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Too much information -

No reasonable person will want to hear your entire life story jotted down on your CV. Keep it short and sweet.

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The cover letter rambles on -

A surprising amount of people still make this mistake. It’s not hard to make, and it will probably cost you the job.

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Making your skills match the job -

It’s your responsibility to make the person hiring understand why you’re the right person for the job and why you can do it.

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Saying the wrong thing in the interview -

Saying the wrong thing or rubbing the interviewer the wrong way is another surefire way to not get the job. They will more than likely be working with you, so if they don’t like you they won’t hire you.

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Simple mistakes, like being late for an interview -

Throwing it away by making the most obvious of mistakes like being late is done over and over again by applicants.

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Makes sure your references are lined up -

Not having references lined up just makes things difficult for the person who is in charge of hiring. If they have to ring 15 references from 15 applicants, they may just count you out if they can’t get a hold of someone.

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Following up is crucial -

Not following up just shows that you don’t take initiative or that you don’t care that much.

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Leaving your last job on bad terms -

Everyone knows that the most important thing in a workplace is relationships with co-workers. If you left your last job on bad terms, what’s to say that you wouldn’t do it again?

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Knowing what you want -

You are responsible for knowing what you want from your work, not anyone else, especially not the employer that you’re asking to hire you.

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Understanding the role -

Someone applying for jobs should have a grasp on what kind of responsibilities and roles they are looking to carry out.

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A systematic approach -

When applying for jobs, people should approach it systematically and logically. This saves time and effort for all parties involved.

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Researching the company -

By the time it comes to sending out the application, a person should know the company pretty well, i.e. what the company has been doing recently, what their challenges may be, and where the applicant can help.

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Search when you're employed -

Only searching for jobs when you're unemployed is not a good idea for several reasons. For one, you could be running out of money, which makes you desperate. If you’re desperate, you’re not in control.

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Always proofread -

If you’re making grammatical mistakes in your CV or cover letter to an employer, it just shows them that you’re not one for paying attention to details.

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Be thorough -

Leaving things empty in online application forms is another quick way to communicate that you’re not a thorough person (even if it’s technically optional to fill in).

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Repeat the job description in the application -

You’re best off sticking with the program in terms of giving them back information relevant to the description of the job you’re applying for.

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Try to avoid looking for "any job" -

Sending out hundreds of random applications probably won’t land you the job that you’re looking for. There are very few circumstances where it’s reasonable to be applying for a job that you haven’t considered properly. You want to be able to be happy there for a long period.

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Social media is your best friend -

Keep up to date with social media. Many companies post their jobs online.

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Be honest -

People rarely get away with lying. When they are questioned about things further on in the onboarding process, they often slip up. If a hiring manager finds out that someone is not trustworthy, it’s very unlikely that they will give them a second chance.

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Keep in touch -

Keeping in touch is everything. In emailing back in due time, it communicates that you will be on top of things if you are hired.

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Don't irritate people -

This said, there is a line. Hiring managers have their own lives and a lot on their plates at work. Irritating them through too much communication is another reason they’ll count an applicant out.

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Have an appropriate photograph -

Assuming you use a photo of yourself in your CV and/or LinkedIn profile, it needs to look professional, serious, and friendly at the same time. It's not supposed to be a selfie.

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Know the duties -

Understand the duties of the job you’re applying for completely, and address them over and over again.

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Keep it simple -

People who aren’t graphic designers or understand typography or fonts should stay away from getting creative with it at all costs.

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A lot of jobs are designed for the applicant -

Most people looking for employment focus too much on job posts. The majority of people’s time should be spent networking.

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Learn to network the right way -

There’s a right way and a wrong way to network. Hassling people doesn’t help. Showing genuine interest and listening more than speaking is always good advice.

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Know your worth -

Finding employment that is fulfilling has a lot to do with confidence and people knowing their worth. Don't underestimate yourself.

Sources: (Monster)

See also: The most in-demand job skills today

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