Hiring Managers’ Most Memorable Applicant Mistakes

[^_^ 5,021]

The following is an actual method used by a job seeker in an attempt to land a job:

"Looook into my eyes. You’re getting sleeeepy. You want to hiiiire me."

That’s right; according to one response from CareerBuilder’s annual survey of memorable résumé mistakes, a job seeker actually sent in his résumé with an accompanying video that attempted to hypnotize the HR manager into hiring him.

But the strange tactics don’t stop there. Imagine listing “God” as a reference on your application. According to the survey, one applicant did just that (although he or she did not leave a contact phone number for God).

Hypnosis and divine references aside, other résumé gems included:

* Candidate listed her hobby as alligator watching.

* Candidate claimed to be a direct descendant of the Vikings.

* Candidate’s e-mail address had “lovesbeer” in it.

* Candidate listed “Master of Time and Universe” under his experience.

* Candidate started off the application with “Do you want a tiger?”

* Candidate specifically pointed out that he was not a gypsy.

* Candidate’s condition for accepting the position was being allowed to bring his pet monkey to the workplace.

* Candidate pointed out, “I’ll have your job in five years.”

* Candidate sent a 24-page résumé for a five-year career.

* Candidate put a picture of her cat on top of her résumé.

* Candidate declared himself the LeBron James of table games.

...

There are still certain lines of professionalism that must be left un-crossed when attempting to get the attention of HR. “While it’s important to stand out from the crowd, job seekers need to make sure their résumés catch hiring managers’ eyes for the right reasons,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.

http://www.theworkbuzz.com/career-advice/hiring-managers-most-memorable-applicant-mistakes/

[The_Dude 1,142]

The following is an actual method used by a job seeker in an attempt to land a job:

"Looook into my eyes. You’re getting sleeeepy. You want to hiiiire me."

That’s right; according to one response from CareerBuilder’s annual survey of memorable résumé mistakes, a job seeker actually sent in his résumé with an accompanying video that attempted to hypnotize the HR manager into hiring him.

But the strange tactics don’t stop there. Imagine listing “God” as a reference on your application. According to the survey, one applicant did just that (although he or she did not leave a contact phone number for God).

Hypnosis and divine references aside, other résumé gems included:

* Candidate listed her hobby as alligator watching.

* Candidate claimed to be a direct descendant of the Vikings.

* Candidate’s e-mail address had “lovesbeer” in it.

* Candidate listed “Master of Time and Universe” under his experience.

* Candidate started off the application with “Do you want a tiger?”

* Candidate specifically pointed out that he was not a gypsy.

* Candidate’s condition for accepting the position was being allowed to bring his pet monkey to the workplace.

* Candidate pointed out, “I’ll have your job in five years.”

* Candidate sent a 24-page résumé for a five-year career.

* Candidate put a picture of her cat on top of her résumé.

* Candidate declared himself the LeBron James of table games.

...

There are still certain lines of professionalism that must be left un-crossed when attempting to get the attention of HR. “While it’s important to stand out from the crowd, job seekers need to make sure their résumés catch hiring managers’ eyes for the right reasons,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.

http://www.theworkbuzz.com/career-advice/hiring-managers-most-memorable-applicant-mistakes/

I've seen quite a few straight out of university applicants with really inappropriate email address'. If you put "69" or "420" in your email name, you're not gooing to get the job. I really had to laugh at the 24 page resume for a 5 year career. Must have been very descriptive.

[^_^ 5,021]

I remember freshman year in college during IT orientation, they told us to be pick our email usernames carefully because we'd be stuck with them for the rest of our college careers. This is back when they let us pick usernames; today, they are simply assigned to you (for example, first name dot middle initial dot last name or something similar). Despite the warning, lots of my friends had hilariously inappropriate usernames.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I remember freshman year in college during IT orientation, they told us to be pick our email usernames carefully because we'd be stuck with them for the rest of our college careers. This is back when they let us pick usernames; today, they are simply assigned to you (for example, first name dot middle initial dot last name or something similar). Despite the warning, lots of my friends had hilariously inappropriate usernames.

I remember those days. A guy who lived on my floor at my dorm freshman year picked the name Pimpdaddymatt as his name. He was forced to change it 2nd semester, but his choice remained asinine Matt.big.johnson

[Amby 490]

I remember those days. A guy who lived on my floor at my dorm freshman year picked the name Pimpdaddymatt as his name. He was forced to change it 2nd semester, but his choice remained asinine Matt.big.johnson

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I remember freshman year in college during IT orientation, they told us to be pick our email usernames carefully because we'd be stuck with them for the rest of our college careers. This is back when they let us pick usernames; today, they are simply assigned to you (for example, first name dot middle initial dot last name or something similar). Despite the warning, lots of my friends had hilariously inappropriate usernames.

Presumably you're referring to college (or work) email usernames--on "private" sites (hotmail, yahoo, gmail, ...) you can almost pick as you please (if the name is taken, it will tell you and suggest a variation).

[^_^ 5,021]

I remember freshman year in college during IT orientation, they told us to be pick our email usernames carefully because we'd be stuck with them for the rest of our college careers. This is back when they let us pick usernames; today, they are simply assigned to you (for example, first name dot middle initial dot last name or something similar). Despite the warning, lots of my friends had hilariously inappropriate usernames.

Presumably you're referring to college (or work) email usernames--on "private" sites (hotmail, yahoo, gmail, ...) you can almost pick as you please (if the name is taken, it will tell you and suggest a variation).

Presumably? Had you read my post, you wouldn't need to presume.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My high school email address (assigned to me, mind you -- it was the first initial of your first name and the first four letters of your last name) was morte@___.edu. Yep, "morte." I asked if it was a sly dig at the amount of black clothing I wore at the time; it was merely a coincidence.

I had pretty much no one to email anyway outside of the school since this WAS 1990 after all.

[slim 1,533]

What kills me about the dumb e-mail addresses is it's so easy to acquire a new one. It's not like it requires a lot of time and effort to get something more professional.

After a recent job search experience I can verify, yes, people are that stupid.

[trillium13 84]

I get to see quite a few of the resumes that come through at work, and frankly, many of them are appalling. People can't even write decent sentences in English. They write things that make no sense. It's like they didn't even read what they have written. FFS people, you did this on your computer, it's 2010, use the spell checker!!!

The things they show up wearing to interviews is a whole other story entirely.

Edited September 16, 2010 by trillium13

[Harsh_77 718]

This is a real incident happen while we were conducting a phone interview, the resume we had received was really good and everything exactly what we were looking for.

So we start the interview and ask him basic questions and he is alright and the we started digging deeper and the candidate was getting shakey in answers and then suddenly disconnects the phone.... and then we could not get hold of him.

Later then he emails HR saying he had boils on his belly and he could not do the interview, me and my co-worker laughed our butt off...

He had asked HR to re-schedule the interview, but we never called him back....lol.

[Doris_G 4]

Later then he emails HR saying he had boils on his belly

Wow. That is one for the books. I'll bet it shut down any further questioning right quick.

[Dan J 277]

I get to see quite a few of the resumes that come through at work, and frankly, many of them are appalling. People can't even write decent sentences in English. They write things that make no sense. It's like they didn't even read what they have written. FFS people, you did this on your computer, it's 2010, use the spell checker!!!

The things they show up wearing to interviews is a whole other story entirely.

A spellchecker only checks if a word matches a dictionary and does not usually understand if you have the right word for the context. While I am sure there are a lot of people who do need to improve their English; I don't think its a good idea to be too overzealous about correct spelling and grammar as long as the message is clearly communicated, with the exception of jobs that actually do require it (PR, English Teacher, etc...)

In my line of work, there are other skills that are more important than great spelling or grammar.

[ValerieA 350]

A spellchecker only checks if a word matches a dictionary and does not usually understand if you have the right word for the context. While I am sure there are a lot of people who do need to improve their English; I don't think its a good idea to be too overzealous about correct spelling and grammar as long as the message is clearly communicated, with the exception of jobs that actually do require it (PR, English Teacher, etc...)

In my line of work, there are other skills that are more important than great spelling or grammar.

Yeah, but when there are so many qualified applicants for each job, you have to make sure you're not being weeded out for something as simple to fix as grammar. Word does have a grammar checker, along with the spell checker.

[slim 1,533]

A spellchecker only checks if a word matches a dictionary and does not usually understand if you have the right word for the context. While I am sure there are a lot of people who do need to improve their English; I don't think its a good idea to be too overzealous about correct spelling and grammar as long as the message is clearly communicated, with the exception of jobs that actually do require it (PR, English Teacher, etc...)

In my line of work, there are other skills that are more important than great spelling or grammar.

Very true. But in most lines of work, if someone's incapable of producing a simple, one page document about THEMSELF, it could be very hard for them to follow through on even the most basic of procedures like ensuring what they're doing is in accordance with what they've been directed to do.

"AWwwwww. I aint see that right derr. You want me to do it like that? Aaaiight." Five minutes later when they finally get back to doing it - the right way - they're typically not too motivated.... and they're still not making sure it's the right thing. Just being there is typically all they're doing. And usually that's a stretch too. Showing up to work is getting harder and harder for the "average" employee.

If folks have a job, they better hold onto it. On my recent job search I showed up to an open interview session and saw folks in wife beaters and others in three piece suits. Guess who they wanted to hire?

Edited - should've used spell checker!

Edited September 16, 2010 by slim