Learning From Your Mistakes

As important as the PROFESSIONAL CV is, so too are many other aspects. You can have the best and most expensive CV but still not get the job. The reason may be found in one of these common mistakes:

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you applied for a position that you are not qualified for? Each advert should give the reader a minimum set of requirements.
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If you answer yes and you have not met these minimum requirements, a well written CV will not help you get either the interview or the job. You must have the minimum requirements - if you don't your CV will not be considered.

ASK YOURSELF:
Does your salary requirement match the advertised salary, or can the interviewer clearly see that you are more or less qualified for an advertised position? What does your CV say about your skills?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
You must realize that it works both ways. If you are over qualified, the interviewer knows you are applying for a position lower than your normal salary. They can assume that the likelihood of you staying in the position is very low, so it's likely that you won't be granted an interview. And vice-versa: the interviewer will see if you are under qualified, and you will probably not be granted an interview.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you sent your CV to the same person more than once, always applying for different positions, even if the areas, fields and salaries are all different?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If you have, this tells the interviewer that you have no idea what it is you want to do with your career. This is likely to count against you.

ASK YOURSELF:
After sending out your CV have you seen missed calls on your cell phone? Have you checked your email inbox often enough?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If this is the case, then you could have missed out on the opportunity to present yourself at an interview. Thousands of people are applying for the same position. If the interviewer can't get hold of you then the chances are they will phone the next person on their 'to interview' list. If you apply for a position, make sure you don't miss any calls and make sure your battery is fully charged at all times.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever sent out an outdated CV purely because you did not have the time to update the document?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
This type of application tells an interviewer all kinds of things about you and none of them are good. You have one chance to impress and if you waste it, then, well, you've lost it. If you don't have the time to update your CV don't send it out to agents - this is very unprofessional.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever taken the time to look at the size of your CV? In other words, how big are the attachments?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If your CV is larger than 200kb or, in the case of a graphic application larger than 1MB, it's likely that your CV will not make it to the interviewer. If it does, the large file will annoy them so much that it will be deleted or sent to the regret folder without being read. Agents get thousands of emails and job applications each month. If your CV takes too long to download and/or open, understandably they'll simply discard your application with a letter of regret.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever rescheduled an interview or tried to?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
Ever wonder why agents aren't keen on rescheduling interviews? The answer is easy. You have wasted their time, taking time away from somebody who would have made the interview. And for agents, time is money. There is always an exception to the rule though - sometimes rescheduling is unavoidable. In those cases the agents will usually accommodate you. But wanting to reschedule twice will almost always count against you!

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever arrived late for an interview?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If you have arrived late for an interview you need to realize that you're starting the interview from a minus. You have already lost serious credibility and will need to work so much harder than the other candidate (who might be less qualified than you). Try to avoid this situation.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever arrived at an interview and your first words were: "I could not/did not bring you the information you requested because..."
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
You are asked to bring information for a reason. If you feel it is not important to do as the interviewer requested then you are doing yourself a huge injustice. Think about it. If you can't do something as simple as bring a copy of your CV when you're asked to, what message does it give about your ability to take instruction and complete tasks? The greatest tip you will ever receive is this: get all your documentation certified and make plenty of copies even before you start the application process.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm only going to the agent so why worry about what I am wearing?", and then arrived in denims and a T-shirt?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
Big mistake. Agents act on behalf of clients and first impressions always count. The only time it will not count against you is if every candidate applying for the same position also arrives in a denim and T-shirt. If the others arrive dressed appropriately and you are more casual, then chances are you have lost out on the opportunity.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever sworn in an interview?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
Another huge mistake. Some candidates think that because interviewers come across casual and approachable that they are talking to a buddy. Agents aren't your buddies and an interview is no place for swearing. No matter how bad a situation you find yourself in - swearing in an interview is never acceptable.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever sent out a CV without telling the agent/employer what position you are applying for?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
Agents and employers receive hundreds/thousands of CVs every day. If you don't make it clear which position you‘re applying for, your application will probably be overlooked. The agent/employer doesn't have the time to find out what position you're applying for. Cover letters and advert response notes are VITAL for any and all applications.

ASK YOURSELF:
Have you ever phoned an agent/employer when an advertisement clearly states that only e-mail/fax applications will be accepted?
FEEDBACK from an interviewer:
If you feel it is necessary to phone an agent/employer when they have clearly asked you not to, it creates an incredibly bad first impression. No matter how professional your CV and cover letter is, if you can't follow the instruction clearly given, then in most cases this will count against you.