5 common mistakes young people make when entering the job market

Most of our Guest Officers are in their mid-20s, just out of college and starting out. We don’t require much work experience in our recruitment. There are huge gaps between theory and practice, and between organizational cultures. Hence, we prefer to train in-house.

Here are 5 common mistakes that first-time job applicants make: 

1. For most candidates in this age bracket, this is usually their first or second opportunity in formal employment. The key focus at this stage in life should be learning the ropes. Most candidates don’t get to read this memo. They prioritize ease over learning, and hence, miss out on valuable on-the-job training.
2. At this stage, most candidates don’t have much to offer by way of experience. So, soft skills and good attitude are critical. An overwhelming eagerness to learn, and the ability to get along well with others is pure gold. The key thing at this stage is self-awareness: being clear about your passion, strengths, what you suck at, and how to earn trust and relate well with others. The adage that ‘Soft Skills’ are hard and ‘Technical Skills’ are soft, is 101% correct.
3. True, CVs are slowly getting out of fashion. But they remain a powerful opportunity for making your first impression. Your introduction letter and CV are your brand and advertising copy. Learn to sell yourself. What volunteer work have done? What informal work or hustle have you done? What achievements are you most proud of? What sporting or leisure activities are you interested in? Do not include a hobby if you cannot demonstrate anything you have done on it recently? Most candidates do not spend enough time and thought in making a good copy, and consequently sell themselves short. Most ‘dump’ their CVs, rather than ‘apply’ for jobs.
4. Do some little Google search on your prospective employer and the challenges facing that industry. This will help you see how your strengths can help, and therefore assist you in developing a good story and pitch about yourself. Nothing is more annoying than to see someone in this digital generation, being so clueless, ignorant and lazy.
5. There is usually a gap between what people say they are, and who they really they are. That’s why we have the practical interview. Its purpose is to close this gap. Whereas the oral interview requires you to be neat, confident and presentable, the practical interview requires you to bring your best manners and attitude to work. Here is where the rubber meets the road. The journey ends here for 99% of candidates. To increase the odds of success, know your strengths, put them on show from day one, and use them to solve immediate problems. In short, focus on making immediate impact and contribution. Without that, you risk being seen as a mere passenger, rather than a driver of value.