Landing a job is very difficult regardless if you're experienced or not because with many equally skilled applicants, you'll have a hard time impressing your employers. However, other job seekers might not even see you as competition because you may be doing something in your job search that puts you at a disadvantage.

Keep in mind that job searching isn't an easy task and you should avoid making it more complicated for yourself by making embarrassing mistakes while applying for a job. There are plenty of blunders that you could make at any given phase of your job search and if you aim to leave a great impression, then avoid these 7 job search faux pas.


Don't get stuck in the belief that "more is good" because it's just going to be a waste of space on your resume. Many applicants tend to include a lot of irrelevant information which puts it on the bottom pile or worse, straight to the trash bin. Here are a few examples of what not to include on your resume or CV.

• Picture/Headshot

• High school accomplishments

• Unrelated work experiences

• Objectives

• Hobbies

Always remember that "less is more" and it's what the interviewer expects every time they read a resume since they don't have the time to scan it completely.

Having a poorly written resume

Typos, wrong spelling and weak grammar can be an irritating sight especially if it's on a resume. You aren't in high school anymore so you should be able to submit a clear and concise resume without any problems. If you are prone to making mistakes, then proofread your resume on your own or through the help of others to filter out any mistakes you've made. You should also look for a few examples of a good resume on the Internet or better yet, asking other experienced job seekers on how to create a better resume or CV.

Mumbling and using poor grammar

Job interviews can be intimidating and a lot of applicants tend to give in to it. It's understandable if you can't help being frightened on your upcoming interview, but you have to fight it if you want your interview to end well. Mumbling combined with poor usage of grammar will destroy your chances of getting hired and if you're feeling nervous about your interview, then rehearsing alone or with a friend beforehand will boost your confidence allowing you to do better on the interview itself.

Answering questions like it's scripted 

Experienced interviewers have gone through many applicants over the years and they have heard it all. If you want your interview to go smoothly, then avoid answering their questions in a cliché manner because they're tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. Instead of memorizing answers, understanding or reviewing any possible questions is much better because you'll be able to deliver a much natural answer.

Asking senseless questions

You'll be given the opportunity to ask your own set of questions on your interview, but make sure that they're worth asking because any useless query will get ignored. Prepare a few questions to ask your interviewer and make sure that it not one of these.

• How much do you pay?

• When can I take my first leave?

• Am I expected to work on weekends and go on overtime?

• Will I have a salary increase?

Always be careful when asking questions to your interviewer because it could get you rejected immediately.

Adding the interviewer on your social media accounts

Most applicants tend to add their interviewer on their social media profiles in order to expand their connections, but they really shouldn't bother. Connecting with them through social media will make you look unprofessional because they don't want other people intruding on their personal lives. If you don't want to look unprofessional or to be branded as a stalker, then don't add them on any of their accounts unless they're cool with it.

Being a nuisance to the HR department

It's only normal to call to ask for an update about your job application, but not constantly. I know that you shouldn't waste time idling around, but pestering the HR department is no way to do it because it'll make you look like you're desperate. As a job applicant, you must be aware that any actions that you do on your job search will reflect the employer's decision. There's always a right time to follow up your application and the best way to do it is a week after your interview rather than the day after.

Author Bio
Sophia Jennings is a college student who's quite knowledgeable about education, technology, career and social media and she's contributing articles online whenever she has the time. Aside from being a student, she's works for uk.bestessays.com as a part-time writer. She also has a Twitter account you could follow if you want to know more about her.