2018 is here and this is the year you want to find that next best job. Are you ready? We have prepared this list to make sure that you have all your job search tools ready to get you to that next job in the shortest possible time. We’ve also linked to our best blog posts for more detail:
How to successfully overcome job search mistakes
A while ago, a client of mine called me regarding a job she had just applied for; it was perfect! The job title was exactly what she wanted and the company was located right near her home. Unfortunately, maybe because she was so excited, or maybe because she was applying in a rush, she made mistakes in her application — the kind of mistakes described by some online job search advice blogs as deadly sins. She had sent it before spell-checking it, which left two typos in her cover letter. She called me nearly in tears the next morning – what should she do?
If you Google “job search mistakes”, you will find a long list of articles and blog posts that use words such as avoidable, costly and even deadly or, more dramatically, killer to describe the impact of even the smallest of mistakes. While it is true that making a mistake is something to be avoided as much as possible, there are some things that can be done, some of which might make a very big difference — even to the point of impressing a potential employer enough to reconsider your application.
Job search mistakes can happen at every level of job search including during networking, resume writing, and interviewing; many of these errors can be avoided with some knowledge and careful planning (found in many of these excellent blogs.) Interestingly, as my client pointed out, almost no attention is paid online to helping job searchers recover from these mistakes. This left her feeling that once she made a mistake, the impact was so dire that she might as well just give up.
In this economy, where many talented job searchers compete for only a few jobs, you might think that it is easy for an employer to eliminate a candidate based on small, preventable mistakes. Yet many employers claim that they struggle to find qualified candidates. Perhaps that is the reason that they might be open to reconsidering an otherwise strong candidate before rejecting them for making a small mistake. However, this can only happen if the candidate deals with the mistake quickly and properly.
Pearl Buck, winner of the 1938 Nobel Prize in Literature suggested that:
“Every great mistake has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied”
This principle (which is a pretty useful life lesson) can be easily applied to a job search; many mistakes can be corrected through direct action, which might include a quick (and brief) apology, taking responsibility and correcting the error.
After discussing her options, my client decided to reapply to the job. She corrected the errors in the cover letter, updated the date on it, and re-sent it to the employer with the following note in the email:
Dear Ms X,
I am hereby re-submitting my application for the xxxx position, after having already submitted an application for this position yesterday. This morning, after reviewing my application, I regretfully noticed two errors in my cover letter. While inexcusable (and not something that happens often, my references would assure you), I am reapplying with a corrected document in hopes that you may still consider me for this position, for which I believe, I am highly suited.
While I do hope you will reconsider me for this position, I will understand if you chose to consider another applicant.
I look forward to the opportunity to prove my worth to you in an interview.
Sincerely
XXX XXXXXX
The employer response was remarkable: not only did she invite my client for an interview, but she remarked that she was so impressed by my client’s ability to responsibly address a mistake, that she prioritized her application above the others.
The principles of such an artful and effective apology are neatly outlined in this excellent article, where the author quotes an employer who says that “The secret to my success as a leader in my business has been my ability to offer well-timed and heartfelt apologies after mucking things up.”
Here is what he recommends, as tips for “Constructing an Appropriate, Effective Apology”:
A well-constructed apology is:
1. Timely – As close to the transgression as possible.
2. Specific – By describing what you did wrong and why it was wrong, you are showing your command of yourself and your awareness of the impact you have on people and on the workplace.
3. Behavioural – Try: Here’s what I intended and why…here’s what I did…and I understand that my approach failed to communicate what I intended.
4. Genuine – Say what you mean and mean what you say.
5. Brief – No one wants you to draw it out. Don’t make excuses for your behaviour and don’t try and describe the twenty things that happened that day that added up to your bad moment.
Such an apology is bound to impress the potential employer and convey your ability to be a responsible employee who might add value to the position.
Bottom line: As John Powell stated:
The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.
If you catch yourself in a small error, set out to quickly, briefly and simply resolve it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You may even make an even better impression than you intended.
Write a Cover Letter that Catches the Employer’s Attention
If first impressions are as important as psychologists tell us, cover letters should be considered one of the most important aspects of the job search process. When a potential employer reads the letter accompanying your resume, it is often the first time they encounter you and your only chance to make a good first impression.
For a moment, put yourself in the employer’s shoes: after posting a job they are anxious to fill quickly and easily, they are often overwhelmed with hundreds of applications. They sort through one application after another, hoping to be struck by the few who seem suitably well qualified, likeable and competent enough to be invited for an interview.
Employers are aware that not all resumes are accompanied by a cover letter. It also true that many employers might not even bother to read the cover letter. But we also know that some employers will look for a cover letter, and failing to find it, might reject the job application.
As an employment counsellor, I have noticed that for many job seekers, cover letters are often the weakest aspect of their job search efforts, and they are often neglected until the last moment before sending in a job application. If written at all, they are often generic, awkwardly worded and not very substantial, leaving the reader with a sense that not much effort was put into preparing them.
It is useful to think about its definition and purpose to determine what should go into an effective letter. A cover letter can be described as a one-page letter that accompanies a resume, introduces the candidate and motivates the employer to read the resume and consider the candidate for a position. A cover letter should clarify the link between the employer’s needs (which is often described as “qualifications” on the posting) and you (as listed in the “profile” or “summary” in your resume).
Your cover letter is an opportunity to market yourself to the employer by:
- indicating that you have read the job posting and understand the expectations of the employer
- showing your interest and enthusiasm
- introducing your resume and identifying the specific aspects of the resume that are most relevant to the job
- showing off your excellent writing skills, both in terms of grammar and spelling
- indicating to the employer that you can and will follow instructions by applying exactly the way the employer requested in the job ad/posting
Cover letters should accompany almost any resume, whether it is in response to a posting, is solicited (i.e. the employer asked you to send them a resume), or even unsolicited (i.e. you are sending the resume to employers, in case they are hiring).
Check your cover letter against this checklist of “do’s” and “don’ts”:
- Follow the instructions in the posting, making sure to submit it on time and to the specific person outlined in the advertisement
- Keep the letter short, simple and easy to read
- Don’t use a generic cover letter; instead, write a unique and personalized letter for each employer
- Use a formal tone, but show the level of enthusiasm that is suitable to the type of position to which you are applying
- Match the format of the letter to your resume in terms of the font and “letterhead” (i.e. the format you use for your name and address)
- Don’t forget to include the specific job title as identified in the job posting, including any reference numbers provided by the employer
- Make sure to mention where you found the job posting
- Describe yourself to the employer in terms of the specific qualifications requested in the posting; don’t assume that the employer will read your resume unless they find what they need in the cover letter
- Before sending it, always check your spelling and grammar very carefully
- Don’t depend on Spell-check — it will only pick up some errors, not all (it won’t pick up a mistake if it is a real word — for example, it won’t pick up using “form” instead of “from”)
For samples of cover letters, check out one of my favourite websites, such as The Muse.
As the expression goes, you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression. It is well worth investing time and effort in writing a high-quality letter that conveys your enthusiasm and shows the employer the reasons for considering your unique candidacy for the position. Capturing the interest of the employer can be a deal breaker; if your cover letter does not impress, the employer will probably not read your resume or call you for an interview, whereas a well-worded and thoughtful letter can go a long way toward that position you are working so hard to get.
Ask the Employment Specialist: Sourcing the hiring manager’s name
Dear Joanna,
I’m trying so hard to build my professional networking. My biggest challenge is how to find the contact details of the hiring managers that I have targeted to contact for an information interview. It’s the only way I can cold call and hopefully meet my next boss one day soon!
Please can you give me some suggestions on how I can locate this information.
Signed: Cold Caller (CC)
Dear CC
Dr. Katharine Hansen offers the best ideas on how to locate that hidden hiring manager who typically do not want to be bombarded with hundreds of applicants can be found on the Quint Careers blog:
Make a phone call. Call the company’s main switchboard number and ask the name of hiring manager for the job in question. If the receptionist won’t tell you or they pass you on to Human Resources staff, get their name just in case you need this for later. Phone after or before business hours, and try to get the name of the hiring manager or at least the exact title so you can listen for it through the employer’s automated directory and then punch it in.
Ask for help. Dr Hansen quotes Steve Levy, Principal of outside-the-box Consulting, who suggests calling the main number and saying, in a calm, soothing voice: ‘Hello, maybe you can help me out for a second?’ The person on the line will almost always respond by saying, ‘Sure. How can I help you?’ It is a normal human reaction when someone asks us for help is to offer it. Start the conversation but be cognizant that the receptionist is probably busy with the switchboard of calls. Ask for the email if you can’t get the telephone.
Tap into your network. Networking is one of the most important parts of your job-search efforts. If it is working, you may find it relatively easy to get names. Joining professional organizations is one of the fastest, easiest ways to learn names of hiring managers in your target companies. Use social media like Twitter and LinkedIn to find profiles of hiring managers that are relevant to your career or job goal.
Become a proficient researcher. Learn as much as you can about the companies that you have targeted. Follow them on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Explore their website and subscribe to their news feed. Find media coverage and published articles to find names of people being interviewed from the company. These are names you can begin to contact to search for that hiring manager. Get help from the reference librarian at your public or university library. You can also conduct research directly with the employer by calling the company’s public relations or investor relations department to ask questions that may lead you to the name of a hiring manager.
Try a “Top Down” approach. One trick that has worked for many job-seekers is to contact the president of the company directly, since that name can almost always be found out. Then, follow up.
Find the company Website. If the job posting gives only an e-mail address, use it to lead you to the company Website, which will probably have a phone number. For example, the job posting gives the e-mail address HR@CompanyX.com. Type www.CompanyX.com or simply CompanyX.com into your browser, and you will probably get to the company’s site.
Put on your detective hat, and set out to work!
