Janice Worthington MA, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP Send Janice a Question

More Job Search Killers & Innocent Mistakes You Never Considered  Great News! The job market seems to be opening up! March saw more hires in my practice than January or February, and our résumé responses are way up! Nevertheless there is still a certain percentage of candidates who just can’t seem to grab an offer. If that résumé gets you interviews and your interviewing skills seem polished, make sure you are not committing the following strategic errors. You Transmitted a Negative Message - A candidate I know really wanted to work for an aviation firm. He crashed and burned at the end of a fantastic interview when he became tentative about working third shift. He never got a call back and doesn’t even remember his lack of enthusiasm until, after three phone calls, the employer actually owned-up as to why someone else was hired. If you want the offer, don’t blink if the terms don’t please you. You may be able to negotiate terms more to your liking after you’ve impressed your next boss. Besides the temporary displeasures of strange hours may just be worth your gaining great experience, opportunity for advancement or specialized training. Nothing is easier to change than wages and hours unless you’ve expressed negativity about either. Remember you can never back-peddle. You Lost Your Search Momentum - The interviews went well! The employer even said you were compatible with the "image" of the company. He took the time to point out that your management experience would be especially valuable. You both shook hands and out the door you glided on the cloud of assumption. Knowing they would be making a decision this week you took the rest of last week off and waited for an offer that never came. The big mistake? Losing your job search momentum! Always continue your hunt until you know you have a job! Employers will tell you what you want to hear to avoid your cry of "discrimination!" They will also lead you to believe you have the job (next week) while they continue to look for someone better or cheaper! Remember a real job offer includes a starting date so don’t stop looking until you have a date! You Didn’t Believe You Needed To Follow-up - Another interview well done! In fact you held such a memorable interview you didn’t feel the need to reinforce your position with an additional appearance. No thank you note and no phone call...and the candidate with inferior credentials when compared to yours who performed these rituals starts your job Monday! Employers tend to forget each precious moment together with you and you can’t assume an attitude of - "They know where they can find me," or "I don’t want to be a pest." While important to learn the concept of "business cool,"” this is no time for arrogance. Don’t count on email to transmit your message of follow-up. The delete key is just too convenient. You Went For The Money Far Too Soon - Candidates make all sorts of mistakes in this area, so if you remember a few simple rules you may not fall into the greed trap. Never include your compensation requirements in a résumé or cover letter; never ask what the job pays and never be the first to state a figure. Do your homework and know what a job pays before you arrive at the interview. Also know what you would be willing to accept to gain valuable experience. What a job pays is such a volatile area of the interview process that most candidates either ruin the opportunity to fairly negotiate compensation or lose the entire job offer! Tune in next month when our entire article will be devoted to negotiating salary!

Janice Worthington is President of Worthington Career Services, Ohio’s oldest resume preparation firm and one of the oldest in the U.S. With 14 years of corporate recruiting experience, Worthington Career Services opened its doors focused on applicant empowerment in 1973. She is known for advising some of America’s highest-ranking industry leaders. Please send Janice your questions at janice@worthingtonresumes.com . For more information on Janice, please visit her website at http://www.worthingtonresumes.com/!