One of the most detrimental things a job
seeker can do is to appear desperate in the eyes of employers or even
recruiters. Desperation is a
serious “turn off” and will make it just that much more difficult to land
employment. Even if you have been
unemployed for more than the dreaded 99 weeks that spell the demise of your
unemployment benefits, it is a must that you avoid appearing desperate. Below are a few desperate job search
gimmicks and tricks you must avoid:
1. Avoid sending presents to HR. This includes flowers,
candies, novelty items or anything else that will make it appear that you are
trying to win over the favor of employers with anything other than your
qualifications. Too many job seekers are turning to this tacky move only to
find themselves not only locked out of an interview but viewed in an
unfavorable light.
2. Do not attempt to make your resume stand out by
printing it on fancy, brightly colored stationary or packaging it in a gimmicky
way. Doing so will make it seem
that you don’t feel confident that your skills and experience will be enough to
catch the attention of employers and recruiters.
3. Do not dumb down your resume in an effort to secure
positions that you are clearly overqualified for. While it is okay to apply for jobs you truly want; but for which
you may be perceived as overqualified, you should package your resume in a way
that will prove that your qualifications are an asset to the company, not a
liability. Dumbing down your
resume only makes you appear desperate for any job.
4. Never under price yourself. Do not begin slashing your salary requirements simply
because you are desperate to get a job under any terms. While there is nothing wrong with
reducing your salary requirements, do not do so unless it is clearly necessary.
If you approach an employer with an “I’m willing to take whatever you give me”
mentality, they may wonder if you’re trying to sell them “damaged” goods.