Is Your Job Application Error-Free Most Likely No!

Is Your Job Application Error-Free Most Likely No! Is Your Job Application Error-Free Most Likely No! You would consider yourself a fairly conscientious job seeker. You try to pay attention to the finer details of the job applications you send out to potential employers. But try as you might, there’s a fairly good chance that your job application isn’t error-free. Here are some of the most common mistakes found on job applications- and how to  make your job application error-free. The Most Common Mistakes Found on Job Applications: Misspelling Your Own Name It seems absolutely inconceivable, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to misspell your own name. Think about it: you type your name all the time (and oftentimes without thinking) so it makes sense that you’re bound to lose a few letters or switch them up along the way. But misspelling your own name is a sure sign to a potential employer that your job application is sloppy, so make sure that your name is spelled correctly, every time you use it on your resume and cover letter. This tip is an easy way to keep your job application error-free and looking professional. Misspelling the Company’s Name You could have sworn that the company you were sending your job application to was X Company, Inc. Turns out, it was XZ Company, LLC. A hiring manager might take offense to the fact that you didn’t take the time to use the company’s name correctly- and pitch your job application into the trash. So check the company’s website for the official spelling of the company’s complete name. Take the time to keep your job application error-free, it may mean the difference between the employer actually reading it, or it landing in the trash. Incorrectly Addressing the Cover Letter Sometimes, job descriptions don’t give detailed contact information. In cases like that, a customary “To whom it may concern” is sufficient. However, if a contact name is listed in the job description, and you still send your job application addressed to “To whom it may concern,” there’s a good chance that you’ll offend the hiring manager or prospective boss reading it. Pay particular attention to the details on the job listing, including contact info, to ensure that you pay respect to the person reading it by using their name. Bad grammar skills. Of course, you know the various usages of “their,” “there,” and “they’re,” but if you’re filling out a job application quickly, there’s a chance that you might slip and use the wrong word. Thing is, bad grammar skills can cost you the job, because it reflects poorly on your grammar skills and your ability to proofread your job application. Even if you’ve read over your cover letter a bazillion times, take a 15-minute break (particularly if you’re applying for a job that you really, really want) and then sit back down and review your job application for any potential grammatical errors before clicking send. Lying on Your Resume No doubt about it, lying on your resume is very, very bad. The chances of getting caught are fairly high, since it’s easier than ever for a prospective boss to go online and verify your previous employers or other aspects of your job application. And once you’re caught in a lie, there’s no way to get out of it. You’ll look like an untrustworthy job candidate, and a potential boss might not want to call you in for a job interview, much less take the chance of hiring you. So if your skills section is a little bare, try sprucing it up by taking some classes or certification courses while you job search (it can help beat the boredom of applying for positions all day long!). And if you’re trying to hide a resume gap, consider switching up the format to a more functional resume as opposed to a chronological one. Unfortunately, there are many ways that you can goof up on your resume and cover letter. But by taking the time to go over each part of it, you can make your job application error-free- every time. Readers, what have been some of your bigger job application errors? Let us know in the comments below!