by Fabianna Mueti | Nov 18, 2019 | Career Happiness, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
As the year gears to an end, we’d like to share with you some of the ways we have seen job seekers sabotage their job search and why this may be the reason you’re not hearing back from recruiters, and/or employers.
With the unemployment rate spiking every year, it’s critical for you to be aware of how you can avoid falling into the following traps and up your job-hunting hustle.
– Sending mass applications, with NO due diligence– Now, sending mass applications is not necessarily the bigger problem here. However, if you’re sending them out with little, to no due diligence whatsoever, you’re likely hurting your chances of getting a job. As recruiters, we are able to tell every time a candidate did not do their homework on a job they applied for. This is especially the case for people who put in their applications for EVERY single job we advertise, regardless of the title, technicality, or years of experience required. As a job seeker, it’s critical that you take the time to understand more about the company and the role you’re applying for. Recruiters and employers put in a lot of time to draft a JD because they are seeking to attract the right people. Further, continuously ask yourself if you would be fulfilled in the jobs you are applying for and if the organization’s values are aligned to your own. If you’re just figuring out your career, check out this cool video we created with, 10 questions you should ask yourself when choosing a career.
– Repeatedly applying for jobs that you’re not qualified for– We are aware that some job seekers do this as a technique to have their profile enlisted in the recruiter’s/employer database. However, this can be done in a different way. You can ask to email your CV for future job consideration, or, you can sign up for the career mailer newsletter to receive direct job updates. Incessantly applying for roles you are not qualified for, shows a disregard of the job requirements the employer is looking for on your part could be interpreted as lack of intention and attention to detail.
– Disregarding application instructions- Aah, this is a big one that we have mentioned before. Most job seekers don’t view this as a roadblock to why their applications are not being considered. From our observation, there is still a lingering mind-set about what sending in an application ACTUALLY means. Only attaching your CV, when there were requests for you to attach other documents, or fill in an application form is not acceptable. We cannot fail to insist that for every job you intend to apply, you read and understand the application instructions carefully. Set aside time so that you don’t feel the need to rush and miss key instructions. Would you rather spend little time applying for a job without following instructions which increases the likelihood of you not being considered, or spend more time and send in a brilliant application?
– Only relying on job boards – We have previously touched on why it’s important to utilize multiple job hunting techniques when job hunting. We urge you to not only rely on job boards, as sometimes; not all jobs are advertised on online platforms, with the rise of social recruiting, several companies are sharing open roles through untraditional platforms such, Telegram, Whatsapp, or just headhunting on LinkedIn. Be proactive; go to networking events, connect to recruiters and employers on LinkedIn, join social media job groups and utilize the relationship you have with your weak ties. Sound unfamiliar? Read this insightful article on how you can get a job using your weak ties
Additional tips you can use to avoid sabotaging your job search:
– Always send in a PDF version of your CV and not a word document. It’s more professional and reduces the risk of information being altered. Besides that, with the increasing rise of AI, there are chances that your CV will first be read by a machine.
– When sending out requests for help; whether to a recruiter, a close network, or a weak tie, ensure your communication is clear, concise, and does not shift to the recipient the mental energy to know what exactly you want. (Stay tuned, for our upcoming article on how to ask for help, when job hunting!)
– Unless there is an utterly justifiable reason, do NOT burn bridges with people (employers or peers), who may inform a decision to get you hired by other employers in the future.
Friendly reminder that uncle Google is your friend, and there is plenty more you can find on the web on how you are sabotaging your job search and how to end that cycle.
Currently looking for a job? Read our article, 5 strategies to hack your job hunting hustle and stand out from the rest!
Follow us on our social media platforms, where you can also find more content like this: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
by Fabianna Mueti | Nov 18, 2019 | Career Happiness, Happy Workplaces, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
LinkedIn has grown to become a KEY platform for job seekers and recruiters alike. Recruiters use LinkedIn to headhunt talented professionals who are a good fit for organizations they work in, or for clients they are hiring for.
Now, if you are a job seeker actively looking for a job, and want to be among the group of people recruiters reach out to, or are just wondering how you can use LinkedIn to get your next job, you’re in luck. It’s imperative for your LinkedIn profile to have the following elements, among others.
1. Have an up to date profile – This includes a professional profile picture, a relevant headline, and ALL your jobs listed on your profile. Ensure to include a summary of your responsibilities and achievements for your past roles. Additionally, use the LinkedIn feature to outline the skills that you possess in your career field. LinkedIn allows your connections to give you a rating of how good you are based on the experiences they have had with you; the higher the ratings, the higher your chances of being recognized by recruiters.
2. Show recruiters that you’re available – Now, if you have a job but are still looking to let recruiters know you are available, LinkedIn provides a feature that lets recruiters know, without showing your current employer, this article explains more on how to tell companies/recruiters you’re open for a new job. If you’re currently unemployed, you can highlight this on your profile by including this in your headline, for instance; “Currently open to new opportunities”. This makes it easier for recruiters to reach out to you with new opportunities.
3. Personalize and increase your connections – Don’t assume that it’s only the job of the recruiter or hiring manager to look for you. By adding more people and joining groups that are in your field of interest as well as recruiters, you’re able to likely learn more about new job opportunities, trends in the industry, and create a community of people whom you can comfortably engage with, because you’re in the same space. Learn more about how you can grow your network on LinkedIn
4. Follow organizations you’re interested in – Map out the organizations you would like to work for, and add them on LinkedIn. This will enable you to know of positions available in these organizations and provide you with an opportunity to learn more about them through the content that they share with their followers. This gives you an upper hand when you get an opportunity to apply for a job, or interview with them because you have more awareness of where they are as an organization.
5. Set job alerts – Do you find yourself forgetting to log into LinkedIn and see what job opportunities are there? Well, there’s an easy solution to that! LinkedIn allows you to set job alerts that come straight into your email inbox using different job titles, as well as specific organizations! Read this LinkedIn guide on how to set job alerts on the platform. You can also search more on YouTube where there are screen recordings if you’re new to LinkedIn. Isn’t the World Wide Web amazing?
Looking for a career thought partner to navigate some of the pressing challenges you have? Reach out to us today at happycareers@edgeperformance.co.ke and join our career happiness seekers community.
by Fabianna Mueti | Nov 18, 2019 | Career Happiness, Happy Workplaces, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
If you haven’t already, read our blog post about how to get ready to succeed in an interview and possibly, get hired!
In the same spirit, we’re sharing with you some of the mistakes we have seen job seekers make in our interviews, which often limit their chances of proceeding to clients’ interviews 🙁 in a bid to ensure you don’t repeat the same mistakes.
1. Lack of preparation – in several cases, we have had candidates who came to our interviews lacking information necessitated to have a productive conversation. We know because; in certain instances, we have had to explain what our clients (organization candidate applied to) do.
Additional signs that show us that a candidate did not prepare effectively is not answering questions as asked, lacking structure in responses, an inability to tie their past experiences and achievements to the role they applied for, over-explaining something instead of being concise, and asking the wrong questions at the wrong time. Find our interview preps checklist here to see how you can prepare for your next interview.
2. Showing a lack of interest in participating in the interview/conversation – sometimes, a candidate will display a lack of enthusiasm in their communication style. If a recruiter has to constantly probe you to get more context in the responses you provide, chances are; you’re not too excited about the position you applied for.
Most, if not all employers are looking to hire people who are excited about their work and buy into their vision, this is especially the case if you’re applying to join one of the organizations we support; that are at the growth stage and are looking for team members to take their organizations to the next level. In relation to point one, researching the organization and figuring out how your own interests and career aspirations connect with the organization goes a long way in boosting your scores on motivation!
3. Body language mistakes – examples include; not maintaining eye contact, aggressive facial expressions, crossing your arms or legs, pointing and so forth. All these are potential signs of defensiveness. Now, we are all human and sometimes these are just triggered as a result of you not knowing how to answer a question or feeling like you’re being attacked. Always remember that by the fact you were invited for an interview, you stand a high chance of getting this job! Read more about how to avoid getting defensive in an interview in this article to get more context.
If you’re not sure or don’t have an answer to a question, ask for a chance to think more about it as the interview continues, or just say that you don’t have an appropriate response to provide.
4. Not asking any questions – Even if you did your research, and were well prepared for the interview, not asking questions in the interview may demonstrate that you’re not 100% committed to the role. The quality of the questions you ask is also important. Put more focus on the role and the organization, examples include: asking about the work culture, professional development opportunities that are available, what would be expected of you in the first three months, and so forth. Here is an article with questions to ask at the end of an interview that you can use as guidance.
Wondering why you may not have heard back from a recruiter and you’re not getting invited for interviews? Check out our blog post on the 5 mistakes you should avoid when making applications.
Follow us on our social media platforms, where you can also find more content like this: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
by Fabianna Mueti | Nov 18, 2019 | Career Happiness, Happy Workplaces, Mapping and Transition
Feeling stuck in our careers is something that most of us have felt at one point in our careers. It’s one thing to be aware of it and take steps to get out of it, but it’s another thing when you’re not aware of why things just feel “different”. So what should you be looking out for to increase this awareness? Read on!
1. You dread Mondays – You used to enjoy going to work on Monday. Thank God it’s Monday, you’d think. And now, the thought on Sunday evening feels dreadful. What could have shifted? Are the responsibilities you hold no longer interesting to you? Has something shifted in your relationships with your colleagues? Did your role recently change and you’re not enjoying the new tasks? When was the last time you went on leave? Has your workload increased?
2. You’re apathetic in work conversations – which is also interpreted by colleagues as you being “different” – People/your supervisor notice that you’ve lost the spark at work. You’re detached from lunch conversations, are not laughing at work jokes as much as you used to and the aura is just “different”.
You’re less engaged in work conversations and are no longer expressing your thoughts and your enthusiasm has dipped. Take note of how you participate in work conversations; are people pointing out that you suddenly seem withdrawn? Do you feel drained partaking in these discussions? This could be a sign that you’re craving a new environment, and are itching for a change.
3. You’re doing the bare minimum – Finding yourself focusing on minimal tasks that are not adding utmost value and procrastinating on completing high priority tasks? Does work that used to energize you now feel draining? Could it be that your work has become monotonous and routine and you are resisting accomplishing these tasks as a way of letting out your frustrations?
4. You’re getting distructed a lot – Suddenly, you’re scrolling through your social media apps more than usual. You get excited when you get a notification because it destructs you from your work, and you almost look forward to these destructions happening because they take you away from something you now no longer enjoy. Does this sound familiar?
Feeling stuck and looking for a way to ignite your passion? This short video shows you where to start.
If you feel stuck, check out this article on 3 ways to get unstuck in a career rut.
Our Career Acceleration Program has supported dozens of professionals to gain the clarity, confidence, and skills to take bold steps. If you are looking for a rapid transformational (and hard-core learning) program, talk to us today! happycareers@edgeperformance.co.ke
Follow us on our social media platforms, where you can also find more content like this: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
by Fabianna Mueti | Oct 31, 2019 | Career Happiness, Happy Workplaces, Mapping and Transition
We’ve all been there. Growing up, most of us imagined that working in big corporate organizations was the ONLY way you could be deemed to be successful in life. With the big fat salaries and perks? Who would not want to work there?
Today, 80% of job opportunities in Kenya are in the small and growing business space. And while most of them don’t guarantee a fat cheque at the end of every month, you’re most certainly guaranteed of rapid growth, hands-on learning opportunities, diverse exposure and your successes are recognized thus making you more innovative and resilient. Don’t get me wrong, the same can be the case in a corporate setting, but the truth is, your contribution in a smaller organization is felt more directly and faster and your ideas don’t need several staircases to be approved. Moreover, the opportunities to grow horizontally are endless thus the options to mold your career can be limitless.
Growing a career in small growing businesses is however not for everyone! If you love order, structure and stability, you may find this working environment quite difficult to adapt and thrive.
Many of us occasionally complain about the workload in the workplace. And while the above advice can seem like it’s well-intentioned and probably realistic, this is not always the case.
Recognizing the need to push yourself out of your comfort zone is critical to you evolving in your career. It’s one thing for your supervisor to ask you to clean the dishes when your role is that of an Assistant Project Officer; then by all means; say NO to that. But it’s another thing when your supervisor asks you to draft a proposal to a donor, a role currently not in your JD. Before rejecting the offer, take a step back and reflect; what skills could you learn?
Obviously, be intentional about how much workload you accept in addition to your day to day, else you risk burn out. There are high chances that your supervisor sees the potential in you but is not communicating this clearly. Take the role and seek feedback, what about this role made you feel I was best fit to take it up?
Money pays the bills, and as some would argue, that money is everything towards having a happy career. But is it? Really? Living a happy and meaningful career calls for us to be intentional and conscious in making career decisions that align with our values. When faced with this type of dilemma, it is thus crucial to take a step back and reflect;
- What values in this organization align with mine?
- Am I really excited about the type of work they do?
- Will I love and fit into the culture?
- Will I grow? Is this a stepping stone to my long-term career aspirations?
At edge we are a great example of the life of a small fast-growing organization. If you are curious to learn more check out our blog with learnings from our team: What does career growth at edge look like
by Reynold Owuor | Oct 22, 2019 | Career Happiness, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
Want to know the difference between a job seeker and recruiter scroll down.
Continue scrolling, the answer might surprise you!
There is none recruiters are human, just like you.
They are working to ensure they connect great talent to great opportunities. So when reaching out to one ensure you put your best foot forward and express yourself well. They have limited time to play guesswork around what you mean. It’s better to ask if you don’t understand than to leave anything to chance, remember the only way they can help you is if you present yourself well. Treat them with the same respect and professionalism you would expect them to treat you.
