Jobseekers, Never EVER Do This

Robby

Don’t do it in person. Don’t do it on LinkedIn. Don’t do it on your résumé.

Don’t talk about something that “you do” that every professional ought to do.

There are few elements of the professional world that seem as innocuous but are actually off-putting.

Let’s use an example. What is this guy doing?

© Flickr User richmooremi

He’s getting dressed. You might even consider that professional attire (except for the fact that his undershirt is a logo t-shirt. Anyway.)

Do you think his résumé says: “Able to dress professionally as needed?”

Of course not. That would be patronizing. It would seem insulting to the reader. And it would make the candidate look incompetent because he obviously feels like the ability to wear a tie is some obscure skill worth mentioning.

Now, to the Real Examples

Of course you know how to dress appropriately. But how many times has someone mentioned to you—in person at a networking event, or through their résumé or LinkedIn Profile—one of the following:

• [I have] excellent communication skills.
• [I am extremely] detail-oriented
• [I’m a] team player.
• [I have a] positive attitude.
• [I’m a very] hard worker.
• [I’m a] self-starter.

Absolutely, these things are true about you. But they must be true about everyone who wants a professional job. If you don’t know how to write clearly, speak intelligently, respond appropriately or use proper telephone etiquette, you are not qualified for any professional job, anywhere.

When you say these things (or include them on your profile) you tell people that you are struggling to find interesting and unique qualities about yourself. You’re just speaking to fill up space.

No hiring manager is looking for someone to take up space at their company. Start by making sure that everything you say is something not everybody should be doing.