The Candidate Advantage: Job Search Advice

Make sure your reference checks "check out"

There are way too many stories about candidates who blow off the importance of reference checks and end up losing the offer. It makes no sense. It's like stopping just before you reach the end zone to tie your shoe and getting tackled.

References are the critical last few yards of scoring a touchdown. If you assume it's a done deal and don't pay attention here, you'll lose out. Don't treat this as a rubber stamp and mere administrative detail. Take it seriously and pay attention to how this gets conducted on your behalf.

Little White Lies

Every company performs some level of due diligence on the people they hire. Whether the HR person does this themselves or hires a 3rd party to conduct a formal background check, count on everything you say to be double checked.

Know that any informational discrepancy could cost you the job, even if it involves something very minor or ends up being a completely innocent misunderstanding. So always apply the "background check" factor to every aspect of your job search (writing your resume, answering questions during the interview, filling out a job application, etc..) to avoid this problem.

How to handle "taking a step back"

What a kick in the pants it is to learn that you weren't hired because they think you have too much experience. This happens more often than you think since titles and job duties can vary drastically. What one company calls a "Manager of Software Development" could be synonymous with "Lead Developer" in another or even a "Director of Software" someplace else. This creates the illusion of being overqualified.

Learn how to avoid being turned down for the wrong reasons.

Filling the holes on your resume

Gaps that don't get addressed on the resume will turn into "black holes" if you are not careful. If you have any extended periods of time when you were unemployed, control the interpretation of this with honest explanations.

Understand that large gaps on your resume are going to raise concerns if you have been out of work for any more than 3 months or even longer up to a year. You never want to put these reasons on the resume itself. But you do want to have an explanation ready if you are called in for an interview. Most importantly, you'll want to bring this explanation up whether you are asked about it or not during the interview. If you don't, employers will assume you were having a hard time finding a job...not the impression you want to make.

Pigeon hole-ing yourself with your ambition

Don't be too specific about your career objectives or you may shoot yourself in the foot. Most managers want to hire people that are somewhat open minded to their future and will be slightly weary of those who have a dead set, concrete picture of what their career path should be.

So always go with a "less is more" approach to how you communicate your professional goals since you don't know what type of answer the manager will want to hear. Your basic rule of thumb should be this..."If you don't know if your stated objective will help your candidacy for the job, don't say it!"

Hopping: Great for rabbits, bad for candidates

If you've changed jobs too much in a short period of time, you'll need to control the perception of this. If not, employers will assume the worst - - that you are a dreaded “job hopper.”

Cover Letters: Friend or Foe?

Don't think - "can't hurt, might help". It's more like -"can hurt, won't help." These have always been customary to send, but they're actually pretty useless within modern day job search.

Be Flexible!!!

Every job has its share of imperfections and challenges. Employers all look for people with a flexible attitude towards their work. So, make sure you're always promoting how "limber" you are.

Desperate Measures!

Be selective in your search. Wallpapering the job market with your resume will not only make you look desperate, but you'll also have to deal with the headache of mismatched solicitations and referral confusion that come with this.

In the blink of an eye

Your resume gets all but a few seconds consideration upon first glance. So, do everything you can to build a breif, clear and compelling snapshot of "you" by following these resume tips.