5 Things That Piss Off Employers Every Job Seeker Should Avoid At All Cost

By Dorcas Karuana,
When you’re anxiously awaiting your next job opportunity, sometimes it’s easy to walk the fine line between being a determined job seeker and desperate one. Of course, it’s not uncommon to feel desperate when you’re ready to get a job, but being desperate is something that should be practiced in the privacy of your home – not where others, namely prospective employers, can catch wind of it.

“Employers want to hire people who appear confident and in high-demand,” explains Samuel Njoroge, Regional recruiter Path International. The best way to avoid looking desperate is obviously by not being desperate.

Here are some signs of being desperate that employers should never see in a job seeker:

1. Keeping on Complaining- A famous quote stipulates that, “winners don’t whine, and whiners don’t win.”  Complaining about your career will not help your cause. “In fact, such an attitude will actually make your situation worse because you will turn-off people who could help you,” explains Mr. Njoroge.

2. Being too flexible- “Desperate job seekers will accept anything; any job that they think will suit them. “They are not sure what they want; with no particular field of interest, explains Mr. Njoroge. He illustrates that, some ask for any job openings, while others send emails saying “I will take any job in marketing”).

People will not be inspired to help you or even hire you if you have no purpose or focus for your job search. He advises, on being clear on where you are trying to go before you ask for help or advice. “If you have no idea what you want to do, start by researching jobs/careers on your own and by conducting informational interviews as well.”

3. Being afraid to ask tough questions – When being interviewed for a job, always go out of your way to ask tough questions, even though it is an entry level position, management or senior level positions.  Mr Njoroge gives an example, “if ABC Company has been facing serious competition in a particular product; you can ask how it is moving forward despite their obvious Marketing/ Sales challenges.” By asking tough questions in a non-confrontational manner, you send a clear message to the employer that you are evaluating them as well. This makes you look less desperate and much more attractive.

4. Following-up too aggressively- While following up, there is a thin line between showing interest in the job, and being too aggressive. Mr Njoroge explains that, “While I’d always prefer that an employer think you are too bold than too passive, follow-up can definitely be taken too far.”  The best way around this is to establish a follow-up timeline at the end of any communication (i.e. right before a job interview ends). Then, you’ll know how/when to follow-up.

5. Accepting an offer immediately- Mr Njoroge paints a picture from the hiring person’s perspective. “If you made an offer to a candidate and they accepted it immediately (without any delay or questions or counter-offer), wouldn’t you question that person’s worth? Wouldn’t you wonder if you could have gotten the person for less?

Wouldn’t you wonder if this person was desperate? Wouldn’t you wonder if you had made a bad decision?”Negotiating your salary (when done correctly) can actually make an employer want you even more and earn you greater respect for when you start your job.

Mr. Njoroge concludes that, “if you are out of work, for any reason, find a relevant, valuable way(s) to fill up your free time to avoid being labeled as the ‘unemployed’. You could take a professional development course, you could donate your time/expertise to a professional association, you could guest blog for a web site in your field, etc. By staying active during your unemployment, you’ll feel better about yourself and have something to talk about while you are networking and interviewing.

Dorcas is a Communications/HR Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Email:dorcas@corporatestaffing.co.ke. Website: www.corporatestaffing.co.ke.

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