Did you know that October is the hottest month for hiring? If you’re interested in taking advantage of today’s 3.5 percent unemployment rate, there are millions of opportunities across the country. However, regardless of the condition of today’s labor market, you still have to be conscious of how you pursue your job search. Here are five things that will haunt your job search, even in today’s tight market.
Not doing your homework
Whether it’s writing your resume or preparing for an interview, you must do your homework on the company. When drafting your resume, take a close look at what’s on the job description. You essentially want your resume to mirror their job description to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the position. And for an interview, you want to take a deep dive online to prepare. Check out their website, social media accounts, and do a quick Google search. Try to gather an idea of their company culture, mission and values, and recent news about the company. These will all help you create talking points during your interview. More and more companies are beginning to ask candidates what they know about their company to see if they came prepared and to evaluate how serious they are about the position.
Apply for too many jobs at the same company
Be careful where you apply. It’s never a good idea to apply for numerous positions at the same company during the same period. It comes across as desperate to hiring managers and human resources professionals. Sure, applying for a couple of jobs is fine if you’re qualified for each of them. However, if you go down the list of open positions and apply for a handful of them, it can spook the company. And if you’re applying for a bunch of jobs, be cautious; it’s easier than you think to apply to the same company multiple times without realizing it. So, don’t scare away your chances of receiving a job before you even get a shot at an interview.
Not dressing appropriately for your interview
If you’re heading into an interview, make sure you dress appropriately. And that doesn’t always mean wearing a suit and tie. If it’s an onsite interview at a manufacturing plant or mining facility, bring your steel-toed boots. If it’s an office setting, you’ll want to dress at least business casual. The key is to dress one step above the company’s typical office attire. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask HR. But when in doubt, always dress for success.
Poor communication
In this candidate-driven market, hiring managers are struggling with being ghosted – candidates who suddenly drop out of the interviewing process. If you stop communicating with hiring managers or HR, they’ll probably assume you’re no longer interested. Strong and clear communication is vital throughout the entire process. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask them. But when a hiring manager reaches out to you, respond appropriately, or they may assume you’re dropping your name out of the race.
Not working with a recruiter
Have you worked with a recruiter before? If you really want to step up your job search game, then team up with a professional recruiter, like one from JSG. We have a talented team of recruiters that specialize in a wide array of industries. We build strong relationships with hiring managers and will help get your resume on the top of their desks instead of it just sitting in a pile on their computer. We’ll walk you through every step to ensure your job search isn’t haunted. Ready to take your career to the next level? Reach out to us today, and we’ll help you find your next opportunity!