Avoid These 5 (Obvious) Mistakes in Your Job Application

Today’s market is a competitive one – especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike 2019, when there were 6.6 million job openings, 2020 has seen several job losses.

There are predictions that 42% of the jobs lost during the pandemic will be permanent. The CBO predicted that by the second quarter of this year, the unemployment rate would be close to 14%. However, it has already surpassed the predicted rate and has reached nearly 25%, which is a record high since The Great Depression.

Such figures can be quite frightening to you as a job seeker. However, it is actually an indication that you should be more careful about your job application in the coming days to increase your chances of getting called for the interview and avoid these 5 mistakes in every possible way:

Spelling and grammar errors in the application
Nothing can be more detrimental to your image as a potential candidate than spelling errors in your application. It shouts ‘careless’ to all the reviewers, and you may even lose your chance to apply for a second time. Hence, make sure you proofread the application properly before submitting it, and check if you have all the spellings right. Incorrect spelling, no matter where it is, turns out to be an unforgivable mistake in many cases, especially in a competitive market. You can always use the free tools on the internet to check the spellings after reviewing the application manually.

Grammatically incorrect sentences are also frowned upon by the recruiters in most cases. While all job roles may not require impeccable grammar skills, you should at least have the basic sense of giving out the right meaning in your sentences. Failing this can cause you to lose a golden chance.

A lot of buzzwords
You may talk in a colloquial language with your peers, but when it comes to business cover letters and job applications, using formal language is the norm. The overuse of buzzwords in the application often gives out an impression that the candidate isn’t aware of what s/he wants to say. A couple of buzzwords is okay, but avoid going beyond that and try to keep your application as clear and concise as possible to ensure maximum readability. Take your time to fill out that application or compose the cover letter before submitting it. You can also ask someone to take a good look at it and point out issues, if any.

Focus on responsibilities without the mention accomplishments
Anyone can be given any set of responsibilities in his/her position, but it’s only the accomplishments that prove whether that person was successful in carrying them out. And that’s what most recruiters seek in a job application. They will look for your accomplishments instead of your responsibilities in the previous positions that you have served, so don’t forget to focus on the same, while creating your application. Also, don’t stretch your objective one-liner too long, as it may raise a red flag. These apart, mentioning too many skills may also land your application in the trash because it’s outdated and quite unbelievable if you can’t show an accomplishment for each.

Not attaching proper documents
Another common mistake that most job seekers make is forgetting to attach the right documents to the application mail, which may be referred to by the recruiters as evidence of your accomplishments. You should also be careful about not mixing the requirements of one company with that of others, especially when you are applying for multiple jobs at the same time. That can be quite embarrassing, besides ending all your chances of receiving the interview call.

Lying on the application
This is one red flag that not only reduces your chances of employment to zero but also gives you a bad reputation in the industry. You should never lie on your job application, no matter how desperate you are in getting that job. Apply for the position you’re qualified for and have experience in, and make sure you have supporting documents. If you lie to get a job, you’ll be caught in the face-to-face round, and that, my friend, will be a big disappointment for the recruiters, and a huge embarrassment for you. So, be as truthful and honest as you can.

Wrapping it up
Applying for the right job can be quite tricky in the current situation. One of the effective ways to increase your employability chances is by creating a compelling profile on job portals and submitting a compelling application that the hiring managers won’t be able to ignore. Avoid committing the aforementioned mistakes, and you’ll increase your chances of getting that interview call by leaps and bounds.

We wish you all the best!