Is It Possible To Survive In A Low-Paying Job?

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Edna Crane

We all go to work every day so we can earn a salary or wage. This is the money that we need to live off and support our family with. As you no doubt already know, there are many well-paid jobs out there, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. However, there are also many jobs and careers that don’t pay quite as well as what we think they should. In fact, some are so low-paying that their employees can end up struggling to get by.

Thankfully, most of us will be able to move up to a higher position by getting a promotion and working our way up through a career. It’s usually possible to move beyond low-paying entry-level jobs in this way. But what if you seem to be stuck in a job that doesn’t pay enough with no way out? It may be getting you down, but you can hold onto the hope that it is usually possible to make your working situation better for yourself. Here are some ways you can survive your low-paying job.

Keep on Job Hunting

First of all, it’s important to note that you should always be job hunting. Even if you aren’t actively applying for the positions you find, you will find it very useful to keep a constant eye on your local job market. You’ll then be able to jump on any opportunity that is an improvement on your current situation. You never know when you will find a completely new role in a different career that shouldn’t be too difficult for you to transfer your skills and experience over to.

Switch to a Company that Pays Better

Of course, it could also be worth looking for a similar job to the one you currently do but at a company that will pay you a higher wage. Not all companies pay the same. It’s always worth having an ear to the ground to see if you can find a position for which you would earn a larger salary package. When you do look for open positions with other companies, it’s worth comparing the other financial benefits that you would gain, such as paid days off for vacations and illness as well as pension payments and annual bonuses. Even though a different company might be able to pay you slightly more, they may offer benefits that aren’t quite as good as the ones you currently get. So, you’ll have to weigh up whether it really is worth going for the higher salary.

Improve Your Transferable Skills

It’s always important to continue working on your transferable skills. It’s even necessary for those who are in solid jobs to keep on honing these crucial skills. These are key skills like good communication, analytical skills, and excellent customer service. They are known as transferable because you’ll be able to transfer them to various different areas of your life. As well as using them in your private life, you’ll also be able to use them in the majority of jobs as well. So, they should help you find a completely new job, even if it means moving into a completely different career. As long as these transferable skills are strong, they should help you bag a better job even if you don’t have any direct experience of working in the industry or sector.

See if there are any Funding Options for Your Career Path

It’s worth researching any potential funding opportunities that there might be for your specific career. There are sometimes charitable funds set up for employees in careers that are known to be quite poorly paid. For instance, teachers can sometimes struggle to get by on their low salaries and long hours. Thankfully, there are now a few programs in place to help a teacher who is really struggling. These kinds of programs are also used to financially reward teachers who have done particularly well in their job. There are quite a few traditional careers, such as teaching, that have these charitable pots and funds available for workers in need.

Start Networking More

Start trying to network more so you can meet as many people as possible. You never know who you might meet when you are at a local business networking event. There are always a lot of different entrepreneurs and business owners at them. You could get chatting to someone who is looking to hire someone with your exact set of skills and knowledge. Even if you don’t find someone who is hiring, you might start talking to someone who knows of an open position that might be a good match for you.

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Consider Changing Your Position in the Company

You might be able to increase your pay packet if you simply move into a different position in your current company. For instance, if you are able to work your way up to a leadership position then you would be in line for a nice pay rise. It could also be worth trying to position yourself as a mentor within the company. Lots of companies are now realizing how beneficial it is to have a mentor in the company who their workforce can reach out to for help and advice whenever they need it. You’d probably be able to continue your current position while doing a few extra mentoring sessions a week. As you’d be taking on extra responsibility, you will likely be able to request some extra pay.

Join a Union

It might be worth joining a union. These are groups and organizations that are created with the main aim to protect workers’ rights. If you believe that you are being paid a lot less than what you think you should be, it could be worth approaching your union about it. They will approach your company and attempt to negotiate a pay rise. If they are unable to do so, and you are paying significantly less than what other companies pay employees in similar roles, the union could help you take the issue to an employment tribunal.

Hopefully, these tips help you survive!

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3 Things that new Construction Businesses get Wrong

Posted on March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 by Edna Crane

People often say that the construction industry is one of the safest options for people that want to start a business of their own. It’s true that there is always going to be demand for construction companies. You can make good money once you’ve got a base group of loyal customers, but a lot of people underestimate just how hard it is. Starting a construction industry can be a great idea but only if you get it right.

It costs a lot of money to get started in construction. You have to invest so much before you can even start taking on jobs and seeing any kind of a return on that investment. A lot of construction companies fail before they even get to that point because they get some fundamental things completely wrong. If you’re thinking about starting your own construction company, make sure that you avoid these common mistakes.

Not Getting Insurance

The startup costs are so high for construction companies. You need to find a way to manage that properly if you’re going to survive long enough to start making a profit. But there are some things that you can’t cut corners with, especially your insurance. It’s important that you have liability insurance to cover you if anything goes wrong. Liability insurance will pay out if you make a mistake and accidentally damage a customers property. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to cover the cost of that damage yourself and that will probably sink the business entirely.

Liability insurance is also important if somebody is injured during the job. There is a high chance that somebody will try to make a compensation claim against you and the payouts for those cases can be incredibly high. If you’ve got liability insurance, that will cover the settlement. If you don’t have insurance though, you’re going to have to pay for it yourself and, chances are, you won’t have that money. Insurance is an extra cost but it’s a necessary one so don’t try to cut corners.

Spending Too Much On Equipment

It’s important that you do good quality work because word of mouth is a powerful thing. That means you need to invest money in good quality tools and machinery. However, if you go overboard, your costs will spiral out of control. If you need to buy any heavy machinery, you should always look for plant machinery finance options rather than paying for it all upfront. That way, you can spread the cost out and start paying it back once you’re bringing more money in.

A lot of companies struggle because they try to buy all of their tools at the beginning. There are a lot of basic tools that you’ll need for most jobs. The more specific tools that you only use for certain jobs should be bought on a use by use basis. If you take on a job that requires specific tools, you can fund them with the deposit that you get from the customer. By doing it that way, you can build up your equipment over time when you can afford it, rather than spending all of your money right at the beginning.

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Expanding Too Quickly

Most construction companies will start out with fairly small scale residential work and then eventually graduate on to larger projects. That business growth is important if you’re going to succeed in the long term, but you’ve got to make sure that you do it at the right time. One of the biggest mistakes that construction companies make is trying to expand too quickly. They finish a few jobs and start making a bit of money. They decide that they’re going to expand their operation and start taking on much bigger projects. The overheads for those projects are so much larger. They end up putting all of their money into new equipment and material costs. In some cases, it might work out if you get enough jobs to sustain those increased overheads. But more often than not, it doesn’t happen that way and they can’t earn back the money that they’ve spent.

If you want to expand, you should start putting money aside from every job. Wait until you can comfortably afford to take on those large projects without putting yourself in financial difficulty. You should also look for investment to help you cover some of those increased overheads.

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How to Show Your Boss Your Potential

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Edna Crane

Whether you are just starting out in a new position, or you have been in your role for a while and are beginning to feel that it’s time you receive a promotion, you are going to want to take active steps to ensure that your employer sees your potential. This tends to be easier said than done, especially if you are working within a particularly large organization. Chances are that your employer has a whole host of tasks to focus on and you’re going to have to do a lot to stand out from the crowd. But it is possible and you could greatly benefit from recognition and acknowledgment of your achievements. Here are a few steps that you can do to help your employer to see your potential!

Request Progress Meetings

Most companies will offer progression meetings through your probation period. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that you are settling into your role properly, that you correctly understand what is expected of you, and that you are keeping up with your workload. If you haven’t received these, now is a better time than ever to request them. They help you to keep a track of how things are going and ensure that you and your employer are on the same page. If you have finished your probation period, you may want to continue these meetings on a more informal basis. Put in a request with your employer—they may be able to accommodate this.

Understand OKRs

OKR stands for “objectives and key results.” When you begin any project, your employer should set out OKRs. These will help you to understand what you should be aiming to do within your position and with your work, as well as what results are expected to exemplify that you have reached the objectives that have been set out. When you are provided with OKR objectives and key results, you should do your utmost to meet them. Most companies will have specialist software that allows you, your manager, and your employer to track your progress. This ensures that your hard work will be acknowledged and recognized, as it will be laid out for everyone to see.

Undertake Extra Training

Training in areas pertaining to your role shows dedication and commitment to your position. Short courses, or even extensive courses, can also provide you with knowledge, skills, and an in-depth understanding of your field that can greatly benefit the business that you’re working for. A qualification on your resume can also officially qualify you for positions higher up in the chain of the corporation you may be working for. So, why not engage in a little education or pursue higher education associated with your role? Sure, this will be intense. Especially if you are currently working full time. But it’s a pretty effective means of climbing the career ladder.

Dedicate Yourself to Presentations

If you have to give a presentation, don’t engage with it in a half-hearted manner. Very few of us actively enjoy giving presentations. But it’s a great opportunity to showcase your talent, project yourself as a confident and competent individual, and carve a space for yourself in your employer’s memory. So, go all out and really make an effort. This is a great opportunity!

Steer Clear of Office Politics and Gossip

Office culture generates tensions, friction, rivalries, and gossip. But avoid this at all costs. While you may spend a lot of time with the people you work with, you should remain professional at all times. Getting involved in arguments, pettiness, or becoming problematic in the workplace can lower your employers’ opinion of you. Just remember that serious problems do not fall within this category – if you have experienced harm at another’s hands or if you feel that someone is treating you in an inappropriate manner, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact HR.

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Request a Promotion

As the old saying goes, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! So, if you feel that you are capable of taking on a promotion and that you deserve a promotion, you can simply ask for one. There is, of course, etiquette surrounding this type of interaction. You can find out more about this here!
It can be extremely frustrating to work hard and feel that your potential is going unrecognized. But you do have to play an active role in making yourself noticeable to your employer. Hopefully, the above advice and information will help you to stand out to your employer!

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Is an Online Business Management Degree Worth It?

Posted on March 8, 2019January 3, 2020 by Katie Evans

If you are looking for an online degree program, you will quickly learn that one of the most popular online degree majors is Business Management. While you have plenty of choices for your major, this one is sure to stand out to because it sounds versatile, like you could use it for pretty much anything. After all, everything is “business” in some way, right? And “management” shows leadership!

However, an online degree in business management is not for everyone. I graduated from a regionally accredited online degree program 15 years ago. Online education has changed drastically in that time. You have far more choices now than I did then. Before you decide to check for BA business management course programs, answer these questions:

What Will I Do Once I Have My Degree?

If you answered the question with, “I will apply for a promotion at my current job,” and a degree is a requirement for your promotion, go for the business management degree. It may be the quickest way to your promotion, and if you already have specific industry knowledge that you are using to build a career, the business management degree can support your career trajectory.

If you answered the question with something like, “I will start my own business,” or “I will invent something that will change the world, then go on Shark Tank and make a fortune,” then you might consider a degree that is less theoretical and more practical. Entrepreneurship is often a degree track in traditional business degrees, so look around for a degree that supports this passion.

The same is true of most career-specific goals; unless your goal is to be middle management or to enhance your prospects in an industry where you’re already an expert, a more specific degree may make more sense for you.

Have you thought about a career in management consulting? Check out this guide to becoming a management consultant.

Will a Business Management Degree Help me Start my Career?

Employers complain that business majors have theoretical knowledge, but not practical application that they can use immediately. The market is flooded with business majors–1 in 5 of all undergraduate degrees are awarded in business. To have the best chance of finding a job after college, you will need to stand out from the crowd.

You are better off selecting a major that is specific to something. If you like money, try majoring in accounting–even Kanye needs an accountant, and if you hate it, you can use your mad money skills to consult or move to a business-related industry.

If you love art, but your parents say you should “major in something practical,” look at graphic art, motion graphics, and other art degrees where the end goal is employment with a high-end corporation and not just to create art for art’s sake.

The point is, passion will get you further than a general degree. If you are passionate about a subject, you will find ways to make money with it.

What is Your Endgame?

If you look at this question and answer it with, “I don’t know, I just want a degree.” Then sure, go for the business management degree because it will fulfill this goal and give you a very general degree you can use as a stepping stone to a more specific graduate degree later, when you have more clarity about what you want to do in life.

But if you do choose that path, intern throughout your degree experience. Your degree alone will not get you a job–you need practical experience that you can bring to the table immediately. The vast majority of employers do not want to train you, so be smart and gain experience while you’re working on your degree.

What I did with My Business Management Degree

The day that my business management undergraduate degree conferred to my transcripts, I enrolled in a Master of Arts in English program. In the year it took me to finish out my major credits, I had figured out that I wanted to teach, so the natural next step was to find a subject-specific graduate degree.

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Was my BS in Business Management worth it? No, not really. I’ve since worked as a manager in a big corporation and started my own business–both places where you’d think a business management degree would be useful, but it isn’t. My practical business knowledge was gained from growing up with grandfather’s construction business.

So, for me, a business management degree was a means to an end. I have three master’s degrees (English, Creative Writing, and Instructional Design), all of which serve me more. But, my story isn’t your story. Make the right choice for your goals!

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Is an Online Business Management Degree Worth it? - #career #careeradvice #businessdegree

4 Things to Do As Soon As You Graduate College

Posted on June 6, 2018June 10, 2018 by Edna Crane

Congratulations! You’ve graduated college. Your long journey from home education or public school drama to learn-who-you-are college life is complete. Next step: the real world.

You have a lot on your mind right now. You have to frame your diploma, open your graduation gifts, and wash a semester’s worth of laundry. Sooner or later, though, you are going to have to face the fact that you’re not going back to school in the fall, and it’s time to grow up and start adulting. Are you ready?

You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, so we’re going to keep this short and easy for you. Here are four small steps you should take right now to start crafting your adult life successfully:

1. Get Your Money In Order

The moment you stepped out of the grand doors of your college institution, your financial circumstances changed drastically. You don’t have a lovely financial aid check coming each semester. Your parents aren’t going to pay your bills any more. If you’re like most college graduates, you now have a student loan to pay. It’s a big smack in the face—you need to take a harsh look at your money situation.

To help with the student loan saga, visit studentloansconsolidation.co to learn how to make it easier to swallow. Believe it or not, there are all sorts of income-sensitive plans for paying back your loans. Your loan officer won’t do this automatically, though. You have to fill out the proper paper work and ask for it.

You should also sit down and create a budget. Figure out what, realistically, you can spend each month on necessities and luxuries. Necessities include food, transportation, and a place to live. Everything else is a luxury.

2. Find a Real Job

Your shiny new degree has a purpose—to help you find a job. It’s the key to unlock jobs that require a college degree. You’ve worked hard to earn it, but now it’s time to let it serve its purpose.

So, you need a resume that shows that you’re more than just that shiny new degree. A creative copywriter can help you spruce up your resume and tell your story in a way that employers see you as the perfect person for the job. You should also tidy up your LinkedIN profile and take a good long look at your social media profiles to make sure you look squeaky clean online for employers. A lot of them will Google you before an interview, so make sure they find exactly what you want them to find.

You also need to prepare for job interviews. Find two outfits you can wear to interviews that are completely professional and make sure they are always clean and pressed, waiting for you to land an interview. You should practice how you will answer common job interview questions, like “tell me about yourself” and “describe a situation where you solved a problem.”

Of course, you also have to actually apply for jobs. Set weekly goals for the number of job applications you will complete, and keep a log of where and when you applied. The log will help you send follow up emails, and it also shows you and your parents the amount of effort you’re putting into your job search.

3. Gain More Skills

Just because you’re done with college doesn’t mean you’re done learning. While you’re job hunting, work on acquiring more skills for your resume, and bonus points if those skills are directly related to your industry. You can learn anything technology-related on the internet, so there’s no excuse not to learn a coding language like HTML or software used everywhere, like Adobe Acrobat.

At the very least, find a course in leadership, management, or marketing. No matter what your industry, eventually you will want to lead something, and learning to market products also helps you learn to market yourself.

The point is, you should never stop learning. The world changes rapidly, and you should be able to change right along with it.

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4. Make a Lifestyle Design Plan

While you’re focusing on finding a job and figuring out how to pay your bills, it’s important that you think about the kind of future you want. You need a clear idea of what you want from your personal life so that you can stay focused on achieving it.

Many people want a family, but there’s no rush for that. Make a list of goals for things you want to do and what your ideal life would look like. Maybe you want to travel the world, or achieve a fitness goal. Maybe you want to meet new friends or stay connected to old ones. Maybe you want a house at the beach or a cabin in the mountains. Making a list, or at least a Pinterest board will help you remember what it is you really want out of life. It will remind you why you’re working so very hard.

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5 Careers for Leaders

Posted on June 4, 2018June 10, 2018 by Edna Crane

Being a leader is not an easy job. You’re responsible for making decisions, mentoring your staff, making sure everyone meets critical deadlines, and so much more. It takes more than wielding power to be a strong leader; you must be willing to be humble and give your people the support and credit they deserve.

Being a strong leader is about more than the bottom line. It’s not about leaving your footprint on the world, but rather giving inspiration to your people so they can grow in ways they never thought possible. It’s a tough job, and one most people underestimate, but if you’re a born leader, you have many career paths open to you.

Small Business Manager

Every business needs a leader. As a business manager, you can oversee the daily operations of any sort of business you like, from small Chick-fil-a franchises to local corporate offices. You will lead a small to medium sized team of usually less than 100 people.

Small business managers oversee daily processes, like scheduling employee shifts and making sure all projects are done on time. Managers are responsible for making sure employees are trained to do their jobs properly. They also conduct employee reviews.

Of course, salary varies widely among small business managers. Education and experience play a big role in determining salary. You don’t have to have an MBA to be a small business manger; sometimes management experience is enough to qualify you for the role.

Education Leader (Principals, Deans, and more)

If you are an educator, you can find leadership positions in your field easily. For the big ones, like principals, vice principals, and deans, you will need a graduate degree, but there are many online educational leadership degrees with solid accreditation.

Educational leadership roles are high profile. Principals become the face of the school. They communicate with the school board and the press, and they handle student disciplinary issues. They also handle employee reviews and hiring. The pay varies by school district, but it always pays more than a teaching role.

CEO

CEOs live glamorous lives on TV and in movies, but if you’re imagining living the life of Christian Grey, think again. Being a CEO is a tough job. You are the person who answers to the board of directors and the stockholders. You are the person they celebrate when profits are high, and the first head on the chopping block when profits are low. You are the face of the company to both employees and the world.

CEOs of big corporations make hundreds of thousands of dollars as their base salaries, and often bring home millions of dollars after bonuses and stock options. They spend a lot of time in meetings, and work closely with their assistants and advisors. According to Inc.com, CEOs have to play a balancing act of making as few decisions as possible in the day-to-day running of their business while they focus on the big picture and the bottom line.

While there are many introverts who become CEOs, it’s a position best suited to people who like people, and don’t mind losing sleep at night while strategizing their next move.

Politician

While politicians are the brunt of many a joke, they’re also leaders with a very hard job. They have to raise money for their campaigns, fight for the needs and wants of their voters, and somehow make ethical decisions in a world filled with personal temptations.

People from all walks of life become politicians, but we most often see lawyers, journalists, and business leaders run for office. For example, Arizona secretary of state Michele Reagan was a small business owner before becoming a politician. She uses her business connections to strengthen her campaigns and is even endorsed by the Greater Phoenix Chambers of Commerce.

Politicians’ salaries vary by area and location, but in some cases, you get to cast a vote on your salary every few years. Not many other jobs have that perk!

Entrepreneur

If you’re a born leader and you don’t want to listen to an overlord boss of any sort, you might enjoy being an entrepreneur. Starting your own business is a very hard task. You have to be part salesman, part financial strategist, and a fearless leader–all at the same time.

You can start any sort of business you want, but plan to work far more than 40 hours per week. It’s an all day, every day job for most entrepreneurs, especially in the early years.

Other Leadership Careers

Every field has leaders. Firemen have a chief. Deputies have a sheriff. Soldiers have a general. You can find a leadership role in whatever industry thrills you. The best leaders are the ones that empower their staff to make sound decisions and do their best work, but they also command respect in their own right.

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Should I Take a Part-Time Job or Wait for a Full-Time Job Offer?

Posted on May 29, 2018May 21, 2018 by Katie Evans

A reader asks us for advice in a hard choice: Should she take a part-time job offer, or wait to see if she gets a full-time offer from somewhere else.

Dear HR,

I have been looking for a job for months! I just applied for a fulltime job at a local elementary school that has amazing benefits, and I’m hoping to hear from them soon. I’ve been networking with the other office workers, and while it’s not a sure thing, it’s definitely more promising than anything else I’ve tried.

Today I was offered a part-time job answering phones in a customer service center for a local company. Do you think I should take it? I really want the Full-time job at the school, and I worry that if I take this part-time job and I get the school job, it will look bad to my new employer to quit so soon. Do you think I should just wait to hear back from the full-time job? I need advice!!

Thank you,

Freaking Out

Dear Freaking Out,

I see your frustration. After a long job search, you may start to lose hope of finding the job you really want. It’s important to keep hope, but realistically, you have bills to pay.

Don’t Count Your Chickens Before they Hatch

When you tell me about the full-time job, you describe how great the job is, how great the benefits are, and that you’ve done a bit of networking with other people who work there. None of this guarantees you the job. None of this even guarantees you an interview.

The truth is, state jobs get more applicants than they can reasonably consider properly. Your application is in a stack with 50 or more other applications. If you’ve been looking for a job for awhile, your application materials and approach to job searching probably need a little work. No judgment, but it’s just a fact of life that most job seekers hit a point where they’re just plain tired of filling out applications, so they stop customizing their resumes and cover letters for each job. So, employers don’t contact them because it’s not obvious that they’re the right person for the job. It’s a slippery slope that feeds the “I suck” monster in your head.

[bctt tweet=”If employers don’t contact you, it’s because your application materials don’t make it obvious that you’re the right person for the job. It’s a slippery slope that feeds the “I suck” monster in your head. #resume #rejection #careeradvice” username=”perfectlyemploy”]

Pay Your Bills with the Part-Time Job

Unless you’re independently wealthy, your bills are probably piling up during your job search. You need cash. You also need opportunities to network and regain your money-making confidence. A part-time job can help with all of those things.

If the part-time job is absolutely awful, then quit. Employers know that not every job is for every person. It’s not as big of a deal as you think.

Part-Time Jobs Can be Fantastic

Taking a part-time job has many advantages. Sure, you might not receive full-time benefits like healthcare plans and 401Ks, but part-time jobs rarely expect you to have full-time loyalty to them, so you can start a side hustleto make up the monetary difference. Plus, some part-time jobs pay a little more than entry-level full-time jobs simply because they don’t offer benefit packages.

Investopedia.com lists other benefits of taking a part-time job, like reduced transportation costs and reduced stress. They also mention networking opportunities—an essential part of building any career.

If You Get the Full-Time Job Offer, Act Classy

You should still pursue finding a Full-time job that makes you happy, even if you take the part-time job. If the school job calls you for an interview, put on your pearls and your heels and rock it. If they offer you the job, do your happy dance.

When you put in your resignation for the part-time job, ask your boss for a private meeting and start the conversation with, “I hope you will be happy for me, but I’ve been offered a full-time job that suits my skill set completely.” Explain to your boss that you appreciate the opportunity he or she has given you. You never know—he might offer you an even better Full-time position.

Regardless, leave with class. Be grateful. Be graceful. Follow your coworkers on LinkedIN. Every contact is a good contact when you’re job hunting.

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Best of Luck,

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Part-time jobs can be beneficial in the right circumstances. Find out how!

9 Reasons I’m Not Hiring You – Confessions of a Hiring Manager

Posted on May 27, 2018June 17, 2018 by Katie Evans

Why I won't hire you - confessions of a hiring manager

Have you ever wondered why you didn’t get a job that you thought was perfect for you? It’s easy to blame the employer for not giving you a fair chance, but the truth is, it might be your application materials or some other easy-to-fix thing that’s keeping you from your dream job.

Jarell and I are currently looking for a marketing intern for our parent company, Escape the Classroom. We love to hire interns because it makes us feel like we’re “giving back” for all of the help we’ve had along the way in our own careers. We know it is nearly impossible to break into most industries right out of college unless you have some sort of experience. So, we are happy to provide experience to students majoring in fields like education, marketing, graphic arts, and technology.

The problem is, a lot of intern applicants make giant mistakes that keep us from hiring them, and I don’t think they even know it—which is why I’m writing this probably-too-honest post. This list isn’t just for interns. If you’re having trouble getting a job, take a deep breath and ask yourself if you are guilty of any of these very correctible job application sins:

1. Your Application is Incomplete

The number one reason we don’t hire a job applicant is simply because their application is too incomplete for us to decipher who they are, what their experience is, or what they want to do. We know job applications are annoying, so we try to keep ours rather short, but we still have applicants who don’t answer the questions we pose.

We have no choice but to reject applicants who don’t bother to fill out the entire application. We look at every application with a compassionate spirit, but not all employers do. Most are going to take your unwillingness to complete the application as a sign that you don’t really want the job…and they won’t bother to call you for an interview.

No matter what, always complete the job application in its entirety. It’s the first impression for a lot of employers and you don’t want their first impression of you to be that you’re either uninterested in the job or you’re lazy.

2. Your Resume (or application) is Unprofessional

When we see short resumes for intern candidates, we understand that they don’t have a lot of experience and that’s why they’re coming to us for an internship. What we don’t understand is why they list “JV Cheerleader” as work experience on their resumes.

Here’s a quick list of unprofessional things we’ve seen on recent resumes and applications that you should change immediately:

Parents or other family members listed as references
High School clubs and awards listed as work-related accomplishments
Traits like “punctual” and “hard worker” listed as skills
Email addresses like “PookieBear92” or “SandysSister34”
Missing contact information, like your phone number or mailing address
Missing “professional profile” that starts the story of your resume
Glaring typos and spelling errors (the obvious kind that elementary students would notice)

3. Your Resume Does Not Fit the Job Description

Employers don’t have a crystal ball. They can’t see how your skills and talents align for the job they advertised unless you show them.

You need to craft a customized resume for every job advertisement you answer. This means rewriting your professional profile at the top of your resume to include keywords from the job description, rewriting your job descriptions for previous jobs to show that you’ve done tasks that will transfer to the job for which you are applying, and rewriting your skills list to reflect the skills the job advertisement lists.

[bctt tweet=”If you’re applying for a web designer job, don’t turn in the same resume you used for a chicken fryer job at KFC. You may be qualified for both jobs, but you have to reframe your resume’s story to show an employer you’re the right person for the job.” via=”no”]

4. You Didn’t Include a Resume at All

One of the most disheartening things we see in job applications is when a job applicant doesn’t send us a resume at all. Instructional designers like our Escape the Classroom mottos of rebelliously smashing boring educational experiences, so they often fill out the contact form and tell us how much they’d love to work for us…but that’s it. They don’t include a resume or cover letter.

We always answer our emails. We answer these well-meaning educators and ask them for their resume, cover letter, and online portfolio. They never respond.

You need a resume. It’s your argument that you’re the right person for the job. You can’t apply for a job (outside of retail or food service) without one and expect to land an interview.

5. You Didn’t Include a Cover Letter

Probably 50% of the job applications we receive do not have cover letters included. It only takes a few minutes to craft a cover letter, so why would you avoid it?

The cover letter is your introduction. It tells an employer who you are and starts your argument as to why you are the perfect person for the job. Not writing one for each individual job tells the employer you aren’t serious about the job and don’t really care if you get it or not.

6. Your Cover Letter is Rude

Believe it or not, the only thing worse than not submitting a cover letter at all is submitting a rude one. When you try to bully an employer into hiring you or making a quick hiring decision, you are not going to get the job. No way. No how.

I say this because we have applicants send us cover letters that end with a statement like, “I have many other job offers, so I need to know right away if you plan to hire me.” No, I don’t plan to hire you.

This kind of statement tells the employer that you are high maintenance, conceited, and trouble. You might think it shows confidence, but it doesn’t. Employers want confident employees, but they also want kind employees that they can trust to make good decisions and impress clients with their diplomacy and helpful attitude.

As a female business owner, the last thing I want to do is hire someone that tries to bully me into it. It’s just not going to happen.

7. You Don’t have Work Samples

We don’t expect our interns to have full portfolios yet, and we give a lot of thought into assigning interns to projects they will be able to use to build solid portfolios so they have something to show future employers. However, if you are applying for a full-time or part-time job in any sort of art, design, writing, or technology-related industry, you must have work samples.

If you don’t have anything you can show, make something. In instructional design, I always want to see finished projects from potential designers so I can have a conversation with the designer about how they planned and built the project. It tells me a lot about whether or not the designer is a good fit for the kind of work we do, because not all instructional design is the same. We focus on high-end projects with a lot of media. Some designers were only trained to plan instruction in text-based format. Both are important types of instructional design, but the skill sets are very different.

The same is true with graphic design. Every artist has her own style, so employers want to see if the artist style matches their needs. Samples are key to this sort of job.

If you work in an industry that requires work samples, make sure you have them!

8. Your Reference Leaves You a Bad Review…or Doesn’t Know You at All

When you list someone as a reference, make sure you have their permission. Believe it or not, we have potential employees list references without telling the reference they plan to list them. So, we call the reference, and they tell us unflattering things about the job applicant. Even worse, some don’t remember the job candidate at all!

Your references are your allies in finding a job. When you list a reference, you’re telling the employer that this person has nice things to say about you. It’s absolutely tragic when your reference trashes you. There’s no coming back from that one—we simply aren’t going to hire you.

9. You Don’t Answer Your Email Regularly

If incomplete job applications are our number one reason we don’t hire someone, number two is when a job applicant doesn’t respond to our emails. Once we’ve chosen our interns, we always email them and confirm that they still want the job and then ask them to attend an information session with us. After the information session, we send them a contract to sign, which includes a start date. Amazingly, at least 1/3 of the potential interns we select never bother to reply to our emails.

If you want the job, monitor your communication channels. You should check your email no less than twice per day.

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Who am I Going to Hire?

This post may come across as negative, and it’s not meant to be that way at all. Everything I’ve listed in this post as a reason I don’t hire someone is completely fixable on the part of the job applicant. I will interview the job applicant that completes the application in its entirety, attaches a resume that shows he or she is the perfect person for the job, writes a lovely, friendly cover letter that explains why he or she wants the job is qualified for it, and answers my emails in less than 24 hours. Most employers feel the same way.