going to think you're particularly on-point if you can't be bothered to capitalize your "I"s.
2) Cover letter - write one. Tell me why I should hire you - CONCISCELY
3) ONE page resume, unless you're Steve Jobs. And he's dead, so you're not. Is it longer than a page? Leave off your high school information - I assume you went. You don't need an "objective" - leave that off too. Your objective is to get a job. Don't waste space trying to convey that in nicer language. Oh, and "references available"? Yeah, I assume so, you don't have to tell me. I don't care that you built houses in Tanzania over your Spring Break, unless you're applying for a carpentry job. If it's not relevant, leave it off.
4) You have a kick-ass resume and your skill set matches the job description to a "T" but you haven't heard back? Follow up! I'm a human being - I'm busy, I'm distractible, I make mistakes - I could have easily misplaced or forgotten about your resume. If we're not interested, I'll tell you, but chances are I completely forgot about it and you've just jogged my memory and subsequently landed a job interview.
5) Don't tell me you "work well with others" or other meaningless filler. Again, just tell me why I should hire you.
6) Send a follow up email/letter/phone call if you've landed an interview. I'll remember it and if I'm stuck between 2 good candidates I'm going with the one that sent the "thank you" email.
7) Please do not apply for a job that you're not reasonably qualified for. And if you DO feel your qualified, spell it out for me in a brief cover letter. 9 times out of 10, you haven't made it apparent in your resume.
Hmmm I've never used career builder, but if there's no company info and you're sending your resume/cover letter through a site, I'd just try re-sending both the resume and cover letter, with a note at the top of the cover letter such as:
"Note: I sent this resume and cover letter on "X" date. Since my skill set so closely matches the qualifications, I was concerned that I didn't hear back and wanted to ensure my information didn't get lost in the shuffle. Kindly confirm when you receive this. Thanks!"
As long as the person really is a "shoo-in" for a job, I don't mind at all getting follow up emails - 9 times out of 10 if you haven't gotten a call back it's because I had your resume on top of a pile and was about to call when suddenly the phone rang, or a coworker asked if I wanted to go to lunch, etc. If the position's already been filled and I got a follow up email, I'd just let the candidate know the position's been filled. No biggie.
Quoting crwspringer:
Regarding the follow up how do we do that when we apply through a site like career builder and there is no company information? It is somewhere on there that I've missed? (I'm new at this. I'm 40 and this is the first time that I have ever been out of a job)
I do career and job search coaching (I never charge CafeMoms for my services); send me a message if I can help you with job search strategy, interview prep, etc.
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on Feb. 14, 2012 at 10:44 PM