NSN #7 | The 5 Biggest Job Application Mistakes (Are You Making These?)

Hey there,

Welcome to this week’s newsletter!

As you know, the pre-sale for my first-ever online course, “How To Get A Corporate Job,” is officially live! 🎉🎉🎉

But before we get into that, I want to share the most common mistakes I see when people apply for jobs.

As a hiring manager, I didn’t see 500 different mistakes.

I saw 5 mistakes—500 times.

So let’s eliminate them once and for all.

Enjoy!

🏢 Corporate Hack of the Week: The “Silent Observer” Strategy

This hack might feel counterintuitive, but trust me—it works.

If you want to level up in corporate America, sometimes the best move is to say nothing.

When you’re in a meeting, resist the urge to speak just for the sake of speaking. Instead, observe.

Here’s what you’ll notice:

🔹 Who talks the most? (They likely have influence.)🔹 Who do people actually listen to? (They’re the true decision-makers.)🔹 Who gets interrupted? (Their opinions might not carry much weight.)🔹 How do people react to new ideas? (This reveals their thought process.)

After a few meetings, you’ll know exactly how to position yourself to be heard and respected.

💡 The formula is simple: Silence → Listen → Observe → Apply.

⏩ 5 Common Mistakes Costing You Job Opportunities

Okay… you probably weren’t expecting this.

But today, I’m flipping things around and showing you how NOT to get a job.

Why?

Because most job seekers are making the same mistakes—and it’s why recruiters aren’t even giving their resumes a second look.

After years of reviewing applications, I didn’t see hundreds of different errors.

I saw 5 basic mistakes—repeated 500 times.

So let’s fix them right now.

❌ Mistake #5: Applying to the Wrong Jobs

This happens way too often.

🔹 You apply for one type of job.

🔹 Your resume tells an entirely different story.

🔹 It’s a mess—and recruiters can see it immediately.

Fix it: Before you apply, make sure your skills, experience, and job goals align with the role.

❌ Mistake #4: Listing Responsibilities Instead of Results

Most resumes are filled with tasks—but recruiters care about impact.

🚫 “I was responsible for managing social media.”

✅ “Grew social media engagement by 40% in six months.”

See the difference? Focus on measurable results.

❌ Mistake #3: Sending the Same Resume to 300 Jobs

Let’s be real—you’ve probably done this.

Why?

1️⃣ You thought applying to more jobs = better chances.

2️⃣ You were too lazy to customize each resume.

Reality check: Hiring managers can spot a generic resume from a mile away.

💡 You’re better off applying to 20 jobs with tailored resumes than sending 300 generic applications.

❌ Mistake #2: Reaching Out to the Wrong People

If you’re cold-messaging random employees at a company, stop.

Instead, reach out to these 3 key people:

✔ Recruiters or Talent Acquisition Employees

✔ The hiring manager for the position

✔ 1st or 2nd-degree connections who work (or worked) at the company

Focus on building real connections with people who can actually help.

❌ Mistake #1: Not Highlighting Relevant Skills

At the end of the day, skills matter more than degrees.

When applying, match your resume to the skills listed in the job description.

But don’t just list them—show context.

Instead of writing “Project Management”—say “Led a team of 5 to deliver a $500K project two weeks ahead of schedule.”

_______

Now you know the most common mistakes people make.

Stop doing them and your probability of getting a job will be significantly higher.

🌟 Quote of the Week

This quote stuck with me during my toughest times:

 “You are not your job.”

Society will try to convince you that your job defines your worth.

It doesn’t.

You are more than your career. Don’t let criticism lower your self-worth.

🥳 Free Resource of the Week: Proven LinkedIn DM Scripts

If you’ve ever sent job inquiries on LinkedIn but never got a reply…

It’s probably your message.

This week, I’m giving away LinkedIn DM Scripts that have worked for tons of my students.

📥 [Download Proven Linkedin DM Scripts]

That’s it for this week!

Hope you have a great weekend.

– Katie

P.S. – If you are a beginner looking for a job — I am dropping my first ever online course “How To Get A Corporate Job” on March 25th. It’s specially designed for beginners. [Tap here to see the details]