jsync | Java Staffing Specialist

Nine Things That Scare Potential New Employers

10/10/2006

by Dave Fecak

1. Job Hopping – Most professionals in the technology field have made some career moves over the past ten years, as the economy got hot and new more exciting opportunities arose. Hopefully, you have used discretion in your career and not jumped at every new venture that was presented to you. Companies invest in employees on a daily basis, and their return on investment takes time – if you are viewed as a job hopper, a potential new employer may figure that they will never get to the point of positive ROI.
2. Gaping Resume Holes – a one or two year gap in employment on a resume could result from going full time to get an advanced degree, an extended job search in a down economy, or a stretch at Sing Sing for armed robbery. If you had an extended period of unemployment, there are a few ways to explain it proactively. For a period of under one year, you probably are best served to only use years (instead of months) on your resume (i.e. Company X 1999-2003, Company Y 2004 – present). If you were pursuing a degree or advancing your career through learning, it is probably best to include that somewhere on the resume so the question will not come up in a negative way.
3. ‘Me Me Me’ Syndrome – a major mistake that is somewhat common in interviews is for a candidate to start asking questions about compensation and benefits before finding out about the job itself. If you are asking about whether the company has direct deposit or a 401k match before learning about the job, you are certainly scaring the interviewer. Wait until the appropriate time to ask about $ and perks – find out about the job first.
4. Stone Age References – References have almost become a joke in the career field, based on the fact that everyone should be able to produce two or three people that they expect will say nice things about them. So when a candidate uses a co-worker from seven years ago as a reference, it is usually a major red flag. (The only real exception is when a candidate is leaving a long term position and doesn’t want their current employer used as a reference before resigning.) Be sure to provide references from co-workers and managers that have worked with you in the past two or three years whenever possible.
5. Bad Mouth – If you are interviewing at a company, chances are the interviewers can surmise that you are not doing cartwheels at your current job. However, this is not a license or a forum to discuss all of your issues with your company/co-workers/boss. Be aware that trashing your current employer with a potentail new employer will probably cast you in a bad light.
6. Money…it’s a crime – Similar to ‘Me Me Me Syndrome’, companies get concerned when the primary (or perhaps only) reason you are looking is due to salary. Why? If you come across as a mercenary that will work for the highest bidder, a company will eventually be outbid for your services. In the event that you have done your research and are indeed paid well below market value for your skills, salary is a much more acceptable reason for looking, but it is probably unwise to express that in an interview – trust that a company will pay you market value.
7. Sloppy Joe – The first evidence a hiring company uses to assess your communication skills is your resume – spelling errors and poorly presented content will send a chill down a manager’s spine. Likewise, sloppy appearance gives the impression that you don’t really care to make a good impression and might effect a company’s desire to put you in front of a client. Even if the interviewer requests you to dress business casual, make sure to make a neat appearance.
8. TMI – Providing irrelevant personal information to your potential new employer only gives them more ways to discriminate against you. Making some type of personal connection to an interviewer is often valuable, but tread lightly if you decide to venture beyond talking about your skills. Giving an interviewer your life story, no matter how inspiring or interesting, can create the sense that you enjoy talking about yourself way too much. Too Much Information can also relate to resumes, often in a ‘Personal’ or ‘Hobbies’ section which are typically unnecessary and can rarely help you anyway. Only if your hobby relates to a company’s line of business is it probably at all relevant (and worth sharing) in the technology industry.
9. Be Prepared – One sure way to scare off an interviewer is to draw a blank when asked “So what do you know about our company?” Going into an interview without at least a basic knowledge of the company’s line of business and history is very risky – if you are asked and give no answer, that will often be the last question of the interview. Bring a resume and directions and do your homework on the hiring company.

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