How to Avoid Making a Bad Impression When Applying for a Job

I am a contributing writer for eHow.com and have found useful information that relates to college. This author was kind enough to share his articles to my blog site. His name is Neil O'Donnell, a career and an academic advisor for students and alumni at a liberal arts college. Additionally, he is an author of fantasy-genre manuscripts. Here's what he wrote:

After examining hundreds of applications, I have encountered countless resumes and cover letters that destroyed any chance of an applicant getting an interview. What are the things that will negatively impact your chances of getting an interview? The list presented here details major missteps applicants have made in my experience.

Step 1:
To Whom It May Concern. This phrase should be avoided at all costs. Admittedly, there are some instances where you will not have a choice. In most cases, however, a contact person will be listed in the job ad. If no contact person is listed, call and ask the company if there is a specific person you can address your cover letter to. It’s worth the time to do this.

Step 2:
Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Miss. A mistake here could land your resume in the shredder. Frankly, it annoys me when I receive a cover letter where “Ms.” precedes my name. My first name, in no derivative, is feminine. Consequently, when I encounter such a gaffe, I discard the application and move on to the next. If the name of the contact person makes it difficult to discern the individual’s sex, simply write “Dear Director Smith” or “Dear John Smith.”

Step 3:
Proofread. One or two typos is one thing. More than two typos, and your application is one step closer to the shredder. Have a friend read over your resume or cover letter for grammatical and spelling errors.

Step 4:
No Crazy Fonts or Paper. I don’t have the best eyesight in the world. Consequently, any resume printed with hard to read fonts or on overly-bright paper will hurt my eyes. So what? Such resumes won’t be thoroughly read, limiting the effectiveness of the application and the applicant’s chances of getting an interview. Use white or ivory colored paper with Times Roman 12-point font, and, please, no glitter.

Step 5:
Submit On time. Sending in a resume late makes for a bad impression. If you learn of the opening AFTER the deadline to submit has passed, contact the company and ask if resumes will still be accepted. Such a move will put your application in a better light.

Step 6:
Don’t Continually Ask About When Decisions Will Be Made. Constantly checking on the status of your application will annoy the company/hiring manager. It’s one thing to call and inquire as to whether your resume was received. Calling each day to check to see if a decision was made is just a bad move.