by Fabianna Mueti | Oct 8, 2019 | Career Happiness, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
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.
by Reynold Owuor | Oct 8, 2019 | Career Happiness, Job Applications, Job hunting, Job Search
You have done a hundred applications and aren’t getting feedback.
Many companies aren’t relying on just CV for recruiting The traditional way of recruitment leads you to believe it’s your CV that isn’t getting you a foot in the door i.e. a callback? While this might be true there might be other reasons you haven’t thought of.
The following are some of the reasons you probably hadn’t considered:
– You are applying for the wrong job.
– Your CV isn’t in the right format i.e.is more than 2-3pages, has grammatical errors.
– Your CV doesn’t actually highlight your achievements.
– Your applications are not good enough for the hiring manager or recruiter.
If you are having a difficult time figuring out what the challenge is, research on recruiters that can offer you advice. Check out our previous video on why your CV is not landing your perfect job here .
At edge we are always happy to help, you can send an email to happycareers@edgeperformance.co.ke to sign up for any of our career coaching programs.
by Reynold Owuor | Oct 8, 2019 | Career Happiness, Empathy, Happy Workplaces, Succeeding where you are
According to AskSpoke.com empathy is the ability to understand someone else’s thoughts and feelings.
Empathy is one of the 5 key elements of emotional intelligence according to psychologist Daniel Goldman and is an essential leadership skill.
So why do you need to develop this skill?
Embracing empathy at work will allow you to be more productive and have higher satisfaction in the workplace. According to HBR’s Empathy index, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Netflix and Unilever are undisputed as the most empathetic companies and this not only has a positive impact on their employees but also their output making their teams more successful than companies without empathy.
It’s thus an essential tool that you need to learn if you want to be more successful at your work.
You will be able to work well with your workers coming from a place of understanding, which allows you to have an open mind towards different situations and reduce levels of conflict in the workplace.
So how do you become empathetic?
- Actively listen to your workmates: and try and understand their point of view if you are a leader then listen to your workmates. You don’t have to agree, but listen!
- Ask questions, this will show the other person that you’re interested in them. Asking how someone is doing can go along way and it will let someone know that you are a caring person.
- Avoid making assumptions about people: if someone looks off dont assume it’s because of you, the genuinely might just be having a bad day.
- Be genuine in your interactions with people: being open and honest about your achievements and shortcomings allows people to be able to relate with you.
- Accept people as they are: when people feel accepted, they are more likely to feel like themselves and they can feel free to give their best without feeling judged if they make a mistake.
Try it out and let us know if being more empathetic has had an impact on you and your workmates or team!
by Reynold Owuor | Oct 3, 2019 | Career Happiness
It’ s Saturday morning and you are at the supermarket and bump into an old friend, he asks “what have you been up to?” You fumble a bit, find your footing and wow him with a short compelling speech about yourself, he is impressed and asks for your number so that he can keep in touch. You exchange contacts and leave, a couple of months go by, and he calls you and tells you about a business opportunity he believes you would be suited for based on what you told him. And just like that, you have opened the door to something you weren’t even looking for and that has the potential to help you grow.
Still not convinced as to why you need an elevator pitch? Here are 3 other compelling reasons why you should create time tonight to start working on one.
1. Opportunities that might not knock twice.
Some opportunities come up and it’s a now or never situation. For example, imagine that you happen to attend a family function and as you are there, you meet an incredible person who is a key industry player and business leader. With the right pitch, you could land your next career move or an opportunity to grow your business. He/she is someone with a vast network that might be able to help you, but guess what? The only way he/she gets interested is if you can quickly capture his attention in a compelling manner in the moment. Elevator Pitch.
2. Interview
‘Tell me about yourself?’
Still the most terrifying question for many job seekers. Communicating who you are, the skills you possess and your value to a company will be very essential if you want to land that job. This question can set you up to Ace the interview, if you get it right.
3. Networking event
Your network is your net worth and being able to concisely pitch yourself to a prospective employer might help you open new doors spontaneously. Networking events/channels are one of the best places to fast track growing your professional networks, and these networks will be vital if you want to get to the right places in your journey. How you talk about yourself at events or social media can either make or break those engagements.
There are tonnes of more reasons: like dating, you may want to impress that significant girl or guy that you don’t know how to approach.
You need an elevator pitch ready,it’s applications are limitless, so get cracking.
Don’t know where to start? Talk to us today!
by Martha Karimi | Oct 3, 2019 | Career Happiness, Job hunting
Job hunting is quite a tasking experience and in order to increase your chances of landing your dream job, you need to build a network of professionals, among them, being recruiters.
And as with all relationships, communication is key! See a sample below of how to communicate with a recruiter.
How you communicate can leave a lasting impression on a recruiter and also the value you bring increases the chances of them contacting you should they get a future opportunity.
Your relationship with a recruiter needs to be professional but also genuine in your interaction.
And obviously shouldn’t feel overbearing.
by Martha Karimi | Sep 30, 2019 | Career Happiness, Succeeding where you are
Taking a long break from work to; study, rest, raise a child, build a home, take care of someone, explore a passion? Keep these reflective questions in mind while you are away. By doing so, you will have solved half of your come back challenges.
