PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- When trying to use the Internet
to find a new job, smart people often make stupid mistakes, according to
CareerJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's executive career guide.
"As online recruiting keeps growing, e-mail and electronic resumes are
increasingly a job seeker's first line of communication," says Tony Lee,
editor in chief, CareerJournal.com. "Many well-qualified applicants are being
overlooked because of abuses by less-professional applicants."
CareerJournal.com lists these Internet job-searching blunders as among the
most common:
* Cover letters -- It's simple to cut and paste a copy of the same letter
to different hiring managers, but make sure you proof your changes to
avoid silly mistakes.
* Direct communication -- It may feel like you are communicating directly
with a hiring manager, but he or she likely is receiving hundreds of
resumes each day, so don't be too familiar in your greeting.
* E-mail addresses -- Make sure the address you use is professional. "If
your address is 'partyguy@hotmail.com,' consider opening a new e-mail
account," Mr. Lee says.
* Fun fonts -- Bright colors and exotic fonts in electronic resumes and
e-mails often become gibberish in other e-mail systems.
* Out of your league -- It only takes a click of a button to apply for a
senior-management position, but don't submit an application unless
you're truly qualified or you'll waste everyone's time.
* "What if my boss finds my resume?" -- Surveys show that you aren't
likely to be fired for job hunting; it may even prompt your boss to
improve your position to keep you.
* Resume -- If your work experiences don't sell the employer on hiring you
for the specific job, revise or omit them.
For more information on managing your career, visit
http://www.CareerJournal.com.
About CareerJournal.com
CareerJournal.com is The Wall Street Journal's award-winning career site
targeted to executives, managers and professionals.
About Dow Jones & Company
Dow Jones (NYSE: DJ; http://www.dowjones.com) publishes the global Wall
Street Journal with its international and online editions; Barron's; the Far
Eastern Economic Review; Dow Jones Newswires and Indexes; and Ottaway
newspapers. Dow Jones co-owns Factiva with Reuters, SmartMoney with Hearst and
CNBC television operations in Asia and Europe with NBC Universal. Dow Jones
also provides news content to CNBC and U.S. radio stations.
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