subject: 4 Things That Get You "blacklisted" By Companies [print this page] Today, walk into any restaurant and most servers have at least a bachelor's degree. Translation: a college degree does not guarantee you a high level job. With the economy as it is you don't need one more thing working against you. So, don't make these mistakes.
Trying to wear too many hats
It's just not realistic that you could be a marketing guru, an expert graphic designer and a seasoned secretary. So do not subit a resume for all of these jobs at the same company. Don't try to get hired for various different jobs within the same company that have nothing to do with one another. It will only make the company think you're lying about your qualifications for every position.
Smudging the truth
It doesn't matter if your duties made you feel like the manager, the vice president or whatever. If that was not your actual title at that company, you can't say it was. Not only will your potential employer find out the facts and feel you're less qualified than you say, but it also shows you have little respect for your last employer. My friend taught singing lessons at a music academy, and she partook in a lot of decisions for the academy like hiring instructors, how to allocate budgets and so on. Aside from working as a voice coach, she put down on her resume that she had been VP of the committee at the academy, which was a lie. When applying to a new academy, they discovered my friend's lie. This instantly disqualified her as an applicant, which was a shame, because the new academy really did think she was good at teaching people how to sing.
Talking "smack"
Even if your previous boss was a complete monster, it is your job to find the most polite way to explain why and how your last job ended, to your new potential employer. Should you bad mouth a previous employer, that will instantly make the person interviewing you fear that you'd do the same to your next employer.
Faulty references
Don't put down a reference you worked for almost a decade ago, or one who actually did not work closely with you. Only put down names of people who you know were able to closely observe your work ethic and your skills. Also, whoever's name you do give out, let them know ahead of time that someone might call them for a reference. To make it effortless for your reference, create a simple list of the tasks you used to carry out when you worked for them.
