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Sunday, November 27, 2011
How Not To Suck at Applying for a Job
Money Under 30: Most people absolutely suck at applying to jobs. And this is GREAT NEWS. Why? Because it means that with just the tiniest bit of consideration and work, you should be able to absolutely crush your next job search.
As I read this article I definitely learned a few things not to do. I don't think I would have done them anyway but they were still good to know. All the jobs I have ever had have been through knowing someone else and then networking. I can't imagine a better way to get a job. It can be a cruel world out there with a lot of people going for the same position. If I can get an interview by knowing someone, I'll take it. Of course my work needs to speak for itself before going this route. I need to be worthy of someone wanting to recommend me in the first place. So my destiny is up to me, but having someone else in my court along the way is a very nice feeling.
This article came out just at the right time for me! I'm currently applying for internships this summer and this has already helped me a ton! There are things in this article that I hadn't considered important before. Now I'm going over my resume and cover letters with new eyes after reading this article. Getting jobs are hard now a days in this economy which mean internships are even harder as well since I'm now going up against Grads and Professionals who will take unpaid internships. I'm glad I read this article because maybe now I'll have a chance against these guys.
This article has a few good points and tips, but I'm not sure if it's setting the right mindset. It's probably not the most beneficial to assume that everyone sucks at applying for jobs. This may not have been the point of the article, but this is how it was set up. I would think that it would be much more helpful to assume that everyone that you're competing with for a job is just as if not more qualified in order to inspire an even further push for the job. Despite this minutia in the wording of the article, it was sort of helpful.
This article has reenforced some points that I have learned over the past years and points that always how the weakness of individuals. Not knowing enough about the company or what the company does at all is probably the biggest concern I face today. I might not apply to every job, but through friends I might go for the bigger companies for networking and the name, but now know what they do. Some of the things they brought up I never thought about before. Asking for more time is a sore subject I think. You would never know what could happen.
The idea of spamming a job posting site had never occurred to me before, probably because it just seems like a dangerous thing to do since there's a decent chance that some of those jobs might come from the same company. Regardless of it you're qualified for a job, it's probably beyond damming in the sorting process if they ever discover that you have applied for multiple jobs. I generally like to think that people only apply for jobs they actually want; pretty sure that desperation is the exact opposite of what they are looking for in a new employee.
Growing up in a small town, most of my previous jobs have come about by asking friends of my family, previous teachers etc. Therefore, I am completely clueless about how to apply for a job "in the real world." I found this article really helpful, because though a lot of the things it said sounded like common sense as I read through them, this was one of the most digestable articles I've read in how it puts those common sense points into the act of actually applying for a job.
This is a very useful article. There are tons of similar 'how to' articles and tips out there, but I think this one is actually, you know, helpful. I've read many articles of this sort, and I still learned new things from this. The thing that sticks out is that this article suggests you spend a couple HOURS researching a company before an interview. Most people, even when they do that step, seem to think 10 or 15 minutes will suffice. I would definitely be able to tell the difference as an interviewer, and looking at things from the interviewers perspective is definitely something to learn from.
One thing in this article left me with questions: the writer said that he wouldn't consider anyone who didn't include a tailored cover letter-is it therefore a requirement to send one if they don't specifically ask for it? Were I in the employer's position, I wouldn't want to receive anymore information than I had asked for, and therefore not knowing whether a cover letter is merited or not confuses things. This is one case where actors have it lucky, since they hand in a picture and resume, and then just pitch themselves in audition most of the time. Nevertheless, the article gives a lot of good advice, especially about not being generic with your deliverables, tailoring your responses to the company, and doing your research beforehand.
A lot of the content covered in this article is stuff I have seen or heard before this. They aren't bad ideas but this isn't terribly groundbreaking. A good majority of people however could stand to learn a lot from this article. I think the two points mentioned first are probably the most important. And the easiest way to make yourself stand out. It doesn't take more than 15 minutes of work to make yourself knowledgable about the company and make a good impression in paper form with the employer so that you may get a call.
This is a very helpful article, as it covers sending in job applications as well as how to conduct yourself at an interview. While not all of the information presented was revolutionary, there were some helpful tidbits that we may not have considered as we begin sending out our own resumes and job applications. I find that it's always nice to hear this kind of information from somebody involved in the hiring process, as it is not simply speculation, but an honest breakdown of how different applications are received and dealt with. I'll definitely be keeping these things in mind when I'm applying for jobs soon!
Doing your homework on a company is critical. It has certainly helped me out when I've done it, and I've felt the pain when I haven't. One problem I tend to struggle with is having a question to ask in the inevitable "Do you have more questions for us?" 9/10 out of ten I've either brought up my concerns inline with the course of the conversation, or I've done so much research on the organization that I no longer have any questions. I dislike the idea of having a question prepared for the sake of having a question. But I feel like not having one hasn't helped me.
This is sad. but like who actually does this stuff? I feel like when applying for jobs you want to but your absolute best face forward. I thought this article was going to be all about how your resume should look or what to say or what to wear. But no the stuff that this article covers seemingly obvious stuff. Yes you should probably tailor everything you do towards the place you are looking to get hired at. Nowhere is going to hire you if they think you are going to suck and if you look like you are not going to be invested in their company.
While it might be ridiculous how many people are terrible at job searching and being interviewed, that shouldn't let us relax! There are more people in the job market than ever. The recommendation that gets hammered in time and time again is to tailor everything. Tailor your resume, your contacts, everything. Only list things that you actually want to be doing. While having a variety of skills makes you more marketable, it makes you more marketable to those jobs! Overall a good article, and I highly recommend that people look into how interview questions are formed. In my Organizational Behavior class, you learn a great deal about how to interview people. That gives you an edge when you're being the one interviewed too.
this article is a lot of help and i can't help but think back to the dreaded fearful day of soul judgement... I mean the interview day for carnegie mellon. This article has a lot of helpful information about applying and preparation but i think it could use more information for how to really handle yourself in the interview. More then just not answering with I don't know. More on how to present yourself confidently but not cocky.
The most important section of this article was about the "Me Me Me" job seekers. We are in the business of self-promotion, because we are consistently (usually) looking for work, for the next gig. We, as job seekers, need to realize that it is not about us AT ALL. It is entirely, 100%, about the employer. Yes, it is important to sell yourself, and explain why they should hire you. But it is critical (at least in the application stage) to let the employer know that you understand why they are seeking to have this position filled, something about what is important to their company, and how you fit into that puzzle.
The fact that we've already talked about most of these things makes me feel a little bit better actually. I think most of these are things that we are carefully thinking about or prepared for. I am in the process of reworking my cover letter right now for a new job and I think that this author would approve decently well of what I've done. Interestingly though in my last job search the biggest problem I had was slow responsiveness from employers. They posted jobs very early and then took a long time to respond. Ultimately I got offers from them, but only after I'd started work at another job.
These are all very helpful tips; I'd expect this to be the kind of advice that would be most helpful for students who are just starting to apply to jobs, and I'm a bit surprised that these are mistakes that a lot of people in the professional world are still making. It is reassuring that knowing these tips and tricks is still a strong advantage when applying for jobs.
Another example of ingenious common sense. I can say that applying for jobs at home, a lot of people applying with me put this advice to use. In fact, everyone did. It seems that the general public within a metropolitan area is well informed on the basics of applying for jobs. What is HARD to find is what will set you apart from the rest.. because that cannot be taught. Natural charm, intellect, and raw talent get jobs.. not internet posts.
I'm glad this article covers all ends of the spectrum of job applicants. It's easy to pick out the people who don't really care about the position, but it's also a good idea not be too presumptuous, because then no one will take you seriously. It's important to do research for the position you're applying for, even if you think you have a pretty good knowledge of the general idea of the job. These are definitely some good thoughts to keep in your back pocket.
I think these are some really great things that I wouldn't normally have thought of. This article is for me a large confidence boost because I feel like I do most of the good things and hardly any of the bad things. I think these are some really great tips as we all start looking for jobs. I think the two toughest issues I have on this list is not making it all about you but also making it all about you. Obviously you don't want to be a MeMeMe but you do want to highlight your skills and explain how you can help the company. The other main thing I have to work on is researching the company beforehand. Obviously between the internet and the small network of people in the industry you should be able to find many ways to research the company. But there are many things you can't find out through these methods, and when you ask questions about them during the interview it can look really bad on your part when you don't know some institutional basics. A lot of company websites and even reviews on that companies works don't tell you too much about how they operate. So that is a tough step in our industry, at least in my opinion.
While a lot of the information in this article isn't new, it never hurts to be reminded of these tips--especially when applying for a job.
The best tip on here is to show that you care. In caring about the job your applying for you'll write a cover letter that is helpful to both the employer and yourself, and in an interview you'll look like someone the employer knows will really work hard if given the job.
Reading these tips never hurts--especially now that it's time to start thinking about internships again. I know re-reading these helped me.
Nowadays where information is free on the internet and a resume or cover letter can be rewritten without any effort, there is no reason that an application package cannot be super specific and that you should not know everything about the job you are applying for. This is especially important in our industry where it is all about the people you meet and the people you already know.
23 comments:
As I read this article I definitely learned a few things not to do. I don't think I would have done them anyway but they were still good to know. All the jobs I have ever had have been through knowing someone else and then networking. I can't imagine a better way to get a job. It can be a cruel world out there with a lot of people going for the same position. If I can get an interview by knowing someone, I'll take it. Of course my work needs to speak for itself before going this route. I need to be worthy of someone wanting to recommend me in the first place. So my destiny is up to me, but having someone else in my court along the way is a very nice feeling.
This article came out just at the right time for me! I'm currently applying for internships this summer and this has already helped me a ton! There are things in this article that I hadn't considered important before. Now I'm going over my resume and cover letters with new eyes after reading this article. Getting jobs are hard now a days in this economy which mean internships are even harder as well since I'm now going up against Grads and Professionals who will take unpaid internships. I'm glad I read this article because maybe now I'll have a chance against these guys.
This article has a few good points and tips, but I'm not sure if it's setting the right mindset. It's probably not the most beneficial to assume that everyone sucks at applying for jobs. This may not have been the point of the article, but this is how it was set up. I would think that it would be much more helpful to assume that everyone that you're competing with for a job is just as if not more qualified in order to inspire an even further push for the job. Despite this minutia in the wording of the article, it was sort of helpful.
This article has reenforced some points that I have learned over the past years and points that always how the weakness of individuals. Not knowing enough about the company or what the company does at all is probably the biggest concern I face today. I might not apply to every job, but through friends I might go for the bigger companies for networking and the name, but now know what they do. Some of the things they brought up I never thought about before. Asking for more time is a sore subject I think. You would never know what could happen.
The idea of spamming a job posting site had never occurred to me before, probably because it just seems like a dangerous thing to do since there's a decent chance that some of those jobs might come from the same company. Regardless of it you're qualified for a job, it's probably beyond damming in the sorting process if they ever discover that you have applied for multiple jobs. I generally like to think that people only apply for jobs they actually want; pretty sure that desperation is the exact opposite of what they are looking for in a new employee.
Growing up in a small town, most of my previous jobs have come about by asking friends of my family, previous teachers etc. Therefore, I am completely clueless about how to apply for a job "in the real world." I found this article really helpful, because though a lot of the things it said sounded like common sense as I read through them, this was one of the most digestable articles I've read in how it puts those common sense points into the act of actually applying for a job.
This is a very useful article. There are tons of similar 'how to' articles and tips out there, but I think this one is actually, you know, helpful. I've read many articles of this sort, and I still learned new things from this. The thing that sticks out is that this article suggests you spend a couple HOURS researching a company before an interview. Most people, even when they do that step, seem to think 10 or 15 minutes will suffice. I would definitely be able to tell the difference as an interviewer, and looking at things from the interviewers perspective is definitely something to learn from.
One thing in this article left me with questions: the writer said that he wouldn't consider anyone who didn't include a tailored cover letter-is it therefore a requirement to send one if they don't specifically ask for it? Were I in the employer's position, I wouldn't want to receive anymore information than I had asked for, and therefore not knowing whether a cover letter is merited or not confuses things. This is one case where actors have it lucky, since they hand in a picture and resume, and then just pitch themselves in audition most of the time. Nevertheless, the article gives a lot of good advice, especially about not being generic with your deliverables, tailoring your responses to the company, and doing your research beforehand.
A lot of the content covered in this article is stuff I have seen or heard before this. They aren't bad ideas but this isn't terribly groundbreaking. A good majority of people however could stand to learn a lot from this article. I think the two points mentioned first are probably the most important. And the easiest way to make yourself stand out. It doesn't take more than 15 minutes of work to make yourself knowledgable about the company and make a good impression in paper form with the employer so that you may get a call.
This is a very helpful article, as it covers sending in job applications as well as how to conduct yourself at an interview. While not all of the information presented was revolutionary, there were some helpful tidbits that we may not have considered as we begin sending out our own resumes and job applications. I find that it's always nice to hear this kind of information from somebody involved in the hiring process, as it is not simply speculation, but an honest breakdown of how different applications are received and dealt with. I'll definitely be keeping these things in mind when I'm applying for jobs soon!
Doing your homework on a company is critical. It has certainly helped me out when I've done it, and I've felt the pain when I haven't. One problem I tend to struggle with is having a question to ask in the inevitable "Do you have more questions for us?" 9/10 out of ten I've either brought up my concerns inline with the course of the conversation, or I've done so much research on the organization that I no longer have any questions. I dislike the idea of having a question prepared for the sake of having a question. But I feel like not having one hasn't helped me.
This is sad. but like who actually does this stuff? I feel like when applying for jobs you want to but your absolute best face forward. I thought this article was going to be all about how your resume should look or what to say or what to wear. But no the stuff that this article covers seemingly obvious stuff. Yes you should probably tailor everything you do towards the place you are looking to get hired at. Nowhere is going to hire you if they think you are going to suck and if you look like you are not going to be invested in their company.
While it might be ridiculous how many people are terrible at job searching and being interviewed, that shouldn't let us relax! There are more people in the job market than ever. The recommendation that gets hammered in time and time again is to tailor everything. Tailor your resume, your contacts, everything. Only list things that you actually want to be doing. While having a variety of skills makes you more marketable, it makes you more marketable to those jobs! Overall a good article, and I highly recommend that people look into how interview questions are formed. In my Organizational Behavior class, you learn a great deal about how to interview people. That gives you an edge when you're being the one interviewed too.
this article is a lot of help and i can't help but think back to the dreaded fearful day of soul judgement... I mean the interview day for carnegie mellon. This article has a lot of helpful information about applying and preparation but i think it could use more information for how to really handle yourself in the interview. More then just not answering with I don't know. More on how to present yourself confidently but not cocky.
The most important section of this article was about the "Me Me Me" job seekers. We are in the business of self-promotion, because we are consistently (usually) looking for work, for the next gig. We, as job seekers, need to realize that it is not about us AT ALL. It is entirely, 100%, about the employer. Yes, it is important to sell yourself, and explain why they should hire you. But it is critical (at least in the application stage) to let the employer know that you understand why they are seeking to have this position filled, something about what is important to their company, and how you fit into that puzzle.
The fact that we've already talked about most of these things makes me feel a little bit better actually. I think most of these are things that we are carefully thinking about or prepared for. I am in the process of reworking my cover letter right now for a new job and I think that this author would approve decently well of what I've done. Interestingly though in my last job search the biggest problem I had was slow responsiveness from employers. They posted jobs very early and then took a long time to respond. Ultimately I got offers from them, but only after I'd started work at another job.
These are all very helpful tips; I'd expect this to be the kind of advice that would be most helpful for students who are just starting to apply to jobs, and I'm a bit surprised that these are mistakes that a lot of people in the professional world are still making. It is reassuring that knowing these tips and tricks is still a strong advantage when applying for jobs.
Another example of ingenious common sense. I can say that applying for jobs at home, a lot of people applying with me put this advice to use. In fact, everyone did. It seems that the general public within a metropolitan area is well informed on the basics of applying for jobs. What is HARD to find is what will set you apart from the rest.. because that cannot be taught. Natural charm, intellect, and raw talent get jobs.. not internet posts.
I'm glad this article covers all ends of the spectrum of job applicants. It's easy to pick out the people who don't really care about the position, but it's also a good idea not be too presumptuous, because then no one will take you seriously. It's important to do research for the position you're applying for, even if you think you have a pretty good knowledge of the general idea of the job. These are definitely some good thoughts to keep in your back pocket.
I think these are some really great things that I wouldn't normally have thought of. This article is for me a large confidence boost because I feel like I do most of the good things and hardly any of the bad things. I think these are some really great tips as we all start looking for jobs. I think the two toughest issues I have on this list is not making it all about you but also making it all about you. Obviously you don't want to be a MeMeMe but you do want to highlight your skills and explain how you can help the company. The other main thing I have to work on is researching the company beforehand. Obviously between the internet and the small network of people in the industry you should be able to find many ways to research the company. But there are many things you can't find out through these methods, and when you ask questions about them during the interview it can look really bad on your part when you don't know some institutional basics. A lot of company websites and even reviews on that companies works don't tell you too much about how they operate. So that is a tough step in our industry, at least in my opinion.
While a lot of the information in this article isn't new, it never hurts to be reminded of these tips--especially when applying for a job.
The best tip on here is to show that you care. In caring about the job your applying for you'll write a cover letter that is helpful to both the employer and yourself, and in an interview you'll look like someone the employer knows will really work hard if given the job.
Reading these tips never hurts--especially now that it's time to start thinking about internships again. I know re-reading these helped me.
Nowadays where information is free on the internet and a resume or cover letter can be rewritten without any effort, there is no reason that an application package cannot be super specific and that you should not know everything about the job you are applying for. This is especially important in our industry where it is all about the people you meet and the people you already know.
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