Here is a sample of some excerpts from cover letters that I have recently received:

• “I am very detailled oriented and my employers have been impressed with me.” Note to candidate…perhaps you should consider spell check the next time you are so “detailed”
• “I have had the advantage of knowing very early on what I want to do with my life. ” And what exactly do you want to do? Perhaps the fact that this person has had 5 jobs in the past 4 years should be a clue that switching industries or careers might be beneficial.
• “I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to come and meet with you at your convenience. ” How else would you meet with me, not at my convenience?
• “Combining sound science with knowledge in human behavior, I have analyzed data, and aided in turning high-level findings into actionable interactive strategies for clients.” I think of myself as an educated person and I have absolutely no idea what this means!
• “Ihave attached my resume and qualifications for your review andconsideration. I have a Bachelor ofScience degree inEconomics and I have alsocompleted several graduate andprofessional level real estate courses.” Perhaps you could add some spaces in between your words!
• “Although I do not have any experience in real estate, I cannot seem to land a job in any other industry.” At least this candidate is honest, although she was not granted an interview!
• “On numerous occasions I would work as long as needed.” How about on other occasions?
• “References are available upon request.” Of course they are! You need not include this in your cover letter or your resume.

Over the past two weeks we have received in excess of 200 resumes from the job postings we have listed on behalf of our clients. All of these job postings are for Analyst positions; yet, candidates who have no intention of doing analyst-level work are applying for these positions “just because” they want to have us have their resume available should some other opportunities surface.

Note to candidates: THIS IS A BAD STRATEGY!

We had one candidate who graduated in 1974 and was most recently the Chief Investment Officer of a company. For fun I contacted this candidate to see if indeed they had the Argus skills and wanted to do computer-based analytical work. The candidate responded “not really” and told me that they were really looking for a management position.

Another candidate wrote to me, “The only thing I see that doesn’t match my credentials is the years of experience. Looks like they want someone with 1-3 years, while I have 3 times that.”

DUH!

Companies do not want to hire somebody with 9 years of experience for an analyst job as they know that as soon as the market improves that person would look for another position. Additionally, the need for companies to hire analysts with updated technical skills is critical to being successful at the job. If the last time one completed a spreadsheet was when they were in grad school working with Lotus and WYSIWHG, then make note to self…this is not a job you can do!

My advice…you are wasting your time applying for positions that are so significantly junior to your work experience and background. There is a plethora of qualified candidates that have the appropriate number of years experience and the specific technical skills to do the analyst jobs today. I know that it is tough to be unemployed but the answer is not sending your resume out to every single employer posting.

I recently interviewed a candidate who sounded like Steven Wright. I practically needed to check his pulse during our conversation. He slouched in his chair, had very little energy, and never smiled. Instead of recommending him for the job, I gave him the name of my friend who is a psychologist and suggested immediately counseling! Even if you have been unemployed for a year (which many candidates have been given the bad market) always spin things positively. Be jovial, complimentary, upbeat, and high-energy. If this doesn’t come naturally, take an acting class to invest in your future. Nobody likes to be around a depressed soul.

I received an email this week from somebody who was responding to a job listing that we have for a financial analyst. Although the candidate had pretty good experience, he did not have the specific skill set and work history we were seeking. Unlike many employers these days, we try to respond to every resume submission with an email thanking the candidate for their interest in the position but stating that their background and experience are not a good fit for us.

We did just this and received the following response from the candidate:

“I applied for a few positions in Atlanta… Can you specify which one this was for so that I can cross it off of my list?”

NOT GOOD!

If you are applying blindly to every possible position and don’t even know which position to which you are applying, there is a strong likelihood that you won’t get the job. Even worse, you should not admit to a prospective employer that you don’t know what you are doing!

I would not put my money on this candidate landing a job in the commercial real estate industry or, for that matter, in any industry any time soon!