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Biggest mistakes entry-level candidates make
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Today’s hiring managers have many complaints about Gen Y. But, what are they and how can you avoid them?
1. Vague career objective and no sense of direction. “I run a marketing department and expect entry-level candidates to have a proven interest in marketing,” said Jeff Grill, vice president of marketing at Mimeo.com. “This includes evidence of coursework in college, and in this digitally driven environment, a blog or Facebook page. Only 50 percent of candidates know what they want, giving those 50 percent a competitive advantage.”
How to avoid: “Know the company you are interviewing with and the specific position you aspire to. If you don’t know, and would like to explore different types of positions, be equally clear. At least you have a point of view. Show that you have done your research and now need real world experience to aide your decision process,” said Grill.
2. Lacking understanding of the business. “Many candidates have only a superficial understanding of our business when they show up, having glanced at our Web site 30 minutes before the interview,” said Greg Linnemanstons, president of Weidert Group, Inc. “I’ve ended interviews 10 minutes into them on this subject alone, because preparation is everything in our business.”
How to avoid: “The most important advice for candidates is to think like a Boy Scout - be prepared in all ways that you can, follow the Boy Scout Law before, during, and after the interview. Be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent - and dress the part,” said Linnemanstons.
3. Not taking enough time or initiative. “Usually, when I receive a cover letter addressed to ‘To Whom It May Concern’ or, worse, ‘Dear HR Dept.,’ I usually delete them unread. I figure if the person does not take the initiative to call and ask for the name of the person they should direct their résumé to, then they are not a person I would hire,” Buck Banks, vice president of NewmanPR.
How to avoid: “Find out who to address the cover letter to, put your name in your résumé file name and don't create a ‘formulaic’ résumé and cover letter. Be genuine,” said Banks.
4. Wrongly assuming your degree alone qualifies you. “Your GPA is critical, as are the clubs, sports and service organizations you participated in,” said Susan Shanklin, senior recruiter at Red Ventures.
How to avoid: “From the time you enter college, you should be thinking about your future career and how to gain experiences that will help you stand out among other job seekers,” said Shanklin. “Learn early on what career paths are available to graduates in your chosen major, and plan your summer internships and on-campus activities accordingly. Don’t just join clubs, sports teams and community service groups - lead them. At the same time, don’t neglect your studies. The single best predictor of your future behavior is your GPA and how much dedication you showed in the classroom.”
5. Lacking professionalism. “I once had a candidate who informed me that he found out about our company during trivia night at a bar,” said Shanklin.
How to avoid: “Avoid basic mistakes like typos on resumes, including photos on résumés, cover letters addressed to the wrong company and posting incriminating photos on Facebook and MySpace that show you binge-drinking or using illegal drugs. And even if the company you’re applying to has a casual dress code, like mine, you should wear a suit to your interview,” said Shanklin.
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