Blog Post: Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot in Job Search

It happened again today.  Someone called me and left a number which was totally unintelligible.  I have no way of getting back to her.  And she is probably wondering why I’m not giving her the courtesy of a return call.  This is one more instance of someone “shooting themselves in the foot” in trying to contact someone.  Sometimes it is an inconvenience.  Others it is the loss of a job opportunity that you cannot afford to lose in today’s turbulent times.  Here are a few things that people consistently do that are job-search disaster, and how to prevent them.

1).  Garbled phone numbers.  I can’t emphasize enough the importance of giving good phone numbers when you call someone, especially if you are calling from and/or to a cell phone.  There is a right way and a wrong way of giving a phone number.  The wrong way is rushing through it and not enunciating clearly, and only give it once.  The correct way is this: “Again, this is John Heckers, and I’m at 7..2..0..5..8..1..4..3..0..1.  Again that is 7..2..0..5..8..1..4..3..0..1.”  I also will say at the beginning of my call, “Hi (person’s name).  This is John Heckers, returning your call.  I’m at 7..2..0..5..8..1..4..3..0..1.”  Then I go on to leave my message with the numbers twice, again, at the end.  Obviously, don’t tell them you’re John Heckers.

2).  Bad emails or filters on your email.  An employer is not going to jump through your anti-spam hoops to contact you.  He or she will simply go on to the next candidate.  If you are, for example, with Earthlink or other ISPs that make unknown mailers fill out a form, get rid of it!  Also be aware that AOL does not “play nice” with Comcast or Gmail.  The best thing is to have [yourname]@[yourname.com]  This can be accomplished through Gmail.  If you have a website, it is possible you can do this through your host.  But if you can’t, use a Comcast or Gmail address.  Their spam filters are pretty good, but they usually deliver real mail, which AOL and many others do not.  (When I had AOL it would put my wife into the bulk mail folder.  Not cool.)  Their “security,” like so many other things which promise “safety,” go way too far in preventing you from getting important mail — like from an employer.  Of course, make sure that you have an actual email address that actually works.

3).  Your résumé on a website.  Folks, if you have a résumé on a website, take it down now!  You’re simply begging for HR to screen you out.  Your résumé should only be given to people who are actually interested in speaking with you, or if you are applying to a position through a job board. A résumé can also be given if there is no way to speak to someone first before giving it.  But treat résumés like $10 bills, rather than fliers.  Don’t give them out indiscriminately, and don’t put them on a website.

4).  NOT putting a résumé on a job board where employers are searching.  When I said “a website” above, I meant your website, not that of a job board.  I won’t even look at a candidate who hasn’t done me the courtesy of posting a résumé with good contact information.  The employer must be able to get in contact with you easily and quickly, and have a good idea of what you can do, or they will not call you.

5).  Plastering your résumé.  Be very discreet with job boards, however.  I recommend that you choose one or two rather than plastering your résumé on every job board.  Many are indiscreet.  Jobing.com is very safe and is very picky about their employers, and one I recommend.  There are only a couple of additional ones I like for executives (write me and ask me, as this varies from title to title), in addition to Jobing.  But plastering your résumé on every job board is a mistake.  It shows that you are desperate and will eventually lower your salary ability.

6).  Home phones.  I’ve said this many times in this blog, but I’ll say it again.  Don’t give your home phone number unless you are the only person who lives there or you want to commit career suicide.  Give only your cell phone with a professional message on it, and check it religiously and frequently for messages (cell phones are notoriously unreliable about telling you when someone has called, or even if you have a new message).  If you don’t have a cell, get one.  If you give a home number you risk not getting a message or, horrors, your teenager answering the phone.  This lost one of my clients a job.

But even on your home phone, have a professional sounding message.  And a clue for those of you with young children — your child is only cute to you and the grandparents.  Having a toddler leave the message on your answering service is as stupid as giving your toddler paint to play with in your living room.  Even if you don’t list a phone, it is able to be obtained, and an employer might try you there.  Drill everyone in the importance of you getting messages and in correct phone answering etiquette.  Threaten teenagers with complete loss of car privileges, phone privileges or texting privilieges.  It works.  Trust me.  I know.

7). Not returning calls.  I know I’ve said this in half my columns.  But it bears repeating again and again.  Return calls.  Not doing so is rude, and stupid.  Return them within 24 hours (during the business week) if at all possible.

There are many other highly unintelligent things I’ve seen job-seekers do.  These are a few.  Avoid them.  But the biggest thing that people do that costs them offers is not using the common sense they were born with.  Think ahead about the consequences of your actions or inaction, and try very hard to do those things which will lead to a job.  If you need help, get a coach.  But, in any event, use your head, give the impression that you are professional and business-like and that you actually want to be employed.

John Heckers, MA, CPC, BCPC, is an executive transition coach and an executive career coach in Cherry Creek, Colorado .  He welcomes you calls at 720.581.4301, or your emails at jheckers@heckersdevgroup.com.  www.heckersdevgroup.com.  Read his blogs at http://employmentskills.blogspot.com, http://executiveexpert.blogspot.com and http://ceoskillscorner.blogspot.com.