CareerJournal.com Identifies Top Internet Job-Hunting Blunders

When trying to use the Internet to find a new job, smart people often make stupid mistakes, according to CareerJournal.com, The Wall Street Journalís executive career guide.

ìAs online recruiting keeps growing, e-mail and electronic resumes are increasingly a job seekerís first line of communication,î says Tony Lee, editor in chief, CareerJournal.com. ìMany well-qualified applicants are being overlooked because of abuses by less-professional applicants.î

CareerJournal.com lists these Internet job-searching blunders as among the most common:

Cover lettersóItís simple to cut and paste a copy of the same letter to different hiring managers, but make sure you proof your changes to avoid silly mistakes.

Direct communicationóIt may feel like you are communicating directly with a hiring manager, but he or she likely is receiving hundreds of resumes each day, so donít be too familiar in your greeting.

E-mail addressesóMake sure the address you use is professional. ìIf your address is ëpartyguy@hotmail.com,í consider opening a new e-mail account,î Mr. Lee says.

Fun fontsóBright colors and exotic fonts in electronic resumes and e-mails often become gibberish in other e-mail systems.

Out of your leagueóIt only takes a click of a button to apply for a senior-management position, but donít submit an application unless youíre truly qualified or youíll waste everyoneís time.

ìWhat if my boss finds my resume?îóSurveys show that you arenít likely to be fired for job hunting; it may even prompt your boss to improve your position to keep you.

ResumeóIf your work experiences donít sell the employer on hiring you for the specific job, revise or omit them.