In the past two years, I have reviewed approximately five thousand job applications, which averages to about seven per day. The unfortunate truth is that a significant number of these applications are subpar. Not in a literal sense, but in terms of the methods employed by applicants to sabotage their chances of landing a seemingly straightforward job. My cleaning agency has seen it all!
Our job requirements were not overly demanding. We needed applicants who could perform housework, had a car and a valid driver's license, and could read, write, and speak English. A resume was also required, but it didn't need to be filled with an impressive cleaning-related career history - any verifiable work history was acceptable.
The application process was also straightforward. Applicants would call us, we would discuss the job requirements and confirm their qualifications, ask them to provide copies of their resume and references, and then schedule an interview within 3 to 6 days. The interview would last about 40 minutes, with us doing most of the talking. Within a day or two, we would start assigning them cleaning jobs. Simple, right?
Unfortunately, many applicants saw it differently.
Despite our job advertisements clearly stating the requirement for a driver's license, many applicants who made the initial phone call didn't have one. Some didn't have a car, or if they did, it wasn't theirs, or it was undergoing extensive repairs.
Tip for Job Seekers #1: If a job advertisement specifies a requirement that you do not meet, don't apply for that job, even if you think you have an alternative solution.
Another common mistake during the initial phone call was not allowing the employer to explain the job and application process.
Tip for Job Seekers #2: Let the employer talk. Do not interrupt. Taking over a conversation and putting your potential boss on the back foot is not going to make a good impression.
Approximately 25% of applicants made it through the initial phone call and were scheduled for an in-person interview. However, a significant number of these applicants did not show up at the appointed time and were never heard from again.
Tip for Job Seekers #3: Make sure you know exactly where the interview is being held. If you don't know, do a practice run the day before.
Some applicants would arrive 20 - 40 minutes late for no apparent reason.
Tip for Job Seekers #4: Don't be late for an interview. No matter how well you perform in the interview, the main thing the employer will remember the next day is that you were late, and therefore probably unreliable.
We also encountered "serial-applicants" who would apply for the same job multiple times over an extended period.
Tip for Job Seekers #5: If you apply for a job and don't get it, don't apply for the same job later on. They don't want you.
Some applicants would arrive for the interview with one or more relatives expecting to also participate in the interview.
Tip for Job Seekers #6: If you are not brave enough to face an interview by yourself, employers will not respect you. The worst thing to do is bring your mother.
Applicants with religious or moral objections to any aspect of a normal job interview process should disclose this beforehand.
Tip for Job Seekers #7: If you have religious or moral objections to any aspect of a normal job interview process, tell the employer on the phone beforehand. Don't just spring it on them when you arrive.
Some applicants would claim to have certain qualifications or documentation during the phone call, but fail to produce them during the interview.
Tip for Job Seekers #8: Don't pretend to have qualifications that you don't actually have.
A resume filled with numerous short-term jobs can be a red flag for employers.
Tip for Job Seekers #9: Don't proudly announce in your resume that you can't hold a job. Don't fake references.
Some applicants who successfully make it through the interview process still find ways to sabotage their chances. They accept their first cleaning assignment, confirm with the client, but then simply do not show up.
Final Tip for Job Seekers: When someone offers you a job - take it.
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