When it comes to job hunting, few
moments are as stressful as the job interview. You have to face complete
strangers who likely know more about you than you think. Even if you dealt with
the recruiters before, it is a stressful moment. However, sometimes you are
denied the opportunity to go to a job interview. This was not because you are
unqualified, but because you were blacklisted.
The Bane of Job Seekers
The term blacklisted
means you were marked as an undesirable hire by a given company. There are many
reasons for which you can be blacklisted. You may have made an inappropriate
joke, made a bad impression, or even submitted too many resumes to the same company.
The worst part of blacklisting is that you might not even be aware that you
have been blacklisted.
While there no common
system for blacklisting exists between companies, many companies keep their own
records of people did not wish to hire. It's quite easy to do with the variety
of recruiting tools available to
HR departments. Blacklists are not public and may block your application
indefinitely. One of the most notable examples of that is a staffer who applied
for work with a major American defense contractor. His application was denied
because the Human Resources officer remembered him from an interview in 2007,
where the staffer joked that he needs six days' notice on the mandatory drug
test.
How to Avoid
Blacklisting
While there exists no
surefire way to avoid being blacklisted, you can take several precautions to
minimize the risk and avoid being flagged. First of all, watch your behavior
closely. Do not send out dozens of resumes to the same company. If you make it
to the interview, avoid jokes while talking to human resources; be courteous,
professional, and to the point. Do your research on the company beforehand and
refrain from asking questions to which you can easily find the answer on your own.
Second, be honest about
your qualifications. There is no faster way to become blacklisted than
exaggerating or outright lying about your skills and knowledge. Your potential
employer will verify your claims. Any falsehoods will work against you. Third,
remember that you are not anonymous on the Internet. Anything you post on
social networking sites, forums, blogs, and other websites can be found by a
prospective employer. Hold yourself to the same standard as you do in real life.
It is also a good idea to
hone your skills in areas not directly related to your education or
professional experience. It is possible for a qualified, experienced software
engineer to be blacklisted because he or she lacks presentation skills.
What to Do When You
Become Blacklisted
If you do become
blacklisted then it might be hard for you to lose that status. Usually, you
will have to look for an alternative employer. However, depending on what
caused the blacklisting, you might be able to find an alternative solution.
Some companies may allow you to join for an unpaid try out to re-evaluate your
performance and qualifications. Others might only blacklist you for a finite
period of time.