5 Big mistakes to avoid when applying for a job

We get thousands of CVs in from people applying for jobs in Ireland and Australia. Set yourself up for success by avoiding these 5 big mistakes when you apply for work, from Conor Shanagher, Recruitment Consultant for Australia.

1. Don’t apply for a job you’re not qualified for

Job descriptions in ads will state the skills and experience that’s required for the role. These are usually the minimum requirements, although some might make the distinction between “required” and “desirable”. If you have most of what the job description requires, it’s worth giving an application a shot. But if you’re missing key education qualification (degree or equivalent) or you don’t have the experience in the required field or specialty, you’re wasting your time… it’s no good being a plumber and applying for a marketing job. You’d be snapped up for plumbing jobs though.

2. Don’t submit an out-of-date CV

It may seem obvious, and yet we find resumes from candidates that are missing vital information, especially when it comes to employment history. Your CV is your advert, it’s the first a recruiter or your prospective employer will see of you. And you will be judged by it. It can happen easily, when you think about it, when your last job was a few years back. You see a job you fancy and bag off the CV that’s been sitting in your Documents folder since Noah built the ark! Ok, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration… since Noah Kahan released his first single (2017)!

3. Don’t arrive at an interview unprepared

When a recruitment agency is doing the hiring on behalf of a client, the process works as follows. If you seem suitable for the role, the recruiter will do a first-round screening call or interview. He/she wants the basics of your experience and to see if you’ll be a good fit for the client. Have an elevator pitch prepared so you can provide a summary of who you are and what your experience offers. If you pass through to the next round, you will likely be told the name of the company you’re applying to work for. Prepare for that interview by researching the company online (start with the website, then move onto their social media, particularly the LinkedIn profile to get a sense of the work they do and the company values). Formulate some ideas on how your particular skill set can benefit the company. Employers love it if you’ve made an effort to get to know the business; it shows you’re interested and proactive.

4. Don’t forget to test your equipment for online interviews

The interview process has been transformed by Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Each company has a preference for a particular platform. First off, when you get the calendar invite, check what platform it’s on and download it to your computer. Then to a camera, sound and microphone test to check all are working and your Internet connection will accommodate video calls. You should also check your lighting will be sufficient to show your face (light should be on your face, not behind you creating a silhouette). The best is to do a video call with a friend or family member. Then test your background to make sure you won’t be showing anything you don’t want seen in a business video call – there have been some howlers, which you can search online, but have a look here!

5. Don’t be late for your interview

It goes without saying, you’d think, and yet candidates do break the cardinal rule of timeliness. Whether in person or online, arriving late for an interview is not acceptable and tells your recruiter and prospective employer that you’re unreliable and lackadaisical. Unless there’s been a catastrophe on a par with a death in the family, if you don’t pitch up for an interview you won’t get another chance and will likely jeopardise any chances you have of getting through to interviews for other roles advertised by the recruitment agency.

Next steps for job success

Now that you’re 100 percent on board, it’s time to apply for your dream job. Talk to our team today to book a consultation.

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