This Simple Mistake is Messing Up Your Job Search

One of the easiest ways to make a good first impression during your job search is actually one of the most common mistakes made by candidates, causing them to be written off quickly. Believe it or not, the mistake is not taking the time to read and follow instructions.

We were all taught at an early age to follow directions; an important practice that has probably been reinforced over the years since you first learned how to read instructions. Imagine our surprise when we realized how large the number of job seekers who apply for jobs and then neglect to read and/or follow the instructions either provided in the application itself, or sent in response to the job application is. This means those job seekers aren’t taking the next steps in the application process and missing out on the opportunity to be considered for the position.

The best thing you can do when applying for jobs is to carefully read the full job description to understand the requirements and expectations of the role, and the instructions on how to correctly apply for the role. Not following the instructions on the application reflects poorly on you as a candidate – few companies are willing to hire someone who doesn’t read and follow instructions, or must be asked multiple times to do something.

Once you’ve carefully read the job description and followed the application instructions, keep an eye out for any communications from the hiring team. They will likely send you information and additional instructions on completing the next steps of the application or starting the interview process that you don’t want to miss. They might need more information before they can proceed to the interview process, or are emailing to ask you to call and set up an interview time at your earliest convenience. Not reading or responding appropriately to any of those communications can be frustrating to the potential employer and detrimental to your job search.

Don’t mess up your chance at landing a role you’re interested in simply because you didn’t take the time to read or follow specific instructions. Keep an eye out for communications from a potential employer and be sure to respond accordingly. This is the easiest way to ensure you get a chance at getting an interview, while not taking the time to do so is the fastest way to ensure you won’t.