Glassdoor Blog » Heather Huhman

5 Job Search Do’s And Don’ts

Heather Huhman — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:30 +0000

With such a wide landscape of job search resources out there, it can be a struggle to navigate mixed messages. Some job search strategies become muddled and the core advice is lost. So how can you determine which strategies won’t actually help you land you the job?

Here are five job search tips to unlearn:

1. Don’t: Only apply for the perfect job.

Do: Apply to the perfect company with the goal of working your way up. Even if you don’t start in a role you love 100 percent, a good company has opportunities for their top talent to excel. Growing businesses will have lots of opportunities for advancement.

About half of external hires are unsuccessful, but 75 percent of internal hires are successful. Because of this, managers would rather promote people from within than find someone new who is less familiar with the company. Get a position in your ideal company, work hard, and prove yourself.

2. Don’t: Think networking is only for professionals.

Do: Somewhere along the way, using your parents as resources became frowned upon by your peers. This notion is ridiculous. Networking is about using all of your resources, not just those you’ve met professionally. It’s perfectly logical to utilize your parents or your friends’ parents to land a job. A good word on your behalf is extremely valuable in setting you apart from other candidates.

3. Don’t: Highlight all of your skills.

Do: In a cover letter or interview, focus on solving the company’s problems specifically instead of highlighting all of your skills. An interview is less about you and more about filling the employer’s needs. Sure, you’ll be asked about your skills and experiences, but emphasize how these things will help you help the company. Go beyond this in your interview by asking what problems they are currently facing and what they’d like to accomplish with the open position. Analyze their answers and explain how you will excel in these responsibilities.

4. Don’t: Tell the employer everything you’ve ever done.

Do: An employer doesn’t need to hear all of your accomplishments to decide you’re the best fit for the job. Determine which of your experiences are most impressive or applicable to the specific job and expand on those. Use the job description to select your best ideas. Tell good stories about a few of these things instead of trying to touch on all of them.

5. Don’t: Brag about yourself in the interview.

Do: All of your accomplishments (ideally) are listed on your resume. In the interview, use this time to showcase your motivation and teamwork. Without giving away all of the credit, talk about the way your team worked together to accomplish something. Employers want someone who will work well on their team, not someone who will try to take all of the credit. Always put your accomplishments into the context of the employer’s needs.

Sometimes, the most traditional pieces of advice are the most beneficial to your career. It’s important to remember: a job opening is about the employer, not about you. Focus your job search efforts on how your experiences show your ability to benefit a company.

What other job interview tips are not as great as they sound?

5 Job Search Do’s And Don’ts is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

4 Reasons Recruiters Don’t Call Back

Heather Huhman — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:54 +0000

Job seekers are very familiar with the time commitment and stress of searching for a new job. When performing your job search, you can spend hours upon hours perfecting your resume and cover letter, applying for jobs, and waiting to hear feedback from recruiters. However, after you’ve applied for 10 or 15 jobs and haven’t heard from a single company, it’s easy to become discouraged about your search.

This frustrating cycle can be recognized as the recruiting black hole. This term describes the millions of applications that go seemingly unnoticed by recruiters. Many job seekers spend countless hours applying for jobs online, yet don’t see the results they anticipate.

If you’re wondering why recruiters haven’t contacted you about your resume, here are some reasons why your resume could have disappeared into the black hole of recruiting:

1. You aren’t qualified for the position. Ask yourself: Did I honestly meet the requirements of the job posting? If the position you applied for required you to have at least five years of experience and you only have two, many recruiters will ignore your resume. Job postings provide qualifications to help recruiters weed out candidates who lack experience; therefore, if your resume doesn’t fulfill the requirements, it likely won’t make it to their desk.

2. You overlooked the right fit. According to a recent study, many job seekers only spend one minute to determine if a job opening is the right fit and can only determine a good fit 38 percent of the time. This means roughly six out of 10 job openings viewed by job seekers are a bad fit! In addition, job seekers will also overlook two out of four opportunities that could be a good fit. What does this mean for your job search? Job seekers aren’t applying for the jobs they are best suited for, which contributes greatly to why they don’t hear back from recruiters.

3. Your resume isn’t optimized with keywords. Job seekers must use keywords in their resume in order for it to stand out to recruiters and applicant tracking systems. When you apply to jobs online, it is safe to assume your resume will run through an applicant tracking system. If you don’t include keywords to describe your skills and experience, your resume could be overlooked and prevent you from receiving an interview. To ensure your resume is noticed, use keywords from the job posting that adequately and accurately describe your experience.

4. Bad timing. Timing is everything when applying for jobs. Once you apply for a position, make sure you are constantly checking the posting for updates or changes to the requirements. Many recruiters have a small window of time when they look for talented candidates; therefore, you need to make sure your resume and cover letter are up-to-date and you follow-up with recruiters about your application.

If you feel like you are spiraling downward in your job search, there is still time to turn it around! Make sure when you apply for jobs you are spending time to thoroughly read the posting, paying attention to specific requirements, and doing your best to tailor your resume to the position. By using optimized keywords in your resume, paying attention to the details of the job posting, and applying for the right position, you will be able to make sure your resume falls into the hands of recruiters.

4 Reasons Recruiters Don’t Call Back is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

7 Job Search Fears To Conquer This Summer

Heather Huhman — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:16 +0000

It’s finally summer. Summer is the time to relax and let some of your worries wash away. Use this philosophy to get rid of some of the fears that come with your job search.

Here are seven job search fears to conquer this summer:

1. Networking. Many job seekers are intimidated by the concept of networking. Introducing yourself to strangers and trying to impress them with your background can be a challenge. It’s important to take it one person at a time. Talk about the things you know best. Be confident in your background and the rest will come naturally. Don’t look at every person you meet as a future employer. Instead, look at them as someone from whom you might learn something new.

2. Preparing. Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, social media, research, and interviews. Remembering everything involved in your job search can be a lot. These things don’t have to be such a burden. Learn what you can about each aspect of the job search through advice sites like Glassdoor. Prepare each item individually and ask someone (or multiple people) to look over it all. Find a way to stay organized and the fear will go away.

3. Interviewing. Job seekers fear interviews because interviews are the determining factor in whether you land the job. It’s important to look at the interview as an opportunity to shine, rather than a reason to be afraid. Remember to show your passion for the job and the organization. Prove you’ve done your research and you’re perfect for the role. Demonstrate why you are the best person to help the employer.

4. Relocation. If you’ve lived or worked somewhere for a really long time, a location change can become frightening. But don’t fear relocation. Look at it as an opportunity. If you’re willing to commute or move somewhere new, you’ll have more options in the job search. Take the time to research factors like travel expenses and living options. Ask people in your network or your interviewer for advice about the new city. Be open to change.

5. Age. Whether you think you’re too old or too young, forget it. Age should not be one of your job search fears. Older job seekers are afraid they’re not tech-savvy enough to compete with millennials. Younger job seekers are afraid they don’t have enough experience. You can work around both of these problems. Show the employer that you are a quick learner and you can eliminate any concern about age.

6. Being Underqualified. If you fear you are underqualified, take a step back. Compare your experience to the job description. Do your skills match the qualifications? Great! Don’t let a number of years of experience on the description slow you down. You might be perfect for the position based on your skills. If you think you can handle the responsibilities of the job, apply. Explain in your cover letter and interview why you’re the perfect person for the role. If you are truly underqualified for a position, you shouldn’t apply for it anyway.

7. Being Overqualified. Occasionally, you might have to apply to a job for which you’re overqualified. Whether it’s because of the economy or some other reason, do not fear settling. If you get the job, you can keep looking for something that better suits your qualifications. In the meantime, use this as an opportunity to improve your skills.

What other job search fears do you want to conquer this summer?

7 Job Search Fears To Conquer This Summer is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Networking: 5 Bad Habits To Avoid

Heather Huhman — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:59 +0000

Throughout your career, everyone tells you how important networking can be. It’s on virtually every list of advice written by professionals in every industry. Yes, networking is important, but many of you are probably doing it wrong.

Here are five bad habits to avoid when networking:

1. You’re Too Self-centered. Networking is about forming mutually beneficial relationships. If you’re too focused on your own needs instead of the other person’s, you’re doing it wrong. When you meet someone, ask them questions. It’s fine to answer questions they have about you, but don’t dwell on yourself.

Additionally, stop asking for so many favors. If you’re too needy, the other person is going to stop helping you out. Instead, offer to do something for them. You’ll see the benefits of this in a stronger relationship.

2. You’re Not Providing Value. When you introduce yourself, be concise. Briefly explain what you do and why you’re special. Show the other person why you are worthy of their time. Set yourself apart by getting to know them and having a valuable conversation. Provide them with your expertise or interesting news.

3. You’re Talking to Too Many People. Networking events are great. So are networking sites like LinkedIn. But in both situations, it’s important to not go overboard. You don’t have to meet everyone, and you don’t have to form relationships with everyone you meet. Take your time and build stronger relationships with fewer people. One good relationship is better than nine superficial ones.

4. You’re Not Following Up. Meeting someone once isn’t enough to form a beneficial relationship. After your conversation, go home and send the person a personalized thank you note. Email is fine, but you get extra points for something handwritten. Thank them for their time and for something specific about your conversation. This is a good opportunity to make your name stick in their mind.

5. You’re Relying Too Much on the Internet. Social networking is great, but it is not the only way you should be connecting with people. The best relationships are built face-to-face. Invite someone out to coffee. Pick up the phone and have a conversation. Figure out what fits into your busy schedule. Just don’t forget to maintain relationships after you’ve added each other on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Networking: 5 Bad Habits To Avoid is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

5 Ways To Uncover Hidden Job Openings

Heather Huhman — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:19:13 +0000

Job seekers are struggling to find positions because so many job openings are never even advertised online. The “hidden job market” is very real, and it’s causing frustration among job seekers. You can find these jobs by determining what a company needs.

Here are five ways to uncover those hidden job openings:

1. Target the Company. Most companies now have internal job boards where they post all job openings. Determine a list of companies you want to work for, find their job boards, and apply directly. This is the most direct way to find job openings in a specific company. A great way to stay on top of these job openings is to add their job board to your RSS reader. When new jobs are posted, you’ll know right away.

2. Talk to Your Personal Network. This is the most talked about method, but it would be wrong not to mention it. Use the connections in your professional network. Get a personal reference from someone who knows about a job opportunity at their company. Your professional network can also help you find someone who knows someone, who knows someone else, who knows about a job opening.

3. Build Your Social Network. Find relevant people at your favorite companies to connect with on LinkedIn. Join the same industry groups and network there, or ask friends to introduce you. Once you’re connected, show them your value by referring them to interesting articles and writing blog posts about the industry. Eventually when you see a job opening, ask them about it.

4. Be Bold. Reach out to managers at a company you’re interested in. Find out who’s in charge of the department and introduce yourself. Even if there aren’t any jobs available at the moment, try to set up an informational interview. Let them know you want to learn more about what their team does. This might not lead to a job right away, but they might think of you for the next job opening.

5. Create a New Job. Stand out. Once you’ve connected with someone in the company, provide a solution to a problem they didn’t even know they had. This might lead to the creation of new jobs. Since you came up with the idea, they might take you on board to set your plan into action. They’ll skip the job opening altogether because you filled their need.

5 Ways To Uncover Hidden Job Openings is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

How To Improve Your Job Search And Avoid Burnout

Heather Huhman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:59:32 +0000

Many job seekers can agree it’s easy to get burned out from their job search. Although job sites are powerful tools for finding jobs and shouldn’t be ignored, job seekers need to be looking beyond the Internet for employment opportunities.

If you’re a job seeker who is discouraged about finding employment, here are four ways to tell you’re spending too much time on job sites and what you can do to improve your job search:

1. You Haven’t Had an Interview. Have you been applying to jobs for months and still haven’t landed an interview? During the job search, it can be easy to get caught up in applying to every posting. Job seekers may think their resume is applicable for the position; however, it may not meet the employer’s requirements.

Job seekers who use job sites to apply to every available position should think about a new strategy. Make sure you are applying to jobs you are qualified for, using the employer’s application guidelines, and following up with each application. Once you do this, you will be able to narrow down your search and focus on the positions you want.

2. You Haven’t Made Time to Network. Job seekers don’t realize how many jobs are available offline when they’re only searching job sites. Many people discover job openings because they have a connection with a company or organization. Whether it’s a friend or relative, many people find jobs because of the people they know.

Job seekers should also be involved with professional organizations. These are especially useful for people new to their industry. Instead of spending five hours each day searching the Internet for job postings, join a professional organization, build relationships, and ask professionals to meet for coffee. Networking opens the door to many opportunities and is the best way to connect with people in your field.

Keep in mind that although networking may not land you interviews with employers right away, it’s important to build these relationships in order to get your foot in the door. The biggest advantage of networking is being able to know people who can provide advice about finding a job that wasn’t posted online.

3. You’re Only Applying Online. If you’re only considering openings posted on job boards, then you’re holding yourself back from finding more opportunities. Instead of searching board after board, make a list of companies you would like to work for and start researching them. Once you have your list, contact the employer to see if you can send them your resume.

Most employers, even if they aren’t hiring, will hold your resume on file for six months to a year. If you decide to send your resume to different companies, be sure to inform the recruiter or hiring manager about your resume submission. By doing this, the next time you follow up with the company, your name will be fresh in their mind.

4. You Haven’t Built a Personal Brand. This is huge when it comes to the online job search. If you want to be discovered online, you must make a presence for yourself. Every job seeker needs to be on LinkedIn regardless of their field. If you you’re searching for jobs in public relations, marketing, or graphic design, you should also have an online portfolio.

Job seekers whose expertise is in fields such as engineering or accounting can still create an online portfolio. Many employers expect to receive a digital version of your resume and won’t accept hard copies. There are many platforms that allow job seekers to create a simple website where they can display a resume and samples of work. Job seekers who have an online presence will build their name in the virtual job search world and can be discovered by more employers.

No matter how frustrating the job search can be, there are many tools aside from job sites for job seekers to explore. If you’re still unsuccessful with finding employment, try to be creative. Start by thinking of different ways you can connect with professionals in your field, create your online portfolio, and how you can send your resume to companies who you’d like to work for. Remember: it’s not about how many hours you spend looking for jobs that counts; it’s about being proactive during your search.

How To Improve Your Job Search And Avoid Burnout is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

The Ultimate Guide: Informational Interviews

Heather Huhman — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:00:30 +0000

An informational interview is exactly what it sounds like: It is a way to learn information about a career path, an industry, a specific organization or even a specific job. An informational interview is not a job interview. Instead, it is an opportunity to talk to a person who has a job you are curious about. It can help you find answers to the questions you have not had the opportunity to ask.

Everyone always stresses the importance of networking. An informational interview is your chance to develop a new relationship. You might not get a job out of it, but they might give you contacts at other companies and useful advice. You might even hit it off so well that you can turn to this person as a mentor in the future.Remember: In an informational interview, you should build a relationship first and ask for favors second.

Before the Interview

Once you’ve decided on a person you’d like to interview, starting by trying to find personal connections. Reintroduce yourself to someone you’ve met. If you have a mutual contact, ask for an introduction. If you can’t find someone to make the connection, do it yourself by sending them an article you think might be of interest. Tell them you want to learn more about their job or organization.

The next step is research. This applies to both the person you plan to meet with and the organization. Just like with a job interview, if you want to be impressive you need to prove you’ve done your homework. Use what you learn to prepare a long list of interview questions about their job, organization, or industry.

During the Interview

Dress professionally and carry yourself like any other job interview. The difference here is you will ask a lot more questions. Remember: Do not ask for a job. They know you want one, but don’t talk about your experience unless they ask.

This is your chance to ask as many interview questions as you want. Ask about the organization’s culture, employees, and supervisors to see if you would be a good fit. Ask about how they got their current role. Ask about the expectations for entry-level positions. Maybe even ask for a quick tour. You can learn a lot during an informational interview, so be sure to take notes.

After the Interview

When the interview is wrapping up, thank them and ask how to return the favor. You want to establish a mutually beneficial relationship. They took the time out of their busy day to speak with you. Show that you want to reciprocate their kindness.

Just as with all interviews, send a thank you note to the interviewer. Because there is no rush like after a job interview, this is the perfect opportunity to write the note by hand. Be specific in your note.

Maintain a relationship with your new contact. Connect on social media if you haven’t already. If you use advice they gave or meet with someone they refer you to, send another email to keep them in the loop. They’ll appreciate learning how they helped you.

The Ultimate Guide: Informational Interviews is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Crunched For Time: 8 Time-Saving Tips For Your Job Search

Heather Huhman — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:19:22 +0000

When you’re looking for a new job, it can feel like a race to get hired. It doesn’t matter if you are unemployed or you just need a change. The more time you spend looking, the more frustrating it can become.

It’s important to take a step back and remember your job hunt does not have to take up all of your time. There are ways stay organized and make your job hunt less time-consuming.

Whether you have another job or are just a busy person, these tips will help busy job seekers:

1. Make a Schedule. Organization is key for an efficient job search. Make a schedule and assign yourself specific job search tasks for specific times during the day. When you have specific times set aside for each task, you can make sure it all gets done.

2. Stop Procrastinating. It happens to all of us, but it is obvious procrastination slows us down. Find a place to conduct your job search that is free of distractions. When you finish the tasks you assigned yourself, you can go back to your television or Facebook or whatever you usually do to waste time.

3. Get Organized. Conducting a job search involves a lot of files and emails that can become overwhelming. Start the organization process by designating a folder on your desktop for all of your job search documents. Add sub-folders for various versions of your resume and cover letters. Next, organize your inbox in a similar fashion. Use filters so that you see the most important emails first. Sort emails into folders so that you don’t lose track of anything.

4. Be Very Prepared. There are a few things you should already have on hand before you start applying for jobs. Make sure your voicemail message and email address are professional.

Have templates of your resume and cover letter already written. Add new experiences to your resume as soon as they happen so it’s ready when you begin the job hunt. When you apply for a new position, alter the descriptions to match the requirements each specific role (without stretching the truth, of course!).

Create a list of references to have on hand when they’re requested. Make sure you have names, job titles, companies, phone numbers, and email addresses. Bring a copy of this list to all interviews so that you are ready if asked.

5. Use Job Search Engines. Search both major and niche job boards to find the biggest variety of job listings in one place. You don’t have to rule out large search sites, but regional and industry-driven sites can be more efficient. Many of these sites also have features that alert you of new job listings by email. Take advantage of these alerts to find out about jobs as soon as they are posted.

6. Tap Your Network. You already have a network of people who can help your job hunt. Tell all of these people that you are looking for a new job. According to a recent study, more than 30 percent of job seekers credit referrals from professional or personal contacts for their current jobs. It’s perfectly fine to ask for help.

7. Use Social Media. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are making the job hunt even easier. Follow specific companies on these platforms to hear about job openings quickly. If you’re in a position to advertise the fact that you’re seeking a job, make it known. According to that same survey, one in six job seekers credit social media with their current job.

8. Don’t Give Up. Searching for a job can be frustrating. If you let the frustration get to you, you can make mistakes. Keep your attitude positive and don’t lose sight of your organization. Everyone faces rejection sometimes, but don’t let it stop you from finding even better opportunities.

Crunched For Time: 8 Time-Saving Tips For Your Job Search is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

What To Avoid When You Don’t Get The Job

Heather Huhman — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:00:33 +0000

Opening your email inbox to find a rejection letter is every job seeker’s nightmare. This can be especially frustrating after feeling like you nailed your interview. Many job seekers don’t even get to receive their rejection in the form of a concise email; it often comes in the form of silence.

Of all job search frustrations, getting rejected from a position certainly tops the list. Learning to handle rejection during your job search is an art — without the proper approach, job seekers are likely to be faced with a variety of consequences.

Learn from these terrible ways of handling job search rejection to overcome disappointment and find success in your hunt for employment:

1. Forget Perspective. One sure-fire way to mishandle a rejection is to overlook the big picture. Getting turned down from a few positions during your job search is inevitable. Rather than getting hung up on the glaring details of the situation, look to the overall perspective of your job search, career and life. This is just one small bump in the road.

2. Let Your Emotions Take Over. With rejection comes a wide variety of internalized emotions. It’s important not to take this rejection personally. While you may be angry with yourself for not performing better in the interview or at the potential employer for not seeing how great you truly are, try your best to remain level. Allowing your emotions to consume you will only make the job search harder as you put yourself under unnecessary stress.

3. Forget To Ask For Feedback. Simply ignoring a rejection letter and not looking back might feel right at the time, but you could be missing a valuable opportunity for feedback. Instead of wondering where you went wrong, consider reaching out to the employer and asking for feedback. While they might not always be able to give you details, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Be sure your request is respectful and optimistic.

4. Refuse To Improve. Rejection during your job search can act as a driving force for improvement. Instead of cursing the employer for their inability to recognize your match for the position, break down the hiring process and see if there’s room for growth. The job search is often a learning process.

5. Don’t Stay Connected. The hiring manager may not have chosen you for the position, but you should still keep in touch with them. Focus on maintaining a relationship with this person by connecting with them on LinkedIn, shooting them an email in regard to relevant information, and even applying to another position when it arises. Never let a connection with a hiring manager go to waste.

6. Avoid Sharing Your Experience. Utilizing your support system will help ease many of the challenges you experience during the job search. Sharing your rejection with others might feel embarrassing at first, but speaking about your experiences and emotions will get it off your chest. Everyone has experienced some form of rejection, and this will allow you to receive a variety of advice and guidance.

7. Give Up. Rejection pushes many individuals to give up on the things they’re seeking to accomplish. Mishandling rejection during your job search may lead you to giving up on your search for employment — even if it’s only temporarily. Briefly quitting your job search might force you to miss out on a variety of opportunities. Keep applying for positions, customizing your resume, and working your network.

Successfully handling rejection can have a positive effect on your job search. Your ability to grow from the experience, remain optimistic, and drive connections might put you at the top of the list for the next opening.

What To Avoid When You Don’t Get The Job is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

10 Reasons Your Cover Letter Sucks

Heather Huhman — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:55:21 +0000

A strong cover letter could be your ticket to moving a step further in getting a new job. This relatively concise piece of information has the ability to place you steps ahead of other candidates, highlight your achievements, and showcase your personality – but no one ever said creating one would be an easy task. Writing a knockout cover letter might even be one of the most challenging parts of the hiring process.

It’s hard to nail down just one challenge that accompanies writing cover letters. Unfortunately, many poor cover letters have allowed outstanding candidates to be passed over by hiring managers. While writing your cover letter might be a scary task, doing it successfully is essential to getting hired.

Don’t let your next cover letter be a flop; consider these 10 mistakes before you hit send:

1. It’s Riddled with Errors. There are many things the errors on your cover letter will express to a hiring manager: lack of attention to detail, carelessness, and even disinterest in the position. Your cover letter deserves to be triple checked for poor grammar, punctuation, and overall structure. Pass it along to your mentor or friends to ensure you haven’t missed anything.

2. It Lacks Focus. What are you attempting to convey to the hiring manager? Writing about your professional experiences can be challenging, and it often causes job seekers to create unfocused cover letters. To write a more direct cover letter, consider creating a layout encompassing your main points.

3. It’s Too Long. Respect the busy schedule of a hiring manager by utilizing brevity in every cover letter you create. Write short and succinct paragraphs to allow for a more easily read document. Sift through unnecessary details and only present the most beneficial information for the job at hand.

4. It Doesn’t Set You Apart. Your cover letter is your chance to leave your mark on a hiring manager. Rather than reiterating what they can read on your resume, use this as an opportunity to share why you’re better for the job than any other candidate. Use a strong, purposeful statement of what you can bring to the position, and how you can positively benefit the company as a whole.

5. It Fails to Highlight Your Skills. While you certainly don’t need to highlight every single job you’ve had during your career, your cover letter should talk about your skills and experiences most beneficial to the company. Your cover letter isn’t for sharing your personal life or specific needs.

6. It’s Missing Information. Job listings often require certain information from applicants. By failing to share the necessary information in your cover letter, you’re essentially removing yourself from the hiring process. Why would a hiring manager choose you over a candidate who went above and beyond to provide the correct details? Double check the qualifications needed for the position prior to sending it.

7. Your Tone is Off. While a cover letter is a professional document, it also gives your potential employer insight into your personality. Don’t rub a hiring manager the wrong way with long-winded bragging. Be sure to leave out arrogance, unprofessional information, and keep the company’s culture in mind.

8. It’s Generic. Customization is key in every part of the hiring process. Submitting a generic cover letter presents you as an average candidate. Your cover letter is an opportunity to stand out and truly speak to a hiring manager – don’t settle for generic.

9. You’re Not Qualified. No matter how you twist and stretch your skills and experiences, you might not be the right candidate for the position. Applying to a position you’re under qualified for is an all-too-common part of the job search. Keep in mind this not only wastes the time of the hiring manager, it also uses up the time and energy you could be spending on applying to position you’re more accurately matched.

10. You Don’t Have One. Just because a cover letter wasn’t mentioned in the job listing, doesn’t mean it’s OK to skip it – they’re never optional. Your cover letter is an important opportunity to convey points you can’t in your resume. Omitting this document leaves you at a fault.

Creating a strong cover letter may be a challenging, but it’s worth the time and energy. Leave a positive first impression on hiring managers by going out of your way to create a concise, focused, and customized document.

10 Reasons Your Cover Letter Sucks is a post from: Glassdoor Blog