NOVANEWS
6 mistakes you might be making
“Can you call these people?” my boss asked, handing me a stack of resumes. “I’ve picked the best 10, but you can take a look at the others, too.”
We were hiring for my job—weekend receptionist. Naturally I knew the skill set well enough to make the screening calls and set the appointments.
When I applied for the job a year before, there were 125 applicants. Nearly the same amount this time.
I’m not a recruiter, nor an HR pro. Still, the process taught me a few secrets about why job seekers are not called for an interview, and how the odds get stacked against you before you even set foot in the door.
1. Read the job description carefully. You have to meet (and want!) the basic requirements. Not all jobs offer long-term growth to employees. Some jobs simply need a responsible person to pick up weekend and on-call work.
That’s the case with this job: You have to work weekends and holidays, plus be on call in the event of an emergency. That’s a hefty requirement, because that means you work EVERY weekend, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas day, along with the other major holidays.
The ad was quite specific, which is why I was surprised to hear:
- I’m a Seventh Day Adventist, I never work Saturdays.
- I need more hours than that.
- I don’t want to work weekends.
- I don’t want to work holidays.
Needless to say, these candidates did not get interviews. Fair enough. But why waste your time when you should be pursuing jobs that fit your needs?
Consider this: At this company, and maybe others like it, your resume is now on file marked with a big red X. That means the likelihood of you getting hired—for any job—is slim. My advice: Only apply for the jobs you want. Remember, this is still an employer’s market. If you come across as fussy or flighty, you won’t be considered for a job.
2. Your resume is not properly organized. You’ve heard it before: Customize your resume for every job. Here’s why it matters. Of the stack on my desk, two were marked Caregiver. Instant bad news for these two job seekers. Why? Because that was the first skill they listed. Just a few lines down came their qualifications for receptionist. But the hiring manager didn’t get that far—she got to Caregiver and stopped reading. You can’t get the job you want if your resume doesn’t match the job description.
3. Your phone manners…suck. This is a job as a receptionist. While I did not expect a chirpy Hello! to my initial call, I DID expect a warm vibe and great phone manners once I introduced myself. After all, I was setting a job interview, not quizzing candidates about past due bills. Keep this in mind: If you are not expecting a screening call, a brief misstep is not a deal-breaker. What will work against you is if you don’t catch yourself and slip on your professional voice.
4. Be enthusiastic. I know how bad the job market is. And I get that not every job is a gold star opportunity. But when someone calls and offers you a chance to interview, you need to sound happy about it. Your ho-hum response is not going to work in your favor. Why? Because I am obligated to tell the hiring manager how you sounded on the phone. It’s not personal, it’s business. Odds are, if you’re not happy to hear from me now, you’re not going to be happy working here.
5. Show up for the interview. Never mind the dress nicely part—you’ve heard that before. I also don’t mean ‘show up’ as in being present. I mean show up for the interview, live, in person, on time. Arriving early is fine—I’ve seen people sit for an hour because they’re using public transportation. It doesn’t bother the hiring manager or staff if you are early (it shows you care!) Use that time to your advantage: Relax. Review your resume and cover letter. Think about the questions you might be asked and how you will answer. Think about questions you will ask in turn. Scope out the place, watch the people around you. Monitor how they interact with each other. These are all cues that will help you interview more successfully.
6. Advice for high school and college grads: Much of this is new to you, so here’s how it works: If you change your mind about interviewing, call. Cancel. Say thank you, but no thank you. Do not stiff the hiring manager. She (or he) set time aside to meet with you, and your no-show puts a hole in an otherwise tightly planned day. What should you do if something comes up and you just can’t make it? Call. Reschedule. Please don’t blow off the interview—many companies track no-shows, so if you skip out once you might not be able to come back again.
Susan Rich is the author of the groundbreaking book, How to Write a Kick-Butt Resume Cover Letter. Susan helps job seekers (the unemployed, underemployed, mid-career pros, college grads and baby boomers) end the job search so they can get on with their lives. A volunteer instructor with Oregon Dress for Success, Susan was part of the team that helped 600 women land jobs in 2014.
