Social Media DON’TS For Job Seekers

In today’s world of technology, it’s easy for potential employers to learn a lot about you without ever having a conversation with you. Most of us have some sort of social media presence, which is often the digital first impression we give off.

A savvy job seeker can utilize their social media accounts to their advantage, but the opposite is also true. The following social media behaviors can prevent you from ever getting a shot at your dream job, so make sure to scout out your profiles!

Don’t bash employers

Social media might feel like the right place to vent about your trials and tribulations, and in some cases, a brief rant might get good attention. But if your profile is especially negative, especially to your employer, potential future employers will get the ick.

You might have legitimate reasons to complain about a previous employer, and there are plenty of bad bosses and organizations out there. But for the same reasons you wouldn’t want to badmouth a previous employer in an interview, you should also avoid bashing them on social media.

Posting negatively about your employer displays a lack of professionalism and disrespect toward workplace confidentiality. A company will think you’d be just as willing to bash them online and discuss their sensitive matters.

“Your social media accounts may be a place to express yourself, but if you’re in the job market, those accounts will be used to evaluate you as a future employee and culture fit.” –Adrianne Bibby, FlexJobs

Don’t overshare

Social media allows you to curate what type of person you want to appear as to your online communities. You not be involved in direct one-on-one conversations in the same way online, but many of the same principles apply. If you’re an oversharer, you’ll certainly rub your audience the wrong way, including potential employers.

If you did a wicked keg stand, that will impress some people in your network but not necessarily your next employer’s HR department. And if you’re constantly lamenting about your ex, it might show a lack of awareness and knowing the time and place for some conversations. Oversharing can be the difference in getting a job or not.

Your profiles are certainly just that—your profiles. But if you’re putting potentially embarrassing content into the digital world, employers have every right to judge you based on that content. That’s why LibGig says to choose which platforms to use privately and which to use publicly. Take advantage of privacy settings and decide what type of content you want each platform to display.

Don’t spam

This one feels pretty obvious, but all spam doesn’t look like “HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA.” Sometimes, spamming is just being a little too eager with connection attempts or being too aggressive in sharing something. It’s easy to get excited and cross the line, which is why it’s so important to be vigilant.

Recruit Military writes not to send potential employers or hiring managers friend requests on sites like Facebook or to follow personal accounts on Instagram on Twitter/X. Unless a profile clearly exists in a professional-facing manner, you’re trying to creep on a stranger’s personal account. And, of course, there’s an irony there because companies might try to do the same to you. But it’s best to keep a professional distance.

Don’t share misinformation or highly controversial posts

If you’re searching for a job, ideally you want to appear as a wise, capable individual. Your resume might sell that, but if you’re spreading questionable information on social media, an employer will think you might not be capable of filtering information or you may have strong biases that could impact your work.

Wiser Brand’s Eugene Koplyk reminds us to always fact-check before sharing something. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and many malicious sites looking to exploit you. Sharing misinformation lowers your chances of being viewed as an expert and shows that you can’t take the time to verify something before sharing.

“Expressing your opinions on debatable topics can give the impression that your advice might be biased. As a result, employers could be reluctant to interview you or offer you a job.” –Job Store Staffing

Don’t neglect spelling and grammar

Finally, make sure that your posts and content on social media are legible. The days of writing in l33tspeak are over, and even meme accounts are rarely dropping “ u r”s anymore. You want to appear coherent.

FlexJob’s Adrianne Bibby says that even if you aren’t applying to a role with a lot of writing or editing, you still need to look professional. An employer may have doubts about your competence if they see consistent errors. Beyond basic grammar, avoid things like speaking in all caps, aggressive exclamation points, or dropping an absurd amount of hashtags.

“The occasional grammar or spelling error isn’t the end of the world, but don’t let it become a pattern.” –Doug MacMillan, Mechanical Business

Wrap up

Your social media accounts may be a place to express yourself, but if you’re in the job market, those accounts will be used to evaluate you as a future employee and culture fit. By avoiding these common social media pitfalls, you’ll be clearly visible as a professional, courteous, self-aware, and competent individual. Be aware of your posting habits and consider how you’ll appear to any hiring managers.

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Why Cover Letters Still Matter

Of all the tools in a job seeker’s arsenal, the cover letter may be one of the most maligned and misunderstood. No one likes writing cover letters. It often seems like that extra effort rarely pays off in landing an interview. And many recruiters state that they dislike or even won’t read cover letters.

But a good cover letter can make all the difference in catching a hiring manager’s attention. A generic, copy-and-pasted cover letter won’t do you much good, but in a crowded job market, a well-written cover letter can be the key to standing out. Today, we’ll cover why you should take the extra time to submit a value-filled cover letter on your next job application.

Managers actually do read them

There is often conflicting data on whether recruiters and hiring managers like cover letters and it seems to boil down more to personal preference than any quantitative factor.

A Resume Lab survey found that 83% of HR professionals believed a cover letter was important, even if not required. However, LinkedIn cited a study that found 63 percent of recruiters find cover letters of low importance, while another found only 18 percent of recruiters thought they were an important complement to an application.

But LinkedIn’s Tomáš Ondrejka believes that this low importance may be because they get poor quality letters thanks to no one enjoying writing them. Regardless of how individual recruiters feel, many positions still require a cover letter. Even if they don’t, seeing that extra effort still gets noticed. And if you do take the time to write a quality letter, you might pleasantly surprise even the most anti-cover letter biased HR reps.

The extra effort allows you to stand out

When everyone dreads writing cover letters, that means many job seekers choose to send generic, copy-and-pasted letters when required and send nothing if not required. Simply by doing above the bare minimum, you can make your application that much better.

Resume.io’s Paul Drury says that a cover letter offers you the chance to tailor your application to the role and speak directly to the hiring manager. Keeping this in mind allows you to demonstrate the value you’d bring to the organization. So not only are you showing extra initiative, but you’re taking advantage of a crucial opportunity to sell yourself for the role.

“A generic cover letter is a missed opportunity. If you want the job, use the cover letter to tell them so – and why they want you above anyone else.” –Aubrie De Clerck, Mac’s List

You can better express interest in the role

The other underrated reason for sending a cover letter is in order to show your excitement about the role. Your resume may show that you have all the skills and success to excel in the role, but a resume can’t express excitement for you.

Coursera says that a cover letter is the perfect opportunity to express genuine enthusiasm for the role. Maybe it’s a dream title or industry. Or perhaps you’re applying for a non-profit role and want to explain why their mission really matters to you. The cover letter is the one spot to organically express that.

Taking the time to make a non-generic cover letter shows not only dedication to the role but also to the company’s mission.

They are a good platform to demonstrate value

If your resume is well-written and highlights your accomplishments, it paints a good picture of what you can do for that organization. But a cover letter allows you to directly correlate those skills and accomplishments to the role. Your resume may offer a blueprint, but the cover letter offers more concrete details.

Mac’s List’s Mac Prichard says to directly connect the dots between your skills and the tenets of the role you’re applying for. This can be especially helpful if how your skills would benefit the organization isn’t readily apparent. You can take it a step further by discussing direct action plans on how you’d use those skills in that role. It also shows that you understand what the organization is looking for.

“A resume provides an overview of you as a candidate, but it doesn’t provide you with enough space to go into detail about certain key parts of your career. This is where the cover letter comes in.” –Andrei Kurtuy, mediabistro

You can better explain any career gaps

We’ve discussed the idea that career gaps and job hopping aren’t the career death sentences they once were. But even though times are changing, it’s still good to get ahead of any doubts and control the narrative of your career journey. This is where a cover letter shines. In your cover letter, you can quickly address any concerns and paint them as advantages.

“A cover letter gives candidates the opportunity to address any potential red flags in their resume, such as employment gaps or career changes. When a candidate proactively explains these issues, it shows their transparency and willingness to provide context, which can positively influence my perception of their application.” –Thomas Codevilla

Wrap up

A well-crafted cover letter can make your resume pop even further. This document works as a support—if you aren’t qualified for the role, the cover letter probably won’t be the difference maker. But you can use the letter to better define why you’re the right fit for the role, and it allows you to tell the story of your career journey. Not every hiring manager likes to read cover letters, and most job seekers hate writing them, but taking the extra time and effort could be the key to landing a new job.

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Coping With Job Search Rejection

In many ways, the internet is a godsend for job seekers. You can use copy and paste or auto-fill to upload your information, you can find jobs anywhere in the world, and you can track your applications. But the digital convenience means there is more competition than ever, and at times, it can seem like a job search is like screaming into a hurricane. More competition leads to more rejection, and that’s never fun.

With the sheer amount of competition out there and inconsistency between job-seeking strategies, rejection is extremely common, especially for entry-level jobs. You may even be ghosted completely by many companies. Rejection is something we all have to live with, but constant rejection can take a toll on your psyche.

“During the job search, you’ll be met with rejection and it’s even worse now. As companies are concerned over what will happen in the future, it’s hard to get noticed at the office, especially as everyone’s fighting to hold onto their jobs or get a better one.” –Jack Kelly, Forbes

If the rejection is getting the best of you, fear not! You can follow these steps to reframe your mindset and resume your search with a rejuvenated spirit and new strategies.

Take time to process

In spite of the frustration, it’s important to remember that others are experiencing the same rejection you are. The pandemic shook up the availability of jobs and was followed by the Great Reshuffling/Resignation, leading to more job seekers than usual.

Remember that, unless your application or resume was relentlessly hostile for some unknown reason, your rejection wasn’t personal. The University of Washington reminds us that your rejection isn’t a reflection of your skills.

“Most successful people have faced disappointment in their lives, and it’s a strength to remember that it’s rarely a reflection on you, your skills, or prior work experience. In fact, there are myriad other factors why the organization might have gone another way. This unfortunate experience may actually be setting you for a better opportunity in the future.” –The University of Washington

Still, the experience of being rejected can be disheartening. Understand how your brain reacts to bad news and adjust accordingly, Indeed states.

“Human brains generally remember challenging situations and painful feelings better than positive ones to help us avoid difficulties in the future. While this evolutionary skill can be useful, it’s often necessary during a job search to remind yourself of the positive aspects of your career and actively focus on those rather than the rejections.“ – Indeed

Be sure to immediately thank whoever sent you your rejection letter, but then don’t be afraid to take your time processing the rejection.

Look for feedback

Once you’ve taken some time to process, start looking for feedback so that you’ll be hardened and more prepared for your next opportunity. Once you’re in a good headspace, reach out to your interviewer, hiring manager, or recruiter and look for feedback on your application or interview. A request for feedback doesn’t have to be lengthy, a quick few sentences in an email should be enough, according to career coach Kyle Elliot.

The Idealist’s Alexis Perrotta wisely advocates keeping your feedback request on topic. The conversation isn’t meant to further sell yourself as a candidate or create a long dialogue. Make sure you are sincere and want the feedback to move forward, not as an excuse to talk to the manager once again. Sincerity makes it much more likely the hiring manager will take time from their schedule to offer their advice.

If you aren’t comfortable reaching out, or you don’t hear a response, ask a friend or colleague to look over your documents. They may be able to provide details you were too close to the situation to have noticed.

Look into new strategies

Your rejection was merely a setback. Having taken time to process the rejection and armed with new knowledge, you can prepare for the next leg of applying.

You can adopt new mental strategies so that each rejection stings less, and you can keep your spirits high. Forbes’ Jack Kelly discusses the idea of creating positive mantras for yourself to remind you of your self-worth. Capital Placement recommends focusing on your strengths.

“By focusing on your strengths and highlighting them in future interviews, you’ll be able to show employers why you’re the best candidate. It can also help you improve your interviews and even help you land your dream role.” –Capital Placement

If the rejections seem to keep piling on, perhaps you need to change your job-seeking approach altogether. CNBC Make It’s Morgan Smith suggests a three-pronged approach of setting job alerts, knowing what you’re looking for and how to define it, and expanding your network. Meanwhile, LinkedIn’s Bob McIntosh offers eight reasons to may not be landing a job and how to fix them.

Wrap up

Rejection hurts, and it’s hard to not take them personally, especially when rejections pile up. It’s important to remember you aren’t the only one in this situation, and you may need to take time to process your thoughts and refocus. Gather feedback if possible so you can tackle your next challenge with more vigor, and don’t be afraid to use new mental or job searching techniques to enhance your search.

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Interview Guide: Setting Up A Mock Job Interview

Top-tier candidates are well aware of their need to research the employer/interviewer and prepare specific answers and questions. However, researching and preparing notes can only get you so far. One of the best methods to increase your readiness level is experience, which can be replicated through an organized mock interview. Rehearsing an upcoming job interview is a great strategy to boost confidence and refine interpersonal skills in a safe, low-risk environment.

What is a mock interview? It does not involve the actual employer but instead operates as a role-playing exercise enlisting the support of a career mentor, a former professor or colleague, or a close friend/family member. 

What are the benefits? Walking through the interview process without real pressure allows the analysis of your strengths and weaknesses when attempting to market yourself effectively. Highlighting your strengths will help you sound more personable and less rehearsed. It also allows you to forge thoughtful responses, improve nonverbal communication, and eliminate ‘filler’ words such as ‘um,’ ‘uh,’ and ‘like.’

Courtesy of the career experts at Indeed, we reveal seven steps to take in preparation for your mock interview and how to make the most of it:

1. Dress appropriately.

Your interview attire is the genuine first impression for the employer, and it has the power to positively or negatively impact your candidacy. Don’t just roll out of bed knowing the interview isn’t for real or is being conducted virtually; the way you dress has the power to impact how you conduct yourself. You’ll want to hear feedback on how you presented yourself, and that includes your attire. Any signs of laziness or disinterest will carry over into your real-life interview in ways you may not realize. 

2. Mimic the interview setting.

Whether online, in-person, or over the phone, make a conscious effort to emulate your interview setting to the best of your ability. Setting the proper scene will allow you to feel more comfortable and attuned to the environment. For example, if your prospective employer already sent you the address to a local coffee shop, utilize the knowledge to your advantage by inviting your mock interviewer to the exact location. Take into consideration the noise volume, physical surroundings, and size of the tables where you will place your resume and other documents. If the employer sent you a Zoom invite, request that your mock interviewer do the same and isolate yourself into a quiet, enclosed area with a quality internet connection.

3. Choose the right interviewer.

Whether it is a close family member or friend, or a career mentor, make sure your choice is someone capable of asking tough questions, detail-centric, and willing to provide honest feedback. Another great option is to tap into your university’s career center or alumni center to check if they offer mock interviews with their faculty. 

4. Bring your resume and other necessary materials.

Be thorough in your document presentation by bringing extra copies of your resume, portfolio, a notepad, and written references. Aim to discover your mock interviewer’s thoughts on your materials and what else your intended industry and position may demand. 

Be sure to review Indeed’s Job Interview Walkthrough [Video] in their new ‘Job Science’ segment here.

5. Take your time answering questions.

In their ‘Job Science’ segment, a spin-off of ESPN’s Sport Science, Indeed aims to review and dissect the interview experience through data analysis. In their mock video, the moderator recognizes the importance of being patient in conversation and not rushing into a response.

Your interviewer wants to hear what makes you unique and what you can bring to the table. If forming an honest answer requires you to briefly pause in thought, aligning your past experiences with future goals, your interviewer will admire your poise.

One excellent method to providing thoughtful answers with real-life examples is through the STAR Approach. These four steps will allow you to walk through all the basic interview questions without rambling on. You can get your best stories out there and take advantage of every opportunity to connect with your interviewer, but leave it up to them to ask you for more details.

  • Situation – Set the story and provide all the necessary details of your example.
  • Task – Describe the responsibility given to you and, if applicable, how it’s tied to an overarching goal
  • Action – Thoroughly explain what steps you took and WHY.
  • Results – Reveal how the outcome was for the greater good of the company, not just yourself.

6. Research the company.

Any interviewer will notice right away if you failed to conduct fundamental research into their website. Asking overly basic questions about their core values, mission statement, top competitors, or target audience will reveal a lack of preparation and interest. Asking questions you can quickly find online will be a ‘red flag’ to employers. Give respect to your interviewer and make the most of their time and yours by doing your homework.

From their blog to various social platforms, there is no reason not to view every page on their website. Additionally, visiting the company’s Glassdoor or Indeed company pages will highlight their strengths and weaknesses, as told by their employees. These links will offer a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look into their culture, highlight any awards, and provide key insight into their brand reputation. 

7. Record it.

Your mock interview will provide great experience to help you work through any nerves and constructive feedback to craft your responses in real-time. However, adding a video review will allow you to assess your body language and finetune your answers even further. Pay close attention to your posture, eye contact, voice tone/speed, and any fidgeting you may want to extract. If you notice any wordiness, overuse of ‘filler words,’ or a lack of confidence, you may want to work through your responses and set up another mock interview. 

Wrap Up

Assess your interview skills and ensure your level of preparedness following TopResume’s list of questions here.

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Resume Must-Haves For 2021

If you fail to ‘adapt with the times’ as a job-seeker, your resume will fall short. Making the proper adjustments starts with a willingness to learn and acclimate to new trends. Similar to how there are expectations for you to tailor your resume’s content to the job description you are applying for, there are expectations for the integral structure of your resume as well. The more months that have elapsed since you’ve last reopened your job search, the more alterations you will discover to be necessary.

Furthermore, between spiked unemployment rates and fluctuating employer needs, COVID-19’s impact makes a strong resume vital now more than ever. With the help of the career experts at The Ladders and CNBC Make It, we reveal four resume expectations all hiring managers will have amidst the coronavirus pandemic:

Remote Work Skills

Due to the pandemic, employees were forced into an abrupt change of environment, pushing many of you outside your comfort zone. As a result, there are likely new telecommunication skills and other resourceful skills you’ve acquired. Don’t gloss over this experience with generalized statements such as “I am a quick learner” or “I am adaptable.” Instead, share your experience working remotely and how you’ve been able to manage all your responsibilities or even become more productive. Provide details on how your company utilized Zoom, Slack, or another communication platform, and how you stayed heavily involved in meetings. 

How You’ve Adjusted to COVID-19 Within Your Role

Employers are looking for employees who have demonstrated an ability to adjust through unprecedented challenges and altering expectations. Reveal how you have proven yourself to be adaptable. Outside of the change in scenery, this may include budget adjustments, new technology, new responsibilities, or communicating with co-workers you haven’t worked with before. 

Showcase examples or critical metrics that highlight your abilities in critical thinking, organization, dedication, and other vital strengths you possess. But remember, this conversation is your chance to interview your potential employer as well. If you desire open communication with management, resources available to delimit workplace stress and aid mental health, or strong precautions put in place to limit the spread of the virus for all employees, now is the time to present these concerns.

Describing Previous Role and Employers

Unless your previous employment was with a nationally known company such as Google, Microsoft, or Amazon, it’s pivotal that you provide a brief company description. When you reflect on your previous role’s responsibilities, can you identify any similarities between your duties and the present job description? Incorporate a few of the keywords used by the employer as you highlight your relevant work experience. When emphasizing this experience in a previous role, Yang also recommends listing the company size as it will speak to the workload you took on and resources you had available.

*PRO TIP / BONUS TIP* – Include the job title for which you are applying at the top of your resume. A bold, relevant title can immediately grab the attention of the hiring manager. Career coach Peter Yang recommends you place this title directly beneath your name and contact information.

A Link to Your LinkedIn Profile

An often-neglected step in your application process is including the link to your LinkedIn profile page. Providing the link will offer quick access to the hiring manager when they download your application and garner a proper first impression. Presenting this digital first-impression promptly is critical, considering how much of the interview process is conducted virtually. A ResumeGo study found that candidates with a “comprehensive” LinkedIn profile have a 71% higher chance of getting an interview than those who don’t. Just remember to optimize all the features LinkedIn has to offer, rather than simply repeating your resume. Those who optimized LinkedIn’s features for a comprehensive profile page saw a 6% increase in callbacks over those who did not.

Wrap Up

Incorporating these four elements will maximize your shot at landing the interview and, ultimately, a new job. For more insights into constructing a winning resume in 2021 and real examples, check out Peter Yang’s full article. Yang discusses the importance of including an experience summary, which should take precedent over the age-old objective statement.

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