Murray
This is the first in my series on the most common "dumbest
mistakes" you're probably making when applying for job after job.
Mistake 1
Employers get so many resumes and letters saying the same
worn-out things and using the same tired old phrases, that it's
hard to see the difference between the applicants. Phrases like:
"I'm good with people," "I'm a good learner" and "I love a
challenge" appear on nearly every application that's ever been
written, and simply makes you part of the crowd. Weed these
cliched phrases from your application and instead replace them
with powerful reasons to hire you.
As you know, the job doesn't always go to the person with the
best skills � it usually goes to the person that sells
themselves the best. It's the difference between tunnel-vision
and funnel-vision. A person with tunnel-vision writes
short-sighted letters telling the employer what a good X they
are, and how much experience they have.
To apply funnel vision, start at the small picture �
"they need an X" and work toward the bigger picture �
"they need an X to help make/save them money either directly or
indirectly and to satisfy their customers' needs."
You be the judge. Imagine you're an employer looking for a
secretary for example. Would you employ someone who says they
can type 90 words a minute, or someone who says they will:
"Be the perfect ambassador for the business, always smiling and
cheerful both face-to-face and over the phone. Able to do
multiple things at once and can take care of the mundane tasks
to free the other staff to spend more time doing what they do
best. A salesperson should be selling � not
photocopying...
A secretary with funnel vision will show an employer what THEY
can do for THEM. A person with tunnel-vision will keep looking
for work, or stay where they are.
Mistake #2
Employers hate trying to decipher information in resumes to see
if you can be matched to a position they're trying to fill. An
employer needs to see the benefits and results to them from the
skills listed in your resume. This can be hard to do without
sounding like an egotist, but some of our readers who've gotten
it right have received phone calls within hours of the employer
receiving the application.
Here are two examples:
* So you're just a lawyer? Does that mean you have knowledge and
insights into areas that will save me in legal complications
later on and that you and your negotiation skills can actually
prevent me from having to take people to court which will cost
me thousands whether I win or lose?
* So you're just a helpdesk operator? Does that mean you can
create information packs and training materials for me to make
my products the easiest to use and understand on the market, and
add even more value to each sale? Or that you can take over the
technical training for any of your staff who are frightened of
computers, thereby boosting the productivity, profits and
satisfaction levels of my staff?
Mistake #3
Long-winded resumes. The faster you get your message across the
more they will like you. About two minutes is the maximum they
spend reading an application - UNLESS you interest them. Learn
the secrets of good copywriting and your application and resume
will be as compelling as a John Grisham page-turner.
Mistake #4
Employers always see applications that only talk about the
APPLICANT and their skills, not how they will be of benefit to
the company. Your application needs to talk the employer's
language. If the application simply talks about YOU, you've got
it wrong.
The way to make sure you've got it RIGHT is to use the words
"you" and "your" in your application more than the words "I" and
"my". How much more? Five times more. (Hint: People like reading
about themselves � so give your employer what he/she
wants!)
Mistake #5
Employers are sick of applicants that have little knowledge of
the company they're applying to. The more you know about a
company, the easier it is to get the job. In fact, the more you
know about the company, the more you sound like someone who is
there to help, rather than someone who's simply looking for a
job.