Applying for a job in digital is not easy. First of all, you’ve got a variety of different sources just to find out if there is a job out there for you. Then begins the process of interviews. It is usually more than one. Then you get the call to say they have given it to someone else. Other times you don’t even get the call. It sucks.
Now is the time you should consider what is going wrong. Maybe it had nothing to do with the outfit you wore. Maybe there is an issue you don’t even know is an issue yet. Therefore, to try to eliminate potential rejections and to make the process a little easier, we thought we’d compile a list of five things not do when applying for a job in digital.
1. Activate Ghost Mode
If employers can’t find you online then why should they offer you a job in a digital role? Make sure you are visible in the search engines. The better your SEO, the more visible you will be to the world and future employers. In an ideal world, your online profile should dominate the first two pages of the search. If you happen to appear on more then even better. However, employers only tend to look at the first two.
For some more do’s and don’ts check out one of our previous blogs: Personal Branding Dos and Don’ts
2. Reveal A Little Too Much
Keep personal social media profiles such as Facebook and Twitter private. You don’t want potential employers looking at the content you posted when you were younger and didn’t think about who would see it. What you think is a joke between friends may offend others. Check your privacy settings. However, if you have online sites such as LinkedIn or a blog, these are great sites to promote and will help you appear higher in the search engine results.
3. Forget to spellcheck
Once you post something online, it is there for everyone in the world to see. You can’t take it back. Proofreading is vital, do it. Also, there are so many great plugins and extensions you can use to help avoid any embarrassing grammatical errors. Grammarly can be your best friend if you install it. Just remember, simple mistakes can look unprofessional and lazy. No one likes posts that have the wrong use of there, their and they’re.
4. Refuse to Change
The worlds of online and offline are always changing. That means we have to change too. You can’t expect the workplace to adapt to your needs and wants, sometimes you will need to work across different departments and positions. Maybe you’ll need to learn how to use a new software or online tool. So be prepared to learn and be enthusiastic to gain some new knowledge.
5. Think You Know It All
Employers don’t expect you to be an expert in all things digital, it’s a big world. So don’t act like you know it all. Briefly reading articles and blogs about AdWords won’t make you an overnight expert. Acknowledging your weaknesses can be beneficial in the long term as it shows you are eager to learn new skills. Take some serious steps to learning more; maybe apply for a course in Digital Marketing, or get some extra online experience by doing some volunteering or an internship.
And there you have it, our 5 things not to do if you want a job in digital. We wish you all the best in your job hunt!