Career and Job Search Advice

You’re perfect; who wouldn’t want to hire you?

You may have the perfect resume. You may be charming and enjoyable to be around. You may be intelligent. You may be a social networking genius. You may be available immediately and you may have realistic salary expectations. But if you’re not qualified for the job you’re applying for, your resume may be placed in the circular file never to be seen again.

Shortcuts, shortcuts, shortcuts

We spend so much time trying to find the shortcuts in life. We spend hours online seeking out the answers to all our job search problems. Interview writing tips, what to say/not to say in an interview. How to most effectively network. What to say in a thank you note and when to send it. What to wear to an interview and how to hide the unfortunate tattoo you didn’t really think through ahead of time. How to eat your lunch during an interview without looking like a slob. The list could go on forever. What no one really stops to say though is that your education and experience matter. It’s not all about how you display yourself (please don’t misunderstand that statement; presentation is vitally important) it’s also about who you are and what brought you to this point.

If you want to get the job, be realistic. Apply for positions that match your skill set.

Everyone is looking for a better opportunity and growth in a new job. It’s absolutely expected that there will be responsibilities in a new position that you may not have already experienced previously. I certainly don’t mean to downplay the importance of preparation for a job interview and I highly recommend getting as much information ahead of time as possible; not only specific to the job and company you are applying for but also on interview tips in general. What no one really tells you though is that you need to be respectful of a hiring manager’s time and needs. You lose credibility when you blanket job postings with a resume that doesn’t fit the bill. If a recruiter spends five seconds looking at your resume and finds it doesn’t meet the advertised experience or education, he’s not likely to read it again for other opportunities. You have a very short window of opportunity to impress a recruiter who reads hundreds of emails a day. Make the most of those five seconds by knowing the job you’re applying for and making sure your experience meets the mark.