5 Signs You’re a Careless Job Seeker(and How to Improve)

Recruiters and hiring managers are bombarded by job seekers, all of whom are vying for precious few openings.

It’s their unenviable position to sort through the masses of applicants and find the truly exceptional candidates.

There’s one category of applicant, however, that makes the sorting process a little easier—the careless job seeker.

When recruiters or hiring managers sense job seeker carelessness, they immediately move on.

After all, if you can’t be bothered to put a little care, effort, and attention into your job search, it’s highly unlikely you’ll do so in the future as an employee.

Here are 5 tell-tale red flags of job seeker carelessness and how to avoid them.

You Submit Generic Application Materials

Typos and errors in application materials are an obvious sign of carelessness. Submitting generic materials may be less obvious but it’s equally destructive.

Both your resume and cover letter should be customized to match the specific role for which you are applying and the organization. Don’t expect other people to connect the dots between your experience and the job requirements. Spell it out for them in their language.

On the cover letter, do your best to find the name of the person who will be reading it and address it to him or her directly. Never use the generic, “Dear Sir or Madam” greeting as it is considered antiquated. If all else fails, you can use, “Dear Hiring Manager.” However, within the body of the letter, make sure you identify the company and role and speak directly to the things they have identified as important.

Also read: How to Customize Your Resume

You Don’t Submit a Cover Letter

Even if the job posting says “cover letter optional,” treat it as required.

Always submit a cover letter, otherwise, you appear lazy. A well-written cover letter does no harm, and it separates you from those who were too careless to provide one. It also gives a personal touch to your materials and allows you to demonstrate more of your personality.

It’s worthwhile noting here that some job postings specifically ask applicants to include additional materials as well. For example, they may ask for a writing sample or a portfolio. Don’t think you can skip these things and it will go unnoticed. For many, such requirements are an added hurdle placed on applicants to differentiate those who are truly interested from those who are not.

Also read: 3 Effective Cover Letter Templates to Get You Going

You Have an Unprofessional Email Address

Nothing can be more subtly harmful to your personal brand than an unprofessional email address. This is the primary form of communication used in the job search process and it’s 100% customizable. You have control over it, so make sure it’s set up properly in all aspects, including the address itself as well as the name that appears and the email signature.

Don’t use anything other than your professional name. Remember that recruiters and hiring managers are sorting through many email messages each day, and they don’t want to remember that Jane Smith’s email is actually Moonchild43. If needed, consider adding another word related to your career, such as Jane_Smith_Manager.

You Don’t Return Calls or Emails Promptly

Again, recruiters and hiring managers are dealing with large numbers of applicants. They aren’t sitting around waiting for you to respond to their voicemail or email. If you wait several days to respond, expect that they will have moved on already. For this reason, you must be diligent about checking your spam folder (just in case) and listening to voicemail messages—even if it’s not your usual habit. Return calls and messages the same day if possible, but always within 24 hours or less.

Side note: Make sure your outgoing voicemail message sounds professional.

You’re Not on LinkedIn

People who are serious about their careers are on LinkedIn. It’s the gold standard for online professional networking and it demonstrates an understanding of modern job search. When someone is not on LinkedIn, it signals a number of possibilities—none of them good. You’re not tech-savvy, you’re trying to hide something, you’re not well-versed in the tools of the contemporary professional world, or you’re simply lazy.

LinkedIn costs nothing for a basic profile, though it requires a little time to set up and learn.

Similarly, all of the things on this list are easy enough to do, but they demand the investment of effort. That’s why careless job seekers don’t do them. That’s also why doing these things can have the power to distinguish you from the competition.

Also read: 5 LinkedIn Tricks That Maximize Job Search ROI