Northwest Staffing Blog

The Northwest job market is more cutthroat than ever, which can make the task of finding a good position seem overwhelming. It can be done, but don’t sabotage your efforts by making these common job search mistakes:

Mistake #1: Ignoring the basics.
Be sure to include your name, address, phone, email, work history and education on your resume. These are the basics and every potential employer is expecting them.

Mistake #2: Using an inappropriate email address.
As an employment agency serving the Northwest, you’d be surprised by the number of resumes we see with emails like pookybear102@aol.com. Don’t make this mistake. Instead, create a simple and professional email address that includes your first and last name.

Mistake #3: Sounding unprofessional in your voicemail.
If you’re sending out resumes and know that employers will be calling you, make sure that your voicemail greeting reflects the professional that you are. “What up?” doesn’t cut it.

Mistake #4: Not proofreading your resume.
Proofread your resume every time you send it out. Don’t simply rely on spell check to do the job for you. Why? Because your computer’s spell check program will ignore mistakes like using “untie” instead of “unite.”

Mistake #5: Posting unflattering photos online.
Nowadays, many prospective employers will receive your resume and then Google you. If that’s the case, then you better hope there’s nothing racy or inappropriate posted about you, like those drunken pictures from your bachelor party. Either set your profiles on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to private, or better yet, use this rule of thumb – if you don’t want an employer to see it, don’t post it.

Mistake #6: Using just one tool, like big name job search engines.
Big name job websites are a great way to search for a new position; however, you shouldn’t depend 100% on them. Many smaller companies don’t advertise on these sites, so you could be missing out on some rewarding opportunities. It’s also important to take other steps to finding a job, like attending a job fair, networking with others, and working with a staffing agency like Northwest Staffing.

Mistake #7: Sending your resume to every company and recruiter under the sun.
You’re setting yourself up for failure if you do this. Instead, take a targeted approach to submitting your resume. Only submit your resume for those positions that you truly qualify for and be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter for each position.

Mistake #8: Not following up.
Once you’ve had an interview, send a thank you note or an email to the person that interviewed you. Even if the interview didn’t go so well, or you realized you are unqualified for the position, you always want to make a good impression. After all, you never know what could happen in the future. A position you are qualified for could open up at the company or the person that interviewed you may refer your resume to a colleague at another company.

Whether you’re just beginning your job search, or you’ve been at it for a while, the employment recruiters at Northwest Staffing can help. We work with some of the leading companies in Seattle and Spokane and can give you access to a variety of exciting opportunities. Best of all, our job search service is free for candidates.

Contact Northwest Staffing today to learn more or search our current job openings now.