Why you are failing to get a new job
Oct 26, 2008
WHILE searching for a job, you need to do a lot of things correctly and avoid missteps that can frustrate your efforts despite your strong qualifications and experience. Experts give tips to follow.
By Fred Ouma
WHILE searching for a job, you need to do a lot of things correctly and avoid missteps that can frustrate your efforts despite your strong qualifications and experience. Experts give tips to follow.
Relying on the human resource office
Don’t send your resume to human resource office, the hiring department or the hiring manager. This is because in most cases, these departments only screen people. It is better to find the name of a specific person like your prospective boss.
Sarah Namirembe, a human resources specialist with Career Services, says if that person likes your qualifications, s/he might push you through the human resources bureaucracy. “This person may forward or refer you to the human resource office. You would have lost nothing in the attempt,†she says.
Using an unprofessional e-mail address
You and your friends might think sexypie@rumour.co.ug or misscutie@gmail.com are funny or clever addresses. However, a recruiting manager might not. That person might lack your sense of humour and his or her reaction might erase your chances. It is better to use your name plus, if necessary, a numerical suffix.
Poor phone etiquette
The same logic applies to your voicemail greeting. All you need to say is that you are unavailable, not that you are out clubbing or playing Ludo. Why give a potential hiring manager a reason to pass you by? Just don’t.
Misspellings in your cover letter
In college, a classmate was applying for a job with what was then known as Green Boat. The trouble was, throughout the entire cover letter, she referred to the company as “Green Boot.†So, she did not get the job.
“Misspellings are never good,†says Fatmah Nabukalu, a senior human resources consultant at Exquisite Solutions. “They hurt you the worst if they involve the name of the company or names of people.†Check them out thoroughly before sending a letter. Names can be spelled in different ways, for example, “Anne/Ann,†“Michelle/Michele,†“Steven/Stephen.â€
Also, as companies merge or are taken over, their names often change accordingly. If you are not sure, check the company’s website or call the receptionistexplaining that you want to confirm a spelling.
While Microsoft Word has a spell-checker, it does not have a “what you meant to write-checker.†If you wrote “they’re chances†or “there chances†when you meant “their chances,†Word will not flag your phrase, at least it didn’t for me just when I was writing this article.
Failing to write a post-interview thank you letter
Contrary to what some folks say, writing such a note is not signalling desperation nor does it constitute grovelling. “When you travel to a company for an interview, you are a guest,†argues Namirembe. “The person who invited you had to do many things to prepare such as reserving a conference room and coordinating peoples’ schedules. So, your note shows your appreciation for those efforts and gives you an additional chance to reinforce your strong points.†Silvia Nandera, a human resource consultant with The Point, agrees that failure to write a note deprives you of that chance and may mark you as unprofessional.
Inappropriate dressing
If you are sitting an interview for a bank, dress like a banker. Forget the T-shirts, shorts and sandals. Forget the too high, too tight skirts and too low blouses. They are out of place and will reduce your chances. If you are not sure, dress more conservatively. Better still, research how people dress and do likewise.
Ignoring accomplishments
Do not just list responsibilities on your resume. Emphasise your accomplishments as much as you can and quantify them. For example, do not just write, “Wrote programmes in Lusamia.†Instead, write “Developed or initiated a system that reduced operation costs or increased sales by x%.â€
Late coming
If you are late for an interview, call or text to let the interviewer. This enables the interviewers to continue with other work, while waiting for you. The worst alternative is to simply show up late. “It smacks of rudeness and unprofessionalism and may hurt your chances,†says Nandera.
Bad-mouthing
Much as you might be tempted, and even if the interviewer asks you, don’t talk ill of your former company, co-workers or supervisor. All you need to say is that while you learned a great deal (a true statement even if your boss and co-workers were horrible), you felt a need to move on and meet new challenges. Bad-mouthing may mark you as a troublemaker to your prospective employer.
Failure to explore contacts
If you are looking for a job, don’t do it alone. Think of other people who can help like former co-workers, vendors and alumni from high school or college. If you fail to do so, you make your search more difficult and frustrating.
“This point illustrates the old saying that ‘One hand washes the other,†Namirembe says. You need to leverage your existing contacts and think about how you can help others in their own job searches. When you do, you will feel tremendous satisfaction at having done good for someone. And you will make it more likely that those persons will later help you in the same way. Good Luck!
WHILE searching for a job, you need to do a lot of things correctly and avoid missteps that can frustrate your efforts despite your strong qualifications and experience. Experts give tips to follow.
Relying on the human resource office
Don’t send your resume to human resource office, the hiring department or the hiring manager. This is because in most cases, these departments only screen people. It is better to find the name of a specific person like your prospective boss.
Sarah Namirembe, a human resources specialist with Career Services, says if that person likes your qualifications, s/he might push you through the human resources bureaucracy. “This person may forward or refer you to the human resource office. You would have lost nothing in the attempt,†she says.
Using an unprofessional e-mail address
You and your friends might think sexypie@rumour.co.ug or misscutie@gmail.com are funny or clever addresses. However, a recruiting manager might not. That person might lack your sense of humour and his or her reaction might erase your chances. It is better to use your name plus, if necessary, a numerical suffix.
Poor phone etiquette
The same logic applies to your voicemail greeting. All you need to say is that you are unavailable, not that you are out clubbing or playing Ludo. Why give a potential hiring manager a reason to pass you by? Just don’t.
Misspellings in your cover letter
In college, a classmate was applying for a job with what was then known as Green Boat. The trouble was, throughout the entire cover letter, she referred to the company as “Green Boot.†So, she did not get the job.
“Misspellings are never good,†says Fatmah Nabukalu, a senior human resources consultant at Exquisite Solutions. “They hurt you the worst if they involve the name of the company or names of people.†Check them out thoroughly before sending a letter. Names can be spelled in different ways, for example, “Anne/Ann,†“Michelle/Michele,†“Steven/Stephen.â€
Also, as companies merge or are taken over, their names often change accordingly. If you are not sure, check the company’s website or call the receptionistexplaining that you want to confirm a spelling.
While Microsoft Word has a spell-checker, it does not have a “what you meant to write-checker.†If you wrote “they’re chances†or “there chances†when you meant “their chances,†Word will not flag your phrase, at least it didn’t for me just when I was writing this article.
Failing to write a post-interview thank you letter
Contrary to what some folks say, writing such a note is not signalling desperation nor does it constitute grovelling. “When you travel to a company for an interview, you are a guest,†argues Namirembe. “The person who invited you had to do many things to prepare such as reserving a conference room and coordinating peoples’ schedules. So, your note shows your appreciation for those efforts and gives you an additional chance to reinforce your strong points.†Silvia Nandera, a human resource consultant with The Point, agrees that failure to write a note deprives you of that chance and may mark you as unprofessional.
Inappropriate dressing
If you are sitting an interview for a bank, dress like a banker. Forget the T-shirts, shorts and sandals. Forget the too high, too tight skirts and too low blouses. They are out of place and will reduce your chances. If you are not sure, dress more conservatively. Better still, research how people dress and do likewise.
Ignoring accomplishments
Do not just list responsibilities on your resume. Emphasise your accomplishments as much as you can and quantify them. For example, do not just write, “Wrote programmes in Lusamia.†Instead, write “Developed or initiated a system that reduced operation costs or increased sales by x%.â€
Late coming
If you are late for an interview, call or text to let the interviewer. This enables the interviewers to continue with other work, while waiting for you. The worst alternative is to simply show up late. “It smacks of rudeness and unprofessionalism and may hurt your chances,†says Nandera.
Bad-mouthing
Much as you might be tempted, and even if the interviewer asks you, don’t talk ill of your former company, co-workers or supervisor. All you need to say is that while you learned a great deal (a true statement even if your boss and co-workers were horrible), you felt a need to move on and meet new challenges. Bad-mouthing may mark you as a troublemaker to your prospective employer.
Failure to explore contacts
If you are looking for a job, don’t do it alone. Think of other people who can help like former co-workers, vendors and alumni from high school or college. If you fail to do so, you make your search more difficult and frustrating.
“This point illustrates the old saying that ‘One hand washes the other,†Namirembe says. You need to leverage your existing contacts and think about how you can help others in their own job searches. When you do, you will feel tremendous satisfaction at having done good for someone. And you will make it more likely that those persons will later help you in the same way. Good Luck!