NEW YORK (April 25, 2018) — With diplomas soon in hand, most recent college graduates will be ready to reach for the stars when it comes to finding their first “real” job. However, a new survey conducted by TopResume reveals that they will need to work a lot harder to impress those hiring managers. Between April 16 and April 24, TopResume, the largest resume-writing service in the world, asked nearly 300 human resources professionals, recruiters, hiring managers, and career-service professionals, “What are the most damaging job-search mistakes made by recent college grads?” and confirmed the five biggest blunders.

“In any workplace — whether you're entry-level or a seasoned executive — proper preparation and excellent communication skills are two critical competencies to master, which our recent survey has confirmed” said Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, a certified professional career coach (CPCC), and a certified professional resume writer (CPRW). “Young job seekers must leverage their new degree much more effectively in order to write and speak professionally, especially since these hiring managers are the gateway to potential job offers.”

Below are the results from TopResume's recent survey revealing recent college graduates' five biggest offenses, according to this group:

  • Inappropriate or ineffective written communication skills — for emails, cover letters, and interview follow-up correspondence (67%)

  • Being too informal — slang or “text-speak” when communicating with hiring managers, dressed too casually for an interview, or treating the receptionist poorly (60%)

  • Asking too few or inappropriate questions during an interview (48%)

  • Arriving unprepared for interviews (47%)

  • Applying to out-of-reach/unrealistic jobs for which they were unqualified (41%)

To learn how recent college grads can avoid the biggest job-search mistakes, check out TopResume's recent #OfficeHours Facebook Live Chat with Danny Rubin, acclaimed author and speaker, and Vice President of Rubin Communications Group. On an ongoing basis, TopResume's data science team compiles nationwide data from their customers to better understand current behavioral trends in the job market.

About TopResume

TopResume, a Talent Inc. company, is the world's premier resume-writing service, analyzing millions of resumes and LinkedIn profiles each year. Job seekers work directly with professional writers and industry experts to redefine their personal brand and stand out from the crowd during the job-search process. Follow TopResume on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and visit TopResume to request a free confidential resume review.

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