High school and college may seem like a distant memory, especially if you're an experienced professional who hasn't looked at a textbook in years. But some job seekers are channeling their school-age selves with many of the same consequences. You may not get a trip to the principal's office, but you could take yourself out of the running for the career you want.
From procrastinating to goofing off, following in your teenage footsteps is never a good idea. You may not even realize you are doing it. Here are three mistakes you may have made in school that you should avoid repeating:
Waiting until the last minute to study
The night before a paper was due, there you were, trying to quickly write a few more pages before the sun came up. Or maybe you put off studying for a big test until the period before it was given.
Even though you may have been able to procrastinate when you were in school, don't delay getting a jump on your job search. Consider, for instance, how much time you typically take to get ready for a job interview. If it's little to none, you should stop trying to wing it.
To truly excel, you need to prepare for the interview much like you would an exam. Research the company and the industry to determine how your skills meet the employer's needs. Ask a friend or family member to play the part of the hiring manager in a mock interview so you can practice answering questions you might be asked. Give yourself several days to gather information about the company and conduct several interview role-plays.
Not revising your work
When writing a paper in school, you might have thought one draft was enough. Either your first draft was as close to perfect as you were going to get, or you just didn't give yourself enough time to look over it again.
Taking the same approach today, however, could spell disaster for your resume and cover letter. For one thing, these documents should never be considered "final." That's because the information you highlight will change depending on the jobs you apply for. Use the job ad as your guide, emphasizing your abilities and the areas of your background that most closely match what the company is looking for. This may mean placing more focus on your certifications and "strong presentation skills" for one prospective employer, while playing up your "self-directed" nature and " ability to be effective with minimal supervision" for another.
It's also a good idea to review these pieces several times before submitting them, to ensure they are free of typos. Eighty-four percent of executives we polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening. After you scan your resume and cover letter, have someone you trust review them as well to catch errors you might have overlooked.
Goofing off
Fooling around in class may have been tempting, especially if you were sitting near your friends, but it also was disrespectful to your teacher.
It's unlikely that you'd goof off in a similar fashion during a job interview, but if you aren't giving the hiring manager your full attention, you might as well be writing notes to your friends or doodling on your notepad. Often, job candidates let their attention wander by thinking about the response to a question before the hiring manager has finished asking it. Or their gaze might fall on people passing outside the interviewer's office. Keep your focus firmly on the potential employer throughout the entire meeting. You'll not only demonstrate your professionalism and politeness, but you'll also perform better by retaining more of what the hiring manager has said.
Also be on your best behavior while you are in the lobby waiting to meet the interviewer. Talking on your cell phone, applying makeup, bombarding the receptionist with questions about the company -- these are all distractions that can leave a poor impression. Remember that everyone you meet, including the receptionist, has the potential to influence the final hiring decision.
One school-time strategy that can come in handy during your hunt for employment: asking for help. Chances are you didn't tackle tough papers or tricky exams on your own; you and your friends formed study groups or combined notes. If you've hit a brick wall with your job search, contact members of your network for a helping hand. Whether it's a referral or job lead, feedback on your resume or some much-needed encouragement, the assistance you receive could mean the difference between continued frustration and success.
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