Well my friends if you’ve missed part one, you might want to check it out. Even if you are not looking for a job you probably know someone who is. So please help them out!

Your email address is dumb

It may have been ok while you were in high school but having an email address like (and these are just made up but I’m sure they exist): hotsexychick, dome69, youknowyouwantit, lovingbaby,babygurl, sexystud6969696969.. is immature and makes you look unprofessional!

I can’t tell you how often you can tell the age of someone who is applying or even more shockingly how often your resume will be BLOCKED and sent to junk and/or spam mail.  Firewalls are hypersensitve these days and will block anything that looks sexual. And come on hotsexychick, do you think the HR person really wants to interview you for a professional position when that is your email address, answer: no.

You have type and handwriting on your resume

Do one or the other, but do not do both!  And really unless you’ve got amazing penmanship and the advertisement is asking you to hand write something, type it up. But really most people want resumes emailed so they can reference them later.

Your cover letter is wrong

There are many things you can do wrong with your cover letter:

1) The name of the company is wrong

2) The name of the hiring manager is wrong

3) You make spelling mistakes

4) You don’t highlight your qualifications if they ask you to

If an ad tells you to specifically explain why you meet the qualifications on your cover letter, then DO IT! If they tell you to put your salary expectations on there DO IT!

You were gender specific

You assume the hiring manager is a man.  I cannot tell you how many resumes I get addressed as Sir all the time in emails, resumes and cover letters. I even get people calling me Eric, when my email address is ErinC.  No better way then to make someone despise you!

Too many big words, not enough results

You can say all you want that you are detail oriented, that you are the number one performer in customer service/sales.  I want to know WHY  you are detail oriented, how can you back that up. I also want to know what made you the number one performer in customer service/sales.  Details really makes me pay attention to you more.

You’re condescending

When you phone into the company do not assume that you are only speaking to the receptionist. AND for that matter if you are rude to the receptionist you need to get an attitude check. She can choose to forward you off to the right or wrong person. She works very hard at the face of the company.  She also talks to many of the hiring managers, and most often they love her.. be nice!  Oh and as a side note the receptionist may be a man, so there is no discrimination from me.

But above all, be sensitive to the situation, proof your resume and cover letter and do not ASSUME… because, and yes I’ll say it you’ll make an ass out of YOU, not me.