| This article addresses the issue of online job | | | | preferable to lean on the safe side. You probably have |
| applications specifically, as it seems that the bad habits | | | | heard that when attending a job interview, better dress |
| that come with browsing the Web have permeated to | | | | conservatively (except if you are an artist, or working |
| the job application process. It is no secret that our | | | | in the creative field) than push your luck. At the end of |
| attention span on the Web is very short. For some | | | | the day, you will be hired for your competence. You |
| reason, this impatience has built itself into how we | | | | don't want your outfit to be a distraction. Same thing |
| respond to job postings. | | | | for your job application. You don't want anything to |
| Following are 3 bad habits to avoid at all costs: | | | | distract the employer when reviewing your job |
| 1) Applying to positions we are not qualified for. The | | | | application. Being too informal could have a nagging |
| Web has streamlined how we communicate with | | | | effect on some recruiters and might jeopardize your |
| each other. We often see postings on the Web we | | | | candidacy. |
| "may" be interested in and quickly apply to them | | | | 3) Failure to recognize competition. The internet has |
| without giving it more thought. That is the path to failure | | | | leveled the playing field by allowing more job seekers |
| as the whole process is built on wishful thinking. Most | | | | to gain access to more job postings. Jobs posted |
| people who have this habit will then have a tendency | | | | online are accessible to anybody who has an internet |
| to send a short email, along with a generic resume (or | | | | connection. With this increased exposure comes |
| no resume at all!). Recruiters can easily identify these | | | | increased competition. Yet, many job seekers fail to |
| types of applicants and will not waste their time | | | | fully acknowledge this reality. When posting an opening |
| reviewing these applications. For these applicants the | | | | online, an employer can be bombarded with as many |
| issue really is: If you are not interested in the position, | | | | as thousands of applications. Knowing that, you should |
| why bother applying and, if you are indeed interested in | | | | ask yourself what you have done to stand out. |
| the position, why don't you put more effort into it? | | | | There are no shortcuts to finding a job. Time is of the |
| 2) Lack of professionalism when applying online. It is | | | | essence. Choose which jobs are worth applying to |
| certainly true that the Web has broken a lot of | | | | carefully and spend as much time as needed to put all |
| frontiers, including that between people. We are much | | | | the odds on your side. You only need one job, so |
| more informal on the Web. Some people push this | | | | focus on tailoring each of your applications. It's not an |
| attitude too far however to the point of using the | | | | odds game. Applying to many openings won't |
| wrong "tone" when applying for a job. Keep in mind | | | | necessarily increase your odds if each of your |
| that a certain degree of formalism should remain. It's | | | | applications don't make the cut. |