1. Don’t Send Out Undirected Resumes. Likewise, don’t send cover letters that differentiate only by the value in the “insert job here” space. Spend a few minutes to learn about the organization, and personalize your cover letter and resume to reflect what makes your candidacy special.
2. Pay Attention To What The Job Ad Says. Does it require a salary history? Are you being instructed to mail or fax your documents, or would the organization like applications submitted electronically? Job description writers pay to advertise specific directions for a reason. Pay attention!
3. Think About The Message You Are Sending. Rehearse the voice mail message you plan to leave, or what you are going to say to the individual on the other end of the phone. Use a serious e-mail address. For example, DON’T use an e-mail address like hotandsexy@anywhere.com. Does your home voice mail play strange music or have a silly outgoing message? Is your resume printed on purple paper? All of these things factor into a headhunter’s first, and indelible, impression.
4. A Poor Resume. You wouldn’t believe the number of resumes that hiring managers throw in the trash. The really good ones grab their attention and get read. In addition to your tasks and skills, try to list your accomplishments and results. Also, write about the change you brought to an organization and the constituency it serves.
5. Spell Check. I cannot stress enough the importance of checking your resume for typos. Many over-looked typos are extra spaces and missing hyphens. Be sure to look over your addresses, telephone #’s, and even your name. Use “spell check”… However, do not solely depend on it. Go over your resume (and cover letter) yourself. Read it, read it again, read it again, then when you are done, read it again.
6. Dream Within Reason. There is nothing wrong with trying to increase your position. However, don’t try to skip “too many” steps up the ladder if you are not qualified.
7. Know Your Weaknesses. If you are missing a key skill or some years of experience that the job is requiring, own-up to the weakness. However, be sure to describe how your other skills and experiences will help you compensate or catch up quickly.
8. Always Ask Questions. Always be prepared to ask the interviewer questions. If you don’t ask questions, he/she may think that you wasn’t paying attention during the interview, or you are just there to “get the job, any job”. This may be true, but a hiring manager is looking for a candidate that wants to work for “their” company. Remember, when it comes to the questions you are going to ask, salary or benefits do not count.
9. Thank You Letters/E-mail. Thank you letters offer you the opportunity to remind your interviewer why you should be hired, or for you to state a key fact that you forgot to mention during the interview.
10. Get A Second Opinion. Send your resume to a friend, a colleague, family member, mentor or a resume professional who can give you an outside perspective. An outside view can shed light on your resume’s good/bad points.
