By Riel LaPointe, Toronto Financial & IT Recruiter
Searching for a job can be exhausting. There are hundreds of job posts to read through for a given profession. Once you find a job that catches your eye, the application process can take a few hours to complete. You need to review your resume, update it to meet the job ad requirements, fill out questionnaires, and complete other application steps.
But are you just wasting your time?
You could be. Applying for a job just for the sake of applying could be a big waste. When searching for jobs, you need to know specifically what you are looking for. You also need to be able to see the signs that a job may not be what it appears or be right for you.
Here are a number of red flags to watch out for:
Have You Seen the Job Post Before?
If you continue to see the same or similar jobs being posted by the same company, it’s a sign you may want to steer clear. This is often an indication they can’t keep the people they hire and there may be other internal issues at hand.
Vague Job Titles and Descriptions
Job descriptions and titles can be significantly different from one company to the next. This is why it’s important to read job descriptions very carefully. If the title and description are vague and generalized, it could be a sign the hiring company hasn’t effectively defined the role.
Company Values Don’t Align with Yours
Finding the right fit from a cultural perspective can be as, or more, important than anything else. If your values don’t fit with the company, you may struggle to fit in if you took the job.
You Lack Skills and Experience to Complete Job Responsibilities
The list of daily job tasks can tell you a lot about what the actual job will entail. If you are missing skills or experience to complete many of the tasks outlined, you may want to move on to the next job and focus your attention elsewhere.
Less Can Be More
More is not always better when applying for job. Rather than applying for as many jobs as possible, take the time to weed through job ads and focus your time on the jobs that are appealing and meet your criteria. This will give you a better chance of getting an interview for a job you actually want.
More Job Search Tips
4 Tips for Mature Job Seekers Having Issues Getting Hired
Do You Suck at Applying for Jobs?
Why You Should Never Accept a Counter-offer
IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Technology (IT), Accounting and Finance, Consumer Goods, eCommerce and Retail, Financial Services and Insurance, Startup, B2B and Industrial, Operations and HR, Professional Services and Legal, Media, Digital and Marketing, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Emerging Technology and Telecom, and Sales. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto and operates internationally via Aravati Global Search Network. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
