Seems Like a No Brainer, Doesn’t It?—Read the instructions

Let my error be your knowledge gained.

I thought I had it nailed. I’m normally a very detail-oriented person, priding myself on not missing anything.

An especially interesting federal government job opened up, but the application period was fairly short and during a very busy time for me. Offline, I prepared my resume, making sure, as instructed, that the references were there to support the numerous essays that I needed to write. After spending considerable time over several days getting ready, it was time for the submission.

On the final application day, after about two hours entering my data, reviewing it, and then checking it again, I took the plunge and submitted my application. However, the next step—submitting required documentation—was yet to be completed and had to be done by midnight the same day. My cursory review early on indicated to me that I wouldn’t need any such paperwork, but the final instructions pointed to a request for my college transcripts. Uh, oh.

I’ve been out of school long enough that my transcripts are truly irrelevant, and I’ve never been asked for them before—not in more than 30 years. At this point I have no idea if I have them or in what box they might be deteriorating. My experience should speak to my qualifications, in my humble opinion, but the federal government (and I’m sure, other employers) requires transcripts.

Transcripts do not materialize in a few hours. It may take a week or more to receive them after your request, depending on your college or university. And, you may need other documentation, especially if you have a military background. So, even though I missed the deadline for this job, I drove to a local shop that same day and faxed the request to my alma mater. If another job arises, I’ll be ready.

Lesson learned: Read all the instructions well in advance and plan ahead. If you miss an important detail, you have thrown away valuable time and effort.