Desperation is not a marketable soft skill

You're looking for a job. You have tried everything, and it seems no one recognises your potential or believe that you'd be a great employee. Trouble is, they may already have seen the "real" you. If you've done any of the following, they may already have classified you, no matter how well you might be able to do the job on paper, as desperate:

• Applied for the same job more than once
   
• Called or emailed more than once within 72 hours of applying to check on your application
   
• Visited the desired company's human resource management just to make sure they've received your resume
   
• Within one week of the in-person interview, called or emailed more than twice to check on your status as a candidate
   
• Left numerous messages for the recruiter… even though you've received no correspondence from the person who interviewed you

Yes, you want to be perceived as eager, and passionate. However, you don't want to cross the line and go from being perceived as a high-quality, professional candidate - to being placed in the desperate bucket.

Desperation shows. Recruiters spot it a mile away. Follow these guidelines to stay top of mind with the recruiter without raising red flags:

• Apply once online for only those jobs that meet your qualifications; do not apply repeatedly
   
• Follow-up via phone 72 hours after your application; express your interest and ask to speak directly with the hiring manager
   
• One week after you've sent the application, follow up via snail-mail with a cover letter and high-quality resume
   
• If you still don't hear from the company… accept the fact that the company may not be interested.

After the interview:

• Within 48 hours of the interview, send a digital thank you (email or DM tweet) expressing your interest
   
• Within one business week, make one follow-up phone call to the recruiter
   
• If you do not speak directly to the recruiter during that call, and do not get word within the next 48 hours after your initial call, send a snail-mail 'thank you' card and succinctly state how you are a great fit for the company's culture, and the best candidate
   
• If you were told that a decision would be made or you would hear back by a certain date, follow Steve Levy's "Promised Plus 1" rule.
   
• If you still do not hear from the company, accept the fact it not interested.

Be eager. Exhibit your passion. However, since desperation is not a "soft skill" sought after by employers show patience.

The author is Mark S Babbit, CEO, YouTern. Re-printed with permission. Link: https://bsmedia.business-standard.comwww. youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2014/05/01/desperation-is-not-a-marketable-soft-skill/