10 Things that Make it Harder to get a Cosmetic Science Job
A number of people visit this website looking for information and tips on how to get a job in the cosmetic science industry. You can find lots of articles that we’ve previously written in our career page so I encourage you to check those out.
But beyond getting more information about the industry there are a number of things you might be doing that makes it harder for you to get a job. If you’re doing any of the following, make efforts to correct that now.
1. Having a poor resume. You don’t need to be Hemingway but you don’t want to have a resume that is awful (or non-existant). If you’re looking for a cosmetic science job, write a resume that reflects your desire. See this page for some resume writing tips.
2. Being inflexible. If you are trying to find a job in the cosmetic industry, the more flexible you are about the positions you are willing to take, the companies you are will to work for and the places you are willing to move, the greater your chances of getting a job. If you have lots of conditions under which you won’t take a job, it’ll be a lot harder to get one.
3. Not having any accomplishments. Some people don’t include clearly written, understandable accomplishments on their resume. You need to communicate the things that you’ve done and give people a reason to want to interview you. Include anything that might be an accomplishment for which you are proud. For example, I include “World Record holder” in my resume even though it is not related to cosmetic chemistry.
4. Assuming your recruiter will work for you. While it can be easy to let a recruiter hunt down all the job opportunities for you, this is not a great way to get a job. A recruiter should only be one method for you to find your dream job. You’ve still got to keep hunting yourself. Remember recruiters work for themselves not necessarily you. They want to fill a job with whomever they can.
5. Not tailoring your resume for a specific job. These days it’s easy enough to change your resume for every job you apply for. Don’t send a resume with an objective of landing a formulation job if the job is for Quality Control chemist. Modify every resume to best fit every job you are applying for.
6. Applying for jobs for which you aren’t qualified. If you are not qualified for a job (or over qualified) don’t waste everyone’s time applying for them. You need to filter out jobs based on what you can realistically expect to get.
7. Having a poor online reputation. It’s a reality that employers check things like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to get background information about you that doesn’t come through in a resume. Make it a point to Google yourself and see what the HR department of your future employer is going to see. If you can, get rid of the pictures where people tag you with drinks in your hand or acting crazy. And try to remove any rants you have about touchy political subjects. It just makes it much more difficult to get a job. On the flip-side, having an impressive online reputation can help nudge you over to getting the job.
8. Connecting with people when you’re unemployed. While you don’t necessarily need the services of a them when you have a job that is the time to connect with recruiters. Headhunters don’t really want to work with people who are unemployed. So, while they can be annoying telling you about positions that you have no interest in, you need to connect with recruiters while you are employed. This will improve your chances of finding a new job. Also, spend time building your network with people from other companies. The more people you know in the industry, the better your chances of finding a good cosmetic chemist career.
9. Not figuring out what you are good at. If you don’t toot your own horn, no one will. You have to be confident in what you are good at or what you can bring to a company. Acknowledge your strengths and focus on them. Everyone is good at something and it is up to you to figure out what it is.
10. Not personalizing cover letters. When you apply for a job you should always include a cover letter. And that cover letter should be personalized to the person who is receiving it. The fastest way for something to end up in the trash is to make it a form letter. If you don’t know who to send the cover letter to, use LinkedIn to try to find out who might be appropriate.
During the month of March we focusing on a cosmetic science career. If you are interested in more about having a career as a cosmetic chemist, be sure to see our page on cosmetic science career.
