by Beverly Aarons
6. August 2009 08:22
Have you gone months with little or no job interviews? Many job seekers find themselves sending out resumes and getting absolutely no bites and they wonder why. Well, one reason is for sure, it's not the economy. Although the job market is tight, it is never THAT tight and if you've been doing your job which is to find a job, you should be getting some interviews. Let's take a look at what you may be doing wrong:
Problem #1 - Your resume is all wrong. Some of the most common resume mistakes that often result in no interviews include:
• Spelling/grammar errors.
• Work history summaries that focus on what you did at the company as opposed to what you did for the company. In other words, failing to show the results of your work can send your resume to the slush pile.
• Including irrelevant work history in your resume and/or failing to show how experience in a different industry is relevant to the job you're currently applying for.
• Failure to tailor your resume to each position. We know it's a lot of work; but tailoring your resume to each job you're applying for can mean the difference between getting the interview and ending up in the slush pile.
Problem #2 - Applying for jobs when you don't meet the qualifications. There's nothing wrong with changing careers and applying for jobs different from what you've done in the past; but when you fail to prove that your skills are transferable, you will be viewed simply as unqualified and may not be called for an interview.
Problem #3 - Implementing an inferior or "lazy" job search strategy. If you're job search consists of half-hearted and ill-planned efforts you decrease your chances of landing an interview. Recruiters and employers notice when they're sent mass emails or "generic" resumes and cover letters. Take the time and effort to address the detailed needs and expectations of each new job opportunity, that effort will increase your chances of landing an interview.