Let’s face it, job hunting is basically Hinge with a résumé: you’re putting yourself out there, looking for “the one,” and praying you don’t get ghosted. But just like the game of love, a few wrong moves can land you in purgatory, where all the swiped left profiles go to swiped left abyss. Here are the red flags that make hiring managers hit unmatch before you’ve even said hello and how to reverse that behavior with a few simple updates.
You’re So Basic
Submitting the exact same resume to every job is like copy-pasting “Hey 😉” to every match on every dating app. It’s lazy, forgettable, and a little desperate. No hiring manager is swooning over a generic cover letter that doesn’t even mention their company by name. Instead, tailor your resume and cover letter for each role. Highlight the parts of your experience that speak directly to their job description, and connect the dots between your story and their needs. Make it clear why you and this role are a perfect match — because you’re here for the one, not just anyone.
Pics or It Didn’t Happen
When recruiters are swiping through dating profiles (I mean resumes), they’re not just looking for the headline, they want the proof. Just like you’d expect to see the travel pic, the cute dog shot, or the “I make a mean risotto” photo on a dating app, hiring managers want to see tangible evidence that you’re active and thriving in your field. When drafting your resume, include snapshots of your professional life: the budget you managed, the percentage of revenue growth you drove, the fundraising goal you crushed. Show them the action, not just the caption. Numbers, achievements, and real outcomes are the professional equivalent of those swipe-stopping photos.
AI Doing OT
AI is like that friend who insists on helping you with your dating bio. Helpful in theory, until you discover it’s a cliche-riddle paragraph about your “live laugh love” lifestyle. Sure, they’ll get you started, but if you hand over the whole job, you might end up with something that sounds nothing like you. A better move is to let AI be your drafting buddy, then going in and making the language your own. There are a ton of great tools to help you search, prep and apply for jobs. Just be sure that you spend time looking over the work these programs create for you before sending them out into the professional world. And, as always, PROOFREAD.
Never taking it to IRL
If a recruiter calls and you can’t interview for weeks, it’s like matching with someone who’s “super into you”… but can only grab coffee in three months. The spark fizzles fast. Instead, keep your calendar flexible so when opportunity knocks, you can say, “Yes, I’m free!” and turn that match into a real-life meeting before the moment passes.
Forgetting to Background Check
You’d never meet up for a date without a quick social media deep dive, so why walk into a job interview clueless? Showing up without knowing the organization is like arriving at a date and asking, “So… what’s your name again?” Make sure to research their mission, projects, and culture ahead of time so you can charm them (professionally) with confidence and show you’re genuinely interested.