We like to acknowledge the fact that job hunting is not easy. We know because we are constantly getting requests from hundreds of job seekers who are looking for jobs, and some of them can’t seem to understand why they are not getting hired.
Times have evolved, employers are no longer just asking for your CV and inviting you for interviews. A lot of organizations are asking people to fill in application forms and there are other stages in between such as take-home tests, phone interviews, video interviews and psychometric tests before physically meeting your prospective employer. So as a job seeker, the ball is in your court to prove that you’re dedicated to getting that job and you’ll be able to add value to their organization.
It’s important to recognize as a job seeker that organizations spend a lot of resources hiring, so it’s paramount to them that the people they add to their teams will contribute to the success of the organization and will be a good culture fit.
That being said, here are top 5 mistakes you can avoid when applying for jobs, why they get you disqualified, and what you can do to possibly get considered for the next stages.
1. Grammatical errors – it goes without saying that grammar errors represent a lack of attention to detail. As recruiters, we find it hard shortlisting such a candidate, because it tells us that their lack of attention to detail will also display itself at work, and why would an employer want to risk this? Grammarly is your friend, download it today! Please proofread all your documents before sending them out. A tip to sending a great application is preparing it on a word doc first and then putting the answers on an application form.
2. Not following directions – I can’t begin to tell you how often candidates fail to follow instructions outlined in applications. Only 10% or less of applicants follow application instructions. Are you one of them? Do you set time aside to fully internalize what is required of you? Not answering questions as asked, ignoring certain aspects of the questions, leaving blanks and not attaching certain documents is what happens as a result of not being intentional.
3. Not tailoring your application to the role – Many times, people fail to customize their knowledge, skills and abilities to fit the jobs they are applying for. Just because you are applying for jobs in the same career path, does not mean that all requirements are the same. All organizations operate differently and have a different set of skills that matter more than others. Ensure you thoroughly go through the JD and tailor your CV, cover letter and application answers to these requirements. Again, be intentional about this so that you avoid getting into the rut of sending applications randomly.
4. Applying for jobs you’re unqualified for – This one is a bone of contention because there is a small group of people who have gotten jobs they were not qualified for, according to testaments on different social media platforms. We are aware of the fact that people are encouraged to apply for jobs they’re not qualified for because “you never know what will happen”. This can be true, you can be hired because of the potential you exude, or because you are in a job that does not utilize your abilities fully and the next employer sees that in you and you have proven it. What is also true, is that applying for jobs you are absolutely not qualified for shows the recruiter that you did not pay attention to the requirements of the role, or you completely ignored them. Either way, it’s not a good look, and constantly doing this may position you as one without a clear focus.
5. Excluding relevant details in your CV or application – Oftentimes, we have had to call candidates and ask them to send us a more detailed CV, or make clarifications on something they said on their application form, because the information provided seems incomplete. Please avoid sending out a CV that does not list your responsibilities, or successes in your current or past jobs, or an application that provides little information about the same. You may just miss out on an opportunity for these reasons, and the truth is, not every recruiter will call you for clarifications. You know the saying; first impressions matter? Still holds true.
We hope you found the above information useful. We’d love to hear your thoughts. What other reasons do you think get people disqualified from job applications? Share with us on our social media pages, where you can find more similar content: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.