Daily Career Connection

Quality Over Quantity http://inovahire.com/blog/job-search/silly-job-seeker-mistakes

The job seekers that think they know what to avoid doing during a job interview are usually the job seekers that make silly mistakes! Your everyday habits carry with you during a job interview, and because they are habits, most job seekers don’t even know they are doing something! Before your next job interview, make sure you don’t make any of the following silly mistakes:

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #1: Too Much Perfume or Cologne

This is my favorite! Have you ever been in a room, or an elevator, where the person next to you is suffocating you with their perfume? Or have you ever smelt a perfume that smells worst than your dog’s breathe? I don’t know about you, but when that happens to me, I try to get as far away from that person as possible! So, if the employer is being suffocated by your perfume or gets a migraine from being around you, I wouldn’t count on being in the interview for very long!

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #2: Run in Your Tights

You decided to wear a professional skirt, and like you should, wore tights. Then, after sitting down you go to cross your legs and realize you have a run going from your knee down to your heel. Check your tights before you interview! This shows sloppiness!

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #3: Unzipped Fly

This happens to many people, so don’t worry, you’re not alone. But, think of it this way. When something is out of place and it bugs you, what do you do? Stare! So instead of focusing on you, the employer is focusing on how to inform you that your fly is down without making either of you feel awkward.

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #4: Open-Toe Shoes

This one you want to avoid! Open-toe shoes are meant to have a sexual appeal not a professional one!

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #5: First Name Basis

Just because you call your current boss by their first name, doesn’t mean you can call the person interviewing you by theirs! Further, addressing someone by his or her last name shows a certain level of respect.

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #6: Chipped Nail Polish

By not paying attention to your appearance, how can an employer expect you to pay attention to your job? They can’t!

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #7: Bed Head

Guys, left over hair gel is a big no-no and girls, snarly hair is a no-no! If you don’t plan on showering, at least brush!

Silly Job Seeker Mistake #8: Uninformed References

This is one of my favorites. If you are going to put someone down as a reference, make sure they know. If a potential employer calls this individual and they get a response such as, “ummm, I don’t know that person,” it won’t look too good!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

The job interview was a success and now it comes down to the final process before the employer decides on hiring you; the employment reference check. It is important to be prepared since strong job references can sometimes be a deciding factor in getting a job offer or being passed over for another shortlisted candidate. Remember, the employer is making a big decision in hiring you, and wants to be sure you are who you say you are.

Here are some keys to providing successful job references:

Forget the letter: Employers have no interest in reading an informal reference letter written in the past. Letters do not have credibility, since anyone can write them for you. Employers want to be able to contact and communicate with a real person who can speak about your strengths and weakness and fit for the job you are seeking via the phone.

Leave references off your resume: References should be on a separate sheet and not on your resume. Never give references to employers until they are requested. Be sure to keep a list of at least 3-5 updated references with you when attending the job interview so that you can be prepared to present them to the employer if requested. Adding the line “References available upon request” at the bottom of your resume is a good way to let potential employers know that you have a ready list of references.
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When you’re looking for a job, it’s important to be honest with employers about your criminal background. The fact that you’ve had a previous run in with the law won’t necessarily prevent you from becoming gainfully employed. However, if you lie about your criminal past on your employment application or during an interview, you can keep yourself from getting hired. Even if you get the job and start work, if something shows up in a criminal check that you were dishonest about, you can find yourself out of work very quickly.

Why not run an online background check on yourself when you’re ready to start job hunting? When you take a look at what is currently showing on your record, you’ll be able to verify accuracy and take steps to request corrections if necessary. The last thing you want to have to deal with is missing out on a job opportunity because of misinformation on your record, or because you forget to mention something that may have occurred several years ago.

It’s a good idea to find out what is likely to show up in your criminal background check  before you start looking for a job. You can bet that the vast majority of employers are going to run a thorough report before offering you a job. You can be better prepared to answer questions about your past, and deal with the potential consequences, if you have an accurate perception of what employers are likely to see when they check out your past.
 

Thanks to www.LifeTips.com for this terrific tips about job references.

Call your former supervisors and ask permission before you list them as references on your job applications. By letting them know that they may receive a call about you, you are giving them time to remember your strengths. You’ll also increase the chances that they will quickly return a missed call from your interviewer.