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The Top Ten Mistakes: Read 'em and Learn

By Laura Gassner Otting, Consultant, www.ExecSearches.com

Last month, executive recruiter Larry Sleslinger explained why qualified candidates don’t always get the best jobs. It was so popular that we thought we’d go a step further. A step further back, that is.

There are many basic mistakes made by otherwise superb candidates. These mistakes have almost always cost the qualified candidates further consideration. Here are ten of our (least anticipated) favorites:

1. Do your homework about the organization. Research the organization’s history and where it hopes this new person will take it. Address these issues in your cover letter so you don’t look like you are sending form letters. Your cover letter should include information about your skills and passions and how they would complement the open position.

2. Spell check, spell check, spell check. Don’t misspell the name of the addressee or the organization; it’s right there in front of you on the ad. Don’t use mail merge unless you plan to review each letter before sending it. If I had a dime for every letter I got with Ms. Gassner Otting in the address block and “Dear Gassner:” in the letter I’d be a rich woman; unfortunately, I don’t so I was only rich with trashed resumes.

3. Read the ad completely. Request or locate a longer position description if available. Most organizations have web sites; review these before submitting an application.

4. Follow directions for submissions. Send the type of communication they want: only e-mail means only e-mail, a fax number listed alone means fax only, and if all you see is a mailing address, start licking those stamps. If it says “no attachments,” they mean it; don’t even think about it.

5. Learn to use electronic communications better. If sending by e-mail, use the body of the e-mail to be your cover letter. Paste resume below or follow instructions as given. Never just send an attachment without explaining what those attachments are. You wouldn’t let a stranger into your house. I’m not going to take the chance on letting a stranger (and his or her potential computer viruses) into mine.

6. Avoid silly e-mail addresses. You may be uncomfortable using your work e-mail, but think twice about your personal e-mail address. It’s hard to take a candidate seriously whose return e-mail address is cutegirl@aol.com or Bigdaddy@yahoo.com. You can easily get a free account to use in your job search. Want proof? How many Executive Directors do you know who go by the nickname cutegirl?

7. Be realistic. Apply for jobs within the realm of possibility; don’t apply for every job listed by an organization or firm or you lose credibility or you lose credibility for all of them. Headhunters talk, and if you’re not careful, they might laugh too.

8. Have someone look at your resume. No matter how well you checked it or how good a writer you think you might be, you need someone else to look at your materials. Have it reviewed by a professional or someone who knows or can understand your career history and next steps. Regardless of how hard you worked on it, you probably missed something.

9. Don’t come out too bold. Make sure you know the philosophy of the organization. Don’t write cover letters telling the organization what they did wrong. If you want to change an organization from within, wait until you are within it, or better yet, consider not applying if the organization itself isn’t interested in the sort of change you seek.

10. Know your red flags. No candidate is perfect. Why aren’t you? Address major missing segments of your experience in your cover letter and explain why they should be pardoned.

Need some advice? Call on one of our resident headhunters. Consulting is available on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and other general job search issues. Contact LGO@ExecSearches.com for more information.