How NOT to Get a Job

I am currently running a search for a client who needs a Director of Communications--a job I know more than a little about--especially in the non-profit sector. Let me just say that it has been a very enlightening process.

Of the 85 applications (resumes + cover letters) received so far, 73 are immediate "no-s." There are none in the "maybe" pile. Yikes! What's going on here? Am I being just a tad ruthless? You bet-- as a Director of Communications aspirant, your submission better be Perfect, and that's with a capital "P."

Take heed: here is my advice for how NOT to get the job you want, in any industry, much less make it into the first round of interviews.....

1.    Misspell the person's name that you are writing to.
2.    Address them by their first name in your cover letter.
3.    Address them by their title only (as in Dear President.....).
4.    Send a resume as an attachment to an email with no corresponding cover letter.
5.    Use your email as your cover letter.
6.    Apply for a position for which you have zero experience.
7.    Try to convince me in your cover letter that unrelated experience somehow qualifies you for the job.
8.    Apply from out of state or out of the country if the position clearly requires a familiarity with  a specific local. (My  favorite so far came from Italy).
9.    Email or call to "see if your materials have been received." Trust me, they have. Some companies will acknowledge receipt; some won't. Move on.
10.  Send a follow-up email asking for the salary range. If you need to ask before we've even met, I will automatically hit "delete."
11.  Re-submit your materials for a position that has been re-opened. There's a reason we didn't call you the first time.

If all of this sounds harsh, that's because it is. We are looking for reasons to eliminate you. You cannot afford even the smallest misstep (awkward language, weird formatting, bizarre self-revelations, etc. etc. etc). There's plenty of time to shine later on--once you make it past all the hangers-on at the gate. That's your opportunity to knock my socks off. But more about how to do that in a later post.

Hint: It's all about your BRAND.

(This entry is cross-posted at my blog, The Brand Dame.)

Comments

[Diane Danielson]

I used to hire entry-level marketers, and I had one sure-fire way to whittle the 500 applicants to 5. I asked them to submit a writing sample. At least 300 didn't do this (which means they can't follow directions and don't pay attention to details). The rest were sooooo bad, that it was easy to dismiss another 100 or so after glancing at the first sentence. We may be in a technical age, but with everyone writing emails, proper use of grammar is even more important!

Of the few I remember hiring off their writing samples: One sent me their final paper for a marketing class (I learned a few things reading it); and another sent a hilarious press release about her being selected for the job. (The young woman was very smart and called some contacts at the office before doing it, but they assured her it was right up my alley. I wouldn't recommend that with everyone, but it worked with me.)

[Lisa]

Dear Brand Dame,

I appreciate your recent advice on what not to do and was glad that I did not commit any of these sins in my current job search; however, I still have questions.

1. Is it ok to write "Dear Sir/Madam" when you don't know who you are sending the cover letter to?

2. Should you write the person's first name in the cover letter if you know them?

3. When is it ok to ask about salary? Is there any appropriate way to determine salary range up front so you are not wasting people's time?

I look forward to your next post.

[Lyn Chamberlin]

Hi Lisa,

Great questions--am delighted you took the time to ask!

1. Yes--Sir/Madam is always a good default salutation. It's a little formal and impersonal, but it's good form. No one can fault you for that. Today, I received a "To Whom It May Concern" submission and promptly deleted it.

2. Using a contact's first name is fine, as long as you really know them and they know who you are you. It is not OK if you are using it simply because the contact name appears on the job listing.

3. The salary question is really tricky. Personally, I always err on the side of not asking until I have made it into the interview phase -- and then, I only ask at the end of the conversation when the major areas of expertise and experience have been covered. You can then say something like, "could you give me an idea of the salary range for this position?"

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck!

Lyn