Focusing too Much on Yourself​

You’re applying for a specific opportunity because it fits your lifestyle perfectly. You can take your kids to school or pick them up, continue on with your weekend social life, or other activities you might have to give up otherwise.

While this is excellent for you, the hiring manager may want to hear something else. They’re additionally concerned with how good of a fit you are for them. The focus should be on why you’re a good candidate for the position rather than how the role fits you.

Asking Inappropriate Questions

It’s always important to ask questions during an interview. Inquiring about knowledge that is considered improper can seem negative.

Refrain from questioning the following:

• What are vacation benefits like?
• Where will my office be?
• How much sick time is offered?
• Is personal time an option?
• How much will I be compensated?

Pushing for this information means you’re in it only for compensation and benefits. If you’re an excellent fit for the position, you’ll be offered a deal where details like these will be included.

It’s best to wait until then to examine them.

Accomplishments

You might not keep track of things you’ve done over your past few jobs, but potential bosses want to know what you’ve done previously. Your accomplishments are significant. Record them all and include them on your CV.

However, don’t go overboard: There is such a thing as having too much of a good thing. When your resume is overflowing with accomplishments, it can work against you.

Here’s why:

1. It makes you look overqualified: This is especially true if most of their accomplishments are from previous roles at a higher level or had more responsibility than the role they’re applying for.
2. It makes you look like a job hopper: Employers may wonder why you’ve been moving around so much and whether or not you’ll stick around for the long haul.
3. It makes you look like you’re bragging: A resume crammed with accomplishments can also come across as arrogant or self-serving. Hiring managers want to see that you’re humble and can work well with others, so too much bragging can be a turnoff.
4. It can make you seem inflexible: If your accomplishments are all from one particular area or industry, it can make you seem unreasonable and unwilling to branch out. You want to give a better impression than this if you hope to land a job in a new field.
5. It can make you seem difficult: If your accomplishments are all from roles very different from the one you’re applying for, it can make you seem difficult to please. Employers may wonder why you can’t find a better position matching your skills and experience.

If your resume is crammed full of accomplishments, it’s essential to take a step back and assess whether or not it’s actually helping or hurting your job search. There are times when less really is more.

Previous Employer

Did you leave your last place of work on the wrong note?

There are a few reasons why your previous employer might be the reason you’re not getting hired.

It could be that your former boss didn’t give you a good reference or that your job performance at your previous company could have been better. Additionally, your industry is in flux, and your previous employer is no longer considered a valuable workplace.

Whatever the reason, it’s essential to be honest with potential employers about your previous job situation to give them the complete picture of your experience and qualifications.

Remember: Hiring managers rely on references to guide them in the right direction when hiring.

Resume

Make sure your resume is proficient and has no typos. Even the slightest grammatical error or accidental letter use can cause an employer to choose another candidate. Employers will view your resume as unprofessional and sloppy, reflecting poorly on your attention to detail.

Another thing to remember is length: When it comes to resumes, less is often more. Employers want a concise, easy-to-read document highlighting your most relevant qualifications and experience. Employers will likely only read your resume if it is at most two pages long.

Not tailoring your resume is another mistake — Generic resumes are a huge turnoff for employers because they show that you haven’t bothered to customize your application to their company. If you want to make sure your resume stands out, take the time to tailor it to each individual job you apply for.

While ensuring your resume looks professional is essential, you want to stay moderate with the design. Stick to a simple format and use easy-to-read fonts so employers can quickly scan your resume and find the information they want.

Cover letter

Your cover letter is one of the first things a potential employer will see, so making a good impression is essential. Unfortunately, many talented job seekers don’t put adequate time and effort into their cover letters, and as a result, they get rejected.

A few common mistakes can doom a cover letter, such as not tailoring it to the specific job or not providing enough detail about your qualifications. But even if you avoid those pitfalls, a few things can make your cover letter less than impressive.

There are times when less really is more. This can make your cover letter sound like you’re just going through the motions and will only do something to set you apart from the other candidates. Instead, try to use language that’s more natural and engaging.

Another area for improvement is including too much information about your personal life or hobbies. It’s OK to mention a few interests outside of work, but only go into some detail. Remember, your cover letter should focus on your professional qualifications.

Refrain from sounding desperate or needy. Be confident in your capabilities, and avoid phrases like “I would be appreciative for a prospect to interview” or “I would respect your consideration.”

These statements make you voice like you’re begging for a chance, and that’s not the appearance you want to give.

Contact Information

To land the gig you want, you must stand out from the crowd – no one will know you are the most qualified if you don’t show it.

Overly formal language is one of the most typical issues. So, what makes a contact method unprofessional?

Here are a few examples:

1. An email address that is anything further than your first and last name. Potential employers may only take you seriously if your email address or phone number seems professional. For example, “iluvkittens1234” or “johnsmithy.”
2. A phone number that is not a landline. This includes VOIP numbers (like those from Skype or Google Voice) and burner phone numbers. Employers want to be able to reach you quickly, and these types of numbers make that more difficult.
3. An email address or phone number that is associated with a free service. This includes Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail addresses, and public email domains (like .edu or .gov). These accounts give the impression that you must be more serious about your career.
4. An email address or phone number associated with a social media account. This includes addresses or numbers linked to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Employers might see this as a red flag, indicating you need to be more mature to handle a professional job.
5. A signature in your email that doesn’t include your name and contact details. This includes quotes, images, or additional unnecessary information. Keep it simple – your potential employer wants to know how to contact you, not read a novel about your life.

If any of your contact methods fall into one of the above categories, it’s time to change.

Creating a professional email address and phone number is manageable and could make all the difference in whether or not you get hired. Make sure to allow out-of-date contact information to prevent you from succeeding.

In addition, make sure to put your current workplace as an appropriate way to contact you.

You are Overqualified

Sometimes, those who are overqualified won’t get the position.

One reason is that the overqualified candidate may be less likely to stay in the position for long. The overqualified candidate may have higher salary expectations, which can be a turnoff for employers.

Additionally, overqualified candidates may need to fit the position or company culture better.

Eventually, recruiters may fear overqualified candidates being exhausted by the position and quickly becoming disengaged.

If you’re an overqualified candidate, you must be aware of these potential concerns and address them head-on in your application materials.

Internal Candidates

Internal candidates take precedence over others, even when they’re not as talented.

There are many motives why recruiters may prefer to hire interior candidates over outer ones:

1. Internal candidates already understand the company’s culture and values well.
2. They tend to be more knowledgeable about the company’s methods and processes.
3. Internal candidates may have already specified associations with other employees, which can make for a softer growth into a new role.
4. Because internal candidates are already familiar with the company, they can hit the ground running more quickly than external candidates.

Ultimately, each company’s reasons for selecting internal candidates will vary, but these are some of the most familiar.

Conclusion

While it’s true that some companies don’t always hire the best candidates, there are several reasons why this might be the case. From a lack of available talent to a mismatch in skills, a variety of factors can prevent even the most qualified candidates from getting the job.

At the end of the day, it’s necessary to remember that the hiring method is far from excellent.  But by understanding why the best candidates don’t always get the job, you can increase your chances of landing that dream gig.