Like a lot of things in life, applying for a job is all about avoiding unforced errors

For most people who are new to the world of hiring, one thing often comes as a surprise: far too often, job applicants act as their own worst enemy by making mistakes in the application process that should have been easy to avoid. In my own role as a human resources director, I see these "unforced errors" occur on a regular basis, and I still find myself wondering why an applicant would go to so much trouble to submit a full application without paying attention to the details. Given the hyper-competitiveness of the current job market, it's useful to remember that the difference between success and failure for a job applicant is as much a case of what an applicant has done right as it is about what they've done wrong. To quote my friend Shane Parrish at Farnam Street Blog, "avoiding stupidity is easier than seeking brilliance."

If you're in the process of applying for a job, "avoiding stupidity" is really about focusing on the things within your control. Even if you feel that your qualifications and experiences make you the ideal candidate for a particular position, chances are you'll still be facing off against several other equally-qualified applicants. And in the case that you might be a long shot, the last thing you want is to lose out because of a factor that was completely within your ability to control.

So whether you're focusing on making it across that finish line (or simply trying to get yourself into the race), here's a list of obvious but critical steps for eliminating unforced errors in your search for a new position.

Read the directions on the job posting (seriously)

If this seems like simple common sense to you, then I invite you to take a stroll with me down applicant lane. Notice, for instance, the amount of applicants who simply ignore clear directions in a job posting, such as "please state clearly in your cover letter why you'd like to work for us." Or perhaps you'll notice the many applicants who refuse to demonstrate in a resumé or CV how they meet an essential job requirement, such as second language capability.

If you're an applicant, you might believe that your application is so strong that you need not worry about colouring too closely within the lines. But if this is the case, you'd probably be surprised to learn that many hiring managers include clear directions in a job posting simply to ensure that applicants are able to follow basic instructions. These days, most positions require strong attention to detail, and asking applicants to follow a set of instructions is a great way for hiring managers to screen for this critical skill. In my experience, omitting a clear instruction in a job posting will often lead to the candidate's immediate elimination from the applicant pool. This might seem harsh, but when the application is one in a pool of two-hundred, hiring managers will tend to use any excuse to narrow down that pool.

Review (and review again) your application before submitting

Unfortunately, reading (and following) the directions on a job posting is usually only part of the battle in avoiding unforced errors. As important as it is to follow application directions, it's equally important to ensure that you've fully edited all the materials in your application package. I would estimate that in nearly every job application process I've ever led or been involved in, at least 5% to 10% of applications include errors that come from a lack of proper editing or final screening. For example, if you're applying for the position of Senior Project Manager, you probably want to avoid stating in your cover letter that you're interested in the Sales Manager gig. Likewise, if you're submitting an application to Microsoft, you likely want to avoid stating in your CV that your objective is to secure employment with the local hydro provider.

You might be rolling your eyes at this point, but I assure you that a significant amount of applications include obvious unforced errors such as these. And if you think that a hiring manager is being too harsh for rejecting an application simply because of a failure to proofread, consider this: if you can't trust a potential direct report to pay close attention when she or he is doing something as important as submitting a job application, how can that you ever trust that applicant to pay close attention when dealing with another win or lose situation, such as securing a new client agreement or meeting a critical deadline?

This might seem harsh, but when the application is one in a pool of two-hundred, hiring managers will tend to use any excuse to narrow down that pool.

Don't overthink (or underthink) your application presentation

This one is a bit less obvious, and there is no clear consensus on how a resumé or cover letter should be formatted. I've seen all different kinds of format, and I can't say that any one particular style stands out above the rest. In cases where I've recruited for a more creative position, I usually work off the assumption that a creative resumé format will suggest a more creative personality type. At the same time, a highly unconventional format can be extremely distracting when sifting through dozens of applications, and more often than not, distracting is not what an applicant wants his or her application to be. Perhaps it's the part-time college instructor in me, but applications that take exceptional liberties with style and formatting usually remind me of student papers that try to mask a lack of substance by over-compensating with style. More often than not, a standard format will be just fine.

At the same time, presentation shouldn't be something that gets overlooked. The biggest favour an applicant can do for a hiring manager is to make that person's life easier by giving them the ability to quickly and accurately assess the application. I've seen far too many resumés that are organized in a confusing fashion, or include much more information than is necessary to include. If you're wondering how to go about structuring the format of your resumé or cover letter, consider that you want the hiring manager to come away from reviewing your application thinking "I'd like to learn more about that person - they clearly meet the requirements for this position." An application should give just enough information as to spark the interest of the hiring manager, but not so much that it requires double or triple the amount of time to review as the average application. Like everyone, most hiring managers are busy and they will greatly appreciate a concise and compelling application. The "best practice" of what to include in an application will usually differ greatly depending on industry and position type, but a good rule of thumb is to let your career do the talking. In other words, focus on the substance of your experience and qualifications, rather than the style of your application. The only caveat here is that no amount of substance can substitute for an awful application format.

Don't fudge the interview

If you do manage to get your application to the front of the pack and are able to secure that coveted interview, congratulations! At the very least, this means the hiring manager saw some kind of potential in your application, and they have agreed to make the effort to get to know you better. In many ways, getting the interview is the hardest part of the entire application process, so don't mess it up by under-preparing.

There's a wealth of great information online about how to prepare for a job interview. Read it! In particular, TheBalanceCareers.com provides eleven excellent pointers, and I would encourage any applicant to follow the advice provided in those points. Nearly every point offered in that article is one that requires virtually no skill, experience, or particular level of intelligence. It's simply following a checklist and making sure you do each item on that checklist. Putting in that extra bit of effort will pay off, whether it's helping to secure the job you're applying for, or simply forcing yourself to get into the habit of approaching an interview professionally and with the required amount of effort.

In addition to the eleven tips mentioned above, I'd also offer one additional piece of advice that just might make the difference between success and failure at the interview stage. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking the hiring manager to clarify anything. That merits repeating, so I'll say it again: if you have any questions about the interview, ask the hiring manager. One example where this is almost never an issue is in the area of attire. These days, many work environments have dress standards that are extremely flexible, and it can be hard to determine what type of style of dress to wear to an interview. The old rule was to always rely on formal business attire, but in some cases a hiring manager or hiring committee will be put off if you're over-dressed. I'm not personally very comfortable with judging someone on how they're dressed, but many hiring leads will use attire to determine whether someone is a good fit from the perspective of organizational culture. Don't believe me? Try walking into a tech startup with a tailored suit.

The good news is that hiring managers are people, and usually people are happy to help (hopefully at least). If you have doubts about what to wear to a job interview, just ask something innocuous like "do you have an office dress code?" Or, if you feel uncomfortable asking so directly, you can always bury this question in with a broader inquiry, such as "is there anything else I should know in order to prepare for the interview? Anything to bring? Dress code?" My experience is that most hiring managers will see this not as a sign of ignorance or immaturity, but as a strong commitment to professionalism.

Putting it all together

In the world of HR, we talk a lot about hard versus soft skills, and the ability to avoid unforced errors is clearly in the soft camp. But it goes beyond this. Avoiding unforced errors isn't like developing your emotional intelligence or improving your ability to prioritize and manage conflicting obligations (all examples of soft skills). Rather, avoiding unforced errors is forcing yourself to take that extra step to show that you care. In fact, to use the term "unforced error" is a bit misleading. Used most often in tennis, an unforced error refers to a mistake a player makes which is not easily attributed to the opposing player. For a job applicant, it's not so much about missing an easy point as it is about proper preparation before stepping onto the court. Perhaps a more apt way of looking at it is therefore to say that, while a tennis player might have the occasional off-day in terms of performance, she can at least ensure that her shoelaces are tied and that the string on her racquet isn't going to snap in the middle of the game.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the views, practices, or policies of Ottawa Tourism.