Job Search Details Not to Stress About

Job Search Details Not to Stress AboutForget about the small details and focus on what’s important instead.

You probably know by now that job searching is stressful. However, you don’t need to be hard on yourself and make it a more stressful experience than it has to be.

Here are a few things you need not worry about when it comes to job searching:

1. Letting your current boss be contacted as a reference. Some companies may ask if it’s okay to contact your current employer. It’s okay to ask that your boss not be contacted. There are reasonable employers that can understand why someone would say no, and they can request other references instead.

2. Explaining gaps in your resume. It’s normal for employers to wonder about large gaps in a resume. It’s okay not to worry if you have short gaps in employment, especially if they aren’t recent. You probably won’t be asked about them, so there’s no need to stress.

3. Looking up the hiring manager’s name. If you can’t track down the name of the hiring manager for your cover letter, you can just use “Dear Hiring Manager.”

4. “Can we contact your former employers?” You should say yes in order not to raise red flags. Since your potential employer is asking for your permission, say yes if it’s appropriate.

5. Leaving a job off your resume. Always remember that your resume is your marketing document—You need not list every job you’ve ever held, especially if a job doesn’t significantly strengthen your profile.

6. Asking for a higher salary with a detailed case. It’s not necessary to think of a lengthy justification just to prove that you’re worth more money than an employer has offered. You can simply state that you’re hoping for an increase, or ask if there’s any flexibility in the salary. Asking in a courteous and professional way shouldn’t harm your chances of getting hired.

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Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.