Have you ever worn perfume to an interview? Checked a cellphone during the meeting? Forgotten to put your contact information on a cover letter? You’re not alone. These are just a few of the job hunt blunders Michelle Woodward, an Arlington, Va., based professional career strategist, said are the sure-fire ways to take yourself out of the running for a coveted job.
We sat down with Woodward for a one-on-one interview to identify job hunt common mistakes; strategies to push your resume the top of the pile; and tips for networking. Here’s the recap:
Q: LET’S TALK RESUME. WHAT ARE SOME MISTAKES PEOPLE OFTEN MAKE?
It’s really just a selling sheet. It doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list of all of your work experience. It’s not an FBI background check! The average recruiter only looks at a resume for four seconds!
Q: DOES THAT MEAN MULTIPLE RESUMES FOR MULTIPLE JOBS
Yes, have multiple resumes for multiple jobs that are detailed to the job you’re applying for. Make sure to use the key words throughout the resume.
Q: WHAT ARE THE KEY WORDS?
Words that describe your skills, such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint or SharePoint or certifications. Put those on there, especially if they are relevant to the job or those words are present in the job description.
Q: WHAT ARE THE RED FLAGS?
If you’ve only been at a job for six months here, four of five months there –and there’s not a reason for it- that’s a big red flag.
Q: IS IT EVER OKAY TO EMBELLISH?
No. Never. It always comes back.
Q: WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT IN YOUR COVERLETTER, IF A RECRUITER IS ONLY LOOKING AT IT FOR A FEW SECONDS ANYWAY?
If someone referred you, or recommended you to apply for the job, that should go in the lead of the cover letter. That will make your resume automatically go to the top of the pile.
Q: WHAT ABOUT DRESS CODE?
Ask a friend who works there what the dress code is. For a man, you can never go wrong with a blue blazer and a tie. You can wear khakis on the bottom, but a blue blazer and a tie always words. As a woman, go conservative. If you want to show some flare, do it with a unique piece of jewelry. It’s okay to call the receptionist and ask what the dress code is. No perfume or cologne.
Q: WHAT IS GOOD INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE?
Never check a cell phone, it’s just rude. Be prepared to ask questions, but not ones you can research on your own, such as “how much money does this company make?” It should be about 60/40; 60 percent they’re asking you questions, 40 percent you’re talking and asking them questions. The best question someone can ask in an interview is: What is the first thing you want me to accomplish if I get here? Then explain how you’d go about doing it.
Q: HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS LIKE ‘WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?’
The best way to handle tough questions is with a story. I had a client who was asked that question, and her biggest weakness was delegating. She told a story about a time when she delegated work to an employee, and it turned out poorly. But, she made sure to include how she overcame that obstacle.
Q; WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO FOLLOW-UP?
Send a handwritten note. It will set you apart because so few people do that these days.
Q: BUT REGULAR MAIL TAKES SO MUCH LONGER! ISN’T IT BETTER TO SEND AN EMAIL RIGHT AWAY?
You can do both!
Q: WHAT ABOUT MAKING A PHONE CALL? IS THAT OVERKILL?
I have the “rule of three” for this. Send an email and a handwritten note. Then wait a week and make a follow-up call to ask if there is anything else they would like you to send along. Then, wait another week and make one more call. If they don’t answer, you should move on.
Q: HOW ABOUT THIS SCENARIO: YOU’RE APPLYING FOR TWO JOBS. JOB ONE, YOU LIKE. BUT, JOB TWO YOU LOVE. JOB ONE SAYS YES RIGHT AWAY. IS IT OKAY TO CALL JOB TWO IN ORDER TO PUSH THEM ALONG?
Yes. If you explain that you really want that job, a recruiter will appreciate that authenticity. But be careful not to use it as a manipulation tactic.
Q: ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW?
The importance of networking. LinkedIn, Facebook, friends, friends-of-friends and family can be surprisingly good resources for contacts. If a friend referred you, make it known. When an employer can only hire one person, the potential employee has to be a sure thing.