It never surprises me just how many people are their own worst enemy when it comes to landing a job. And many times, it would have been the best job in their work history. So what happened? Let me count the ways:
Inappropriately dressed when you come to complete your application. If you don’t respect my business any more than to arrive with wrinkled pants you have to hold up while walking, or showing more cleavage than your are hiding, you need to move on. Dress at least as well as those you are interviewing with or, please – don’t waste our time.
Not knowing anything about my company, the job opening, or why I should hire you.
If you are lucky enough be called for an interview, be prepared. That means:
- Dress as good or slightly better than the people you will be talking with during the interview.
- Research the company before the interview. After looking at the company website, formulate a few questions that will set you apart from other applicants. It will not be that difficult.
- After you know something about what the company does, you will be able to talk intelligently about what you can contribute. Connect-the-dots for the interviewer.
You blew it during the interview.
During the interview, never roast your past employers or your coworkers. It is unprofessional and only reflects badly on you. You will never come out on top. If you roast them, you will roast me.
When you express doubts, or come across less than confident, it is very difficult for me to have confidence in you. I am looking for a “can-do” person. If you cannot energetically sell me on yourself, how can I sell me on you?
Your phone rang during the interview. If your social life is more important than this interview, it will certainly be more important than doing the job I would hire you for.
What you need to understand, I am not hiring a person for a few hours a day so I can pay them. I want a person who will “own” that job to the best of their ability. If you are offered the job, it is because you demonstrated enough promise that you might be promotable at some point.
Bottom line, I am looking for is a “business partner” for that one position. And just maybe, we can grow together to better things. You need to convince me you are that person.
Looking for a jobs in Waco, TX? Visit our job board.
Job applications, for many openings, are the primary instrument utilized for screening job applicants. For job openings requiring resumes, the application collects information not normally included within a resume.
Your application tells the employer more about you than you think and in ways you probably do not realize.
- Follow instructions. If you can’t follow instructions on something as simple and as important as an application, how will you perform on the job?
- Be thorough. You are being asked for information in order to compare your skills, background, and history against other applicants – your competitors for the same job. Avoid writing “ See Resume” as it can be interpreted as laziness or disinterest.
- Usage of upper/lower letters with best grammar. Interviewers will judge you by your application and the thought you put into completing it. A well thought-out application reflects intelligence and a driver to succeed.
- Include Detailed Job History. Your job history should include your duties and the skills you used on a daily basis to accomplish your tasks. Applications are stored in application databases. Hiring authorities will search for applicants by keyword that interest them. This is why including job duties and skills you used on the job are so important to you. Do not skimp or rush through these descriptions.
- Tailor Your Answers to the Job Opening. As much as possible, your answers and information should address the skills, talents and experience that complement the types of positions you want.
- Avoid listing too high of a starting salary. Enter a range instead, but do not price yourself out of consideration. Listing Open or Negotiable after the range is not a bad idea.
Every step in the hiring process helps create the hiring manager’s impression of you. A neatly written, well thought-out application will win consideration over a poorly written, hap-hazard resume every time. Job applications provide additional information which will either help or hurt your chances for consideration. Follow this guide for best results.
Looking for a jobs in Waco, TX? Visit our job board.
The Art of Leadership
Need new ideas, alternative methods, and perspectives? Trying to get associates more involved or invested into a project? All of these areas involve leadership. By practicing asking questions, you can more easily accomplish your goals with efficiency and assistance never before enjoyed – if you listen.
Asking questions engages the other person in a way instruction does not. When people see that their opinions are not only sought after but valued, their level of involvement increases. There are many answers to the same question, some are even wonderful. However, to get at these alternatives you have to discover what ideas and reactions are in other people’s minds. Asking questions is the only way.
Asking questions is a great management and leadership tool. Asking questions lets people tell a different story than the one you’re expecting. Questions mean people have to make their own case for the way they want things to go. Making their case places them in the position of answering the big questions:
- How do you see this problem?
- What are we missing?
- Is there another way of tackling this? Why are we trying it this way?
- How would we solve this if we were the customer?
- This task is addressing what audience? Applicants? Clients? Prospects? Everyone?
- How will we capture that audience?
- What picture do we want this experience to paint? How do we accomplish it?
- What is your plan?
By asking questions you are doing two things: You’re making them aware they should have a plan, and they are in charge of their portion of the plan.
Your questions can quietly transmit values more powerfully than a direct statement
