Job application mistakes range from grammar and spelling errors to irrelevant and incorrect information. They encompass all the nuances in between and beyond, including job application form mistakes and arriving at an interview unprepared.
Avoiding these can help you increase your chances of leaving a good impression on recruiters and ultimately landing a job. So without further ado, let’s review some common and not-so-common job application errors so that you can learn how to steer clear of them.
Key Takeaways
- Job application mistakes encompass lexical and factual mistakes on a resume and behavioral mistakes at an interview.
- Some common job application mistakes include not following the instructions and not tailoring your application to the position.
- To avoid job application mistakes, you need to be meticulous when creating a resume, filling out the application form, and preparing for the interview.
- If you make a mistake on a job application, it’s best to act promptly by acknowledging the mistake and taking the necessary steps to fix it.
19+ Most Common Job Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Let’s explore the most common job application mistakes and how to avoid them.
#1. Misspelling & Grammatical Errors
Lexical (misspelling and grammatical) errors are among the most common job application mistakes that can jeopardize interview chances. These often include typos, which are easy to make and miss in the writing or editing process, so look out for them.
Speaking of writing, make sure to proofread the final text—carefully read your resume and job application form to see if you’ve made any misspellings or grammatical errors. You can facilitate and speed up the process with some spelling and grammar check tools.
Lexical errors don’t necessarily paint a candidate as illiterate, but they can leave the impression of not caring enough about the job. Additionally, they demonstrate a lack of attentiveness to detail, which may be crucial for some positions they apply for.
#2. Not Following the Application Instructions
Not following the application instructions is a job application mistake that can easily eliminate you from the hiring process.
If the application requires a resume and a cover letter, make sure to write both or update the existing ones so that they match the description of the job you’re pursuing.
Paying attention to the details of the job ad shows recruiters that you can follow instructions, which is an important skill for employees in all industries and sectors.
Additionally, if the resume format is specified in the job ad, be sure to make the necessary adjustments to format your resume correctly. The same goes for the cover letter format.
#3. Applying for Positions You’re Unqualified For
Applying for positions that you’re unqualified for shows a lack of professional integrity, in addition to diminishing your chances of landing a job.
Namely, recruiters often have an immediate need for a specific role. Because of this, they’re unlikely to give a chance to someone who doesn’t meet the proposed criteria. This is especially true for senior positions that require a certain level of experience and proficiency.
Instead of lying on your resume and compromising your integrity for a job you’re unqualified for, search for positions that truly interest you and for which you meet at least 80% of the requirements. Moreover, if you get invited for an interview, mention that you plan to acquire the remaining skills needed for the job in a timely manner.
#4. Applying for All the Jobs You Find
Applying for all the jobs you find may seem like a smart move. You may think that the more options you open, the higher the chances of one of them working. However, this doesn’t translate literally to job seeking.
The reason is simple—every job application takes time and effort. Therefore, if you value quality over quantity, you should narrow down your search and filter your options so that you can pay equal attention to each job application you decide to send.
Moreover, being more selective about the jobs you apply to helps you choose an industry or a niche that interests you the most. This can be useful for future job searches as well, as you’ll gain expertise and experience in a certain matter.
#5. Not Tailoring Your Resume to the Job Position
Not tailoring your resume to the job position is a combination of several job application mistakes. Firstly, it shows that you haven’t put too much thought into the job itself and what it entails. Secondly, it leaves the impression of a lack of enthusiasm for that particular position.
If you’re looking for jobs in the same niche, your resume will mostly fit the common job requirements in said industry. However, you should still tweak it a little to fit each of them almost perfectly.
This involves researching the company and using the right resume keywords to increase your chances of passing the screening part of the hiring process.
#6. Listing Irrelevant Skills
Listing irrelevant skills on a resume won’t make you seem more experienced and versatile; instead, it will make your application less accurate. To avoid this, you should list only the relevant work experience and knowledge from a certain niche or any other industry related to it.
For example, if you’re applying for a copywriter position, you can list your content writing skills and also mention your background in advertising or your marketing skills.
#7. Leaving Out Important Skills
Leaving out important skills is on the opposite end of the spectrum from listing irrelevant skills. Your resume should be brief; that much is true. However, there should always be some space for professional skills you have that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
A general rule of thumb is that recruiters want to see up to ten years of work experience on a resume. Therefore, if an entry-level job from the beginning of your career doesn’t exceed that time frame, you should leave it in. Depicting your career advancement in a resume shows recruiters your professional development potential and learning abilities.
#8. Applying for Jobs Inconsistently
Although applying for all the jobs you find isn’t recommended, neither is applying for jobs inconsistently. You should set aside a few hours weekly to browse through the recent job ads and select the ones you’re interested in and qualified for.
Planning the time to send out your applications can help you stay consistent and maintain their quantity without compromising their quality.
Additionally, turning on job alerts can help you filter available job ads and speed up your weekly application process.
#9. Limiting Your Job Search
Limiting your job search to only one source significantly reduces your pool of opportunities. To avoid missing out on interesting job ads, use several job search sites and turn on job alerts on all of them. That way, you can simply filter your mail once a week and choose the positions to apply to more easily.
Moreover, registering on multiple platforms, such as LinkedIn, raises your visibility and aids your professional networking. Make sure to connect with relevant people from the industry, but not before updating your profile and listing all the relevant knowledge and experience you have to offer.
#10. Listing Incorrect Information on Your Resume
Speaking of updating your profile on job networking sites, you need to make sure not to list incorrect information on your resume. Inconsistency between the information you share on job applications and those available on your resume and networking profile can divert recruiters from reaching out or responding to you.
Therefore, make sure to list all the same details in all documents consistently. Additionally, pay attention to the dates and time frames of each employment and project you list online—it’s important that they match the information in your resume, too.
#11. Not Updating Your Resume
Not updating your resume is another critical job application mistake. As we’ve mentioned, you need to update your information on the job networking websites regularly. The same goes for your resume—you should make sure to add your latest experience and newly acquired skills to it before you send it out.
Make a habit of checking whether your resume aligns with the requirements of the job you’re applying for. If necessary, tweak it to include the keywords that would get your application through the screening process at a specific company.
However, remember not to apply for vastly different positions within the same organization to avoid displaying a lack of professional focus and expertise.
#12. Having Too Low/High Salary Expectations
Having too low or too high salary expectations are both common job application mistakes. The former can make you seem inexperienced and lead to underappreciation. Remember, others will appreciate you as much as you appreciate yourself, and that goes for hiring recruiters, too.
On the other hand, going overboard with your salary expectations can get you eliminated or make you come off as pretentious. Namely, if recruiters think they can’t afford you or that you’re overestimating your experience, they likely won’t contact you.
The best way to determine your salary expectations is to check the wage data by area and occupation. To leverage your desired compensation, include your level of experience and the salary information about the company you can find online.
Alternatively, if possible, state that your salary is negotiable so that you can discuss it with the prospective employer later on in the hiring process.
#13. Listing the Negatives of Your Previous Employers
If the job application requires reasons for leaving the previous job, refrain from listing the negatives of your former employer. For example, if you resigned from a job due to a toxic workplace environment, you can state that your reasons for leaving were to explore better opportunities in the industry.
The key is not to speak negatively about your former employer, as that would paint you as unprofessional, and that’s not the light you want recruiters to see you in. Instead, be diplomatic, but make sure the reasons you state for leaving a previous job sound plausible.
#14. Not Listing Your References
Not listing your references can weaken your job application. Namely, good professional references add credibility to your resume, and the same goes for endorsements on LinkedIn.
Therefore, before you send out your job applications, reach out to a few professionals in the industry you’ve worked with and ask them if you can list them as references. When you do, double-check their contact information and make sure to update their position regularly, but include the one they held when you were working with them for context.
You can do the same for endorsements to add additional value to your job applications, especially if you’re including LinkedIn on your resume.
#15. Having Too Much Information in the Cover Letter
Too much information in the cover letter can divert recruiters from reading it in the first place. Remember, a cover letter is a way to further elaborate on the qualifications listed in your resume, not a detailed history of your professional life.
Thus, it should be approximately one page long, and you should make sure to tailor it to the position you’re applying for. Expand on the skills and knowledge relevant to it, but keep it brief, clear, and concise.
If you’re applying to multiple similar roles, as you should, you can use the same cover letter. However, update the exact name of the position for each job application to make it seem custom-written.
#16. Reaching Out to Recruiters Before an Interview
While you should show enthusiasm when applying for a job, reaching out to recruiters before an interview doesn’t convey the right message. Rather, it makes you come across as impatient and intrusive.
Keep in mind that recruiters receive a significant number of applications during the hiring process, so make sure not to spam them.
Follow the application instructions and submit all the necessary documents, such as your resume, portfolio, and cover letter (even if it’s optional). Other than that, there’s nothing you can do to raise your chances of getting noticed at this stage of the process.
#17. Going to an Interview Unprepared
One of the biggest job application mistakes is going to an interview unprepared. If you’ve got so far as to get invited to an interview, do your preparations for it.
That includes researching the hiring company and practicing your answers at a mock interview. On the organization’s official website, pay attention to its culture, scope, and business practices to tailor your responses to it.
Additionally, subscribing to its newsletter on LinkedIn and getting updates on the novelties within it can help you learn as much as possible about the company and use that knowledge to show your enthusiasm and dedication at the interview.
#18. Not Having Questions for the Interviewer
While we’re on the subject of being underprepared for an interview, not having questions for the interviewer falls right into that category.
When they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” make sure to have a few prepared. A job interview isn’t an interrogation but a conversation. To show you’re engaged in it, ask relevant questions about the position, team, and company.
Not only will you come across as genuinely interested in the job, but you’ll also gather valuable information, such as advancement opportunities within the company and the next steps in the hiring process.
#19. Missing the Deadline for a Test Assignment
Missing the deadline for a test assignment is one of the job application mistakes that can get you eliminated from the hiring process in its late stages.
If you get this far, it would be a waste of time and energy to not seize the full potential of the opportunity. In addition to unprofessionalism, not submitting your test assignment in a timely manner demonstrates a lack of time management skills. It also shows a certain level of unreliability, especially if the hiring company has urgent projects with tight deadlines.
#20. Not Following Up on Your Application
Not following up on your application may seem like a minor mistake. However, if the employer has trouble deciding between you and another candidate, it can make all the difference in your chances of landing the job.
If you make a good impression on the recruiter during the interview, reinforce it by sending a follow-up email around 24 hours after the interview. That way, you won’t seem pushy, yet you’ll manage to make yourself more memorable.
Speaking of being memorable, craft a personalized follow-up mail mentioning a few key points from the interview.
Final Thoughts
From spelling and grammatical errors to not following up on your application after an interview, job application mistakes can make a difference between two seemingly similar candidates.
Learning about them helps you prevent them, but if you happen to make a mistake during a hiring process anyway, make sure to address and fix it promptly. No one is above making those, but you can reduce yours by paying close attention to details, both when filling out a job application and during an interview.
