NEW RULES FOR GETTING A JOB

With unemployment at an all-time high, competition for good new jobs has never been fiercer. So how can you get an edge in the hiring process? A new survey of 500 of the members of the Society for Human Resource Management published in December’s Cosmopolitan magazine offers up 10 Get-Hired Secrets no career counselor will ever tell you.

1. Get Your Resume Read First – 65% of recruiters say the best way to apply for a job is by submitting your cover letter and resume to the career-services section of their company’s website. However, wait two days after a job is first posted before submitting your information. When HR goes through the deluge of resumes, they read the last ones first. If yours comes in later-but still before the deadline-it has a higher likelihood of being read.

2. Go on an Untagging Spree – 25% of recruiters report routinely doing Google searches on job candidates, and 86% said that if they found sexually suggestive content or evidence of unflattering behavior, like hard partying, it would reduce your chances of a job offer.

3. Get an Internship at (Almost) Any cost – 75% of those surveyed say that an unpaid internship carries more weight on a resume than a paying job unrelated to your goals.

4. Don’t Wear Jeans – 95% of the recruiters said that a candidate who is dressed too casually will automatically have a strike against him or her. Most places expect you to be traditional and wear a solid suit, with either pants or a skirt, in black, blue, gray, or brown.

5. Rein in Your Hotness – 95% of the recruiters said that dressing too provocatively is a big problem, and 67% said that it would be an outright deal breaker. According to the recruiters, knee-high boots, second-skin leggings, a wrap dress with a deep-V neckline, and even heels over 2-and-a-half inches could all get you blacklisted.

6. Impress Quickly – 58% of the recruiters report that it takes only 5 to 15 minutes to make the decision not to hire someone during an interview. Many admitted that the window of opportunity is way smaller – like about five seconds.

7. Don’t Underestimate the Receptionist – Bosses often ask their receptionist or assistant which candidate impressed him or her the most. When you arrive for your interview, introduce yourself and make polite small talk. And afterward, thank him or her warmly.

8. Candy-Coat Your Current Situation – 95% of the recruiters agree that speaking negatively about a job or supervisor you have or previously had can prevent you from getting a second interview. The interviewer will think you are passing blame and making excuses.

9. Forget About Money for Now – 39% of the recruiters say you should address salary only if you are asked. Once you land the gig, let them offer an amount first, then either accept or tell them you had a higher number in mind.

10. Spare Them the Cringe-Inducing Cliches – Just like pickup lines, certain job-seeking phrases have become a joke, and the number one offender, according to 69% of the recruiters, is “This is my dream job.” The second most common candidate-disqualifying cliche is “I think outside the box.” Other lame ways people describe themselves: “I’m a team player,” I’m results-oriented,” “I’m a people person,” and “I’m a self-starter.”

NEW RULES FOR GETTING A JOB

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