Surprising (And Not-So-Surprising) Things That Hurt a Job Search |
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Posted By: Heather Eagar In: Career Goals and Motivation
There are some obvious things that can hamper a job search. However, you may be missing some not-so-obvious things that could be causing you not to get the job you want.
A job search can be a complicated beast, partially because technology and individual industries have evolved to an extent that we don’t know how to keep up with their changes. Unfortunately, some of those changes, whether surprising or not-so-surprising, could hurt us along the way if we aren’t aware of them.
As you conduct your job search, it’s good to keep track of everything that could have a negative impact on its progress. That way, you won’t feel sideswiped as you try to step into the next phase of your career.
Surprisingly, the following could hurt your job search…
So let’s first take a look at some surprising factors that could have an adverse effect on your job search. The first is bad credit. While many have no idea why in the world credit could play a role in a job search, some employers have their opinions on why it is important to them as they consider candidates.
One is that they believe the credit score provides some insight into the character of the candidate. Also, some employers feel that by looking at a credit report, they could determine whether the candidate is using the job to pay down bills or looking to be employed for the long term.
Another surprising factor that could do some serious damage to your job search is the social networking. You’re scratching your head because you’ve heard so many great things about what they can do for your search, right? Well, just as social networking sites can boost your professional profile, they could tear it down as well.
While companies love the easy access social networking sites give to your resume, references and more, they also use profiles as a way to snoop around. The hope is that they discover something about you that you don’t want them to know, something that could help them avoid a tragic budget loss. Are you are heavy partier? Definitely don’t leave this cat out of the bag on your social networking profiles. Any signs that you’re not a stable candidate could hurt your chances before you’re even seriously considered.
Not-so-Surprisingly, the following could hurt your job search…
While there are things that many people didn’t know could hurt their chances, there are some things most people know could hurt their chances of being hired. For instance, there’s no doubt that a bad resume and interview are deal breakers in the job search because these are the elements employers use to decide whether you’re right for the job.
So how could you turn bad into good? For the resume, you want to focus on action keywords that liven up your accomplishments and spend time making sure that each resume focuses on each company you apply with. For the interview, it’s good to rehearse before you go and learn the company’s background so that the interviewer knows you really want to work for that company.
The complicated beast known as your job search doesn’t have to overwhelm you, especially if you know what to expect before you start. So now that you know what could hurt a job search, hopefully you won’t feel sideswiped by any surprising or not-so-surprising factors engrained in the process.
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Comments
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Posted by: Dernell
You've got the right answer!
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Posted by: Nanette
To William Ketel - it is illegal for them to ask that question. No interviewer can ask your age, religion, if you are married, or about children (if you have any, do you want any)Debbie - I usually don't say this, but in your case, it fits. You are AWFUL.I am unemployed. My job was oursourced to India. I have been out of work for 4 months now and trying to pay the bills is challenging at best. If I start missing payments and my credit score drops, that will be a factor that potential employers look at, which I agree with the others is stupid. Unless they look at the whole picture or ask why our credit rating may not be the best, they are presuming something bad about us.Whatever our financial situations were before we lost our jobs isn't even a factor in trying to pay our bills now. We had jobs before so we could pay our bills, now we don't. Unemployment pays crap, so it's hard to keep up.I'm glad you have such a high credit score, and I'm presuming from your post you also have a job. I hope you don't lose yours like we did.Just for the record, I also have a high credit score. Unfortunately, I'm not being called to interview because the last 3 companies I worked for all downsized and I was only at 2 of them for a year. One company closed because the president embezzled the company funds and fled the state. Employers don't know why I was only at a company for 1 year. They don't know, unless they ask, that I was a victim of the economy and was downsized or that my boss was a thief.So Debbie, stop being horrible. Not everyone is in your position and I hope you never have to be in ours. Frankly, I don't think you'd be able to handle it. Being in this position has made a lot of us learn creative budgeting so we can pay the bills and put food on the table. Sometimes it's a decision of pay the bills, or eat. We don't buy anything extra, we don't entertain or go to the movies. We can't afford to. We're all doing the best we can and your attitude doesn't help. Unless you have something helpful to say, don't say anything. Just keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself.
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Posted by: Debbie
Has anyone thought of disclosing this info to a potential employer when they sign the forms to allow the employer to do the check? Also, I have a credit score of 780, so yes this does give me an advantage, so you can see where my preference would lie. From the posts I see here it's not hard to figure out why some of you can't find jobs in the middle of your pity parties, PUHLEEEAASSEEE!!!! I'm sooooo tired of the self victimization of the unemployed. My guess is most of you weren't in great financial shape the whole time you were employed either.
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Posted by: Rhonda W.
Yes, I agree with most of the comments about credit and age discrimination. I am 54 years old and a responsible individual who would pay if given the chance to play the employment game once again, until that happens, would someone tell me why should I use goverment funding in this present economy to futher my chances to get a job interview that surely will be short for these two reasons. Realistictly reflecting! On my past job experiences. Oh please forgive the splelling/whom this concerns," after all I'm not a college graduate"
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Posted by: Jorgen H.
Melissa, Mike and others make good points. On the other hand, some people have financial problems even though they are making good salaries and are not victims of identity theft. Gambling debts, for example, can lead to theft of information or property from an employer. Perhaps an employer should ask about a bad credit score rather than just dropping a candidate.
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Posted by: Bob
Mr. Ketel,Age discrimination is illegal. But, proving it is nearly impossible. I had a friend in the same situation at age 57. His employment history was all with one employer. And at the suggestion of a coach at the Unemployment bureau, he took ten years off the history to appear younger. After doing so, He mysteriously started receiving interview requests. One interviewer was absolutely upset that he had 'misled' them on his resume, and told him so in the interview. His response, "If I hadn't, you wouldn't have brought me in for this interview". His interview was very short as well.
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Posted by: Joe
I too disagree with the unfair practice of employers looking at credit scores when considering candidates. It is also apparent from the comments that many of us who are presently unemployed are responsible, honest, and hard working individuals who are innocent victims of the human greed that has taken over during this harsh economic reality.
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Posted by: Kent V.
The proper legal response to "How old are you?" is I am over 18 and that it is all the information you are legally required to give. Then a "redirect" as to what inspires them to ask the question. They should begin to get the hint that they are out of bounds.
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Posted by: Eric
I think it's ridiculous that your credit plays a roll in being right for the job. Just because you're broke, doesn't mean your dishonest! We've had a lot of doctors bills, and we are chronically late on a lot of bills, because we live on minimum wage..... Does that mean I would steal? No, it means I need a break and a JOB!I'm running into a double negative. Bad credit and age. Neither I can fix........ so now what?
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Posted by: Mark V.
Many jobs require a security clearance. Your credit history, like it or not, can determine eligibility as much as the criminal background check.
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Posted by: Lee T.
Using credit reports as a guideline for hiring is extremely unfair. If you have had your identity hijacked as I did, you are in for a double whammy! I reported the theft to the credit agencies & they still show the false info on my report with no mention of the theft. It may take me years to get it all straightened out but in the meantime, employers are seeing a credit report that is only partially true.
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Posted by: Teresa M.
I feel that this has put people at an unfair advantage in obtaining a job in this uncertain economy, The employers don't have a clue as to why or how your credit rating is too low. Your credit score should not be used in order to obtain employment!!! In my case it was the divorce that put me in this financial bind that I have been in for years now and It's hard to get out not for a lack of tying, I've tried to get loans to pay off debt but your credit score is too low and you can't get credit because you can't find a job because of your credit??????????
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Posted by: Martha Magazine
i guess the BANK scammers and other big business crooks must have a credit score of +830!!! I think its very unfair to use the credit report to judge ones worthiness or capability without knowing the circumstances. Wish I were B MADE OFF, et,al. (would not have to worry about credit reports)
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Posted by: Sue
I got told to my face last week that since I have bad credit I was a risk for theft to the employer! HUH? I was not only disgusted but highly insulted! I do charity work, I raise money for Veterans organizations and more times then not I am in charge of the registration which includes money, lots of money and not once have I dreamed of taking a dime. Not even when I was without food, power, heat and running water! Not ONCE! So I told the HR guy a big old F U and walked out FUMING! Good credit does NOT equal integrity, honor, honesty and morals. Again FU to all the employers that think this way
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Posted by: Carolyn B.
I recently had a phone interview for a job which went well. Unexpectedly, I got word from the interviewer (who is the incumbent in the position) that the search is going to take longer than he expected. The next day I got an e-mail from the company that the position had been filled. The interviewer told me the boss had talked to her old friends at her former employer to see if any of them were interested before they began interviewing other candidates because none of her friends were interested. I'd bet money one of her friends changed his or her mind. This is what I'm running into a lot, is that the hiring manager simply hires a friend and no one else can get considered, especially those of us who have been out of the job market due to circumstances beyond our control.
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Posted by: SUE LENZ
I agree with my fellow readers, Credit scores are an unfair way for someone to get a job. Just because someone has a bad credit score does not mean they would not be or aren't good employees. There are many circumstances for this and I don't feel this should have an impact on the hiring process.
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Posted by: Barbara-ann Lyles
I don't remember how I found NES, but I'm so glad I did. The wealth of information has helped tremendously in many areas. I made a critical mistake - I was asked "what do you know about our company?" and I could not answer. I felt so qualified about the job opp that I forgot to do the job spec!!!! At that moment I felt I had lost that opportunity. I'll know next time.
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Posted by: William Ketel
My credit is good and all of my social networking site materials are above reproach. My technical discussion submissions are all well written and rational. Yet I still have not been called. Perhaps the problem may be that facebook has my age and they are looking at that as well. I did have one interview early on, and the very first question was "how old are you". That was the one question that I was not ready for. When I answered 62, the interview did not last much longer. Since then I have discovered that it is illegal to do age discrimination, but at the time I did not realize what was going on.
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Posted by: Russ
Credit Reports can still be used, although there is legislation pending that is designed to eliminate their use in this way.
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Posted by: Nat
The article was very interesting. It bewilders me that a person's credit can effect potential employment. This is absolutely ridiculous and should be banned!!! Millions are unemployed and drowning in this recession which is no fault of ours, and an employer wants to look at my credit rating??? How is that fair? Why don't they consider that the reason a person's credit rating is poor is because they can't get a job!!
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Posted by: Mike
So how do you overcome the bad credit issue? After an extended period of unemployment and underemployment, many of us have been unable to pay our bills. Seems like an endless cycle!
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Posted by: Melissa
I DO have a problem with potential employers looking at credit reports.What if you have come out of a terrible divorce, he was ordered to pay the bills since he got the house; he DIDN'T pay the bills and now it's my credit that pays the price?Now, here I sit with bad credit, NO JOB, and a judgmental employer that won't give me the time of day!I think this is unfair and that potential employers judge before they have the chance to meet you. I feel that the potential employer is missing out on some potentially incredible employees!
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