From Unemployed to "You're Hired!"
Job search can be an arduous process. It seems like no matter what you do, you're not getting hired. Maybe you can easily get your foot in the door to get an interview invite, only to be rejected later; maybe you can't even get past the screening stage. But there could be holes in your approach that you don't realize you're doing—and we're here to help. Here are 10 top reasons why you're not getting hired and 10 ways to fix it.
1. You're Not Applying Enough
You might think applying to one or two jobs per day is an adequate amount, but that's not nearly enough. You should be applying to any jobs that match your basic requirements and experience—even ones that may not be at your dream companies. If you're only applying to a few, your search will take much longer.
2. You're Not Tailoring Your Cover Letter
We get it—it can be tedious to have to revise your cover letter all the time to match each job you're applying to. But if you don't tailor it, it'll read too generic and come off insincere, like you didn't care enough about the job to put extra effort into your application.
Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
3. You're Not Tailoring Your Resume
Just as you should tailor your cover letter for each role you're applying to, you should also revise your resume to include only past roles that are relevant. If you leave it as a long, convoluted list that extends over one page, it may give the impression that you didn't want to put the work in.
4. You Have Unrealistic Salary Expectations
While you shouldn't undersell yourself, you should still be reasonable. Do some research to find out what others in similar roles and years of experience are earning, and use that number as a baseline. It may also help to let potential employers know that you're open to negotiating, rather than just giving a set salary number.
5. You Have Poor Interviewing Skills
Are you always stumbling over your words, rambling too much, or blanking mid-conversation? Or maybe you're always slouching, crossing your arms, or appearing just plain disinterested or bored. Whatever it is, your demeanor, attitude, and the way you present yourself aren't giving off a good impression to hiring managers. An interview is a chance to market yourself as the perfect candidate, and if you fall short, you don't get a second chance.
6. You're Lying
You might think it's alright to fib about your experiences, or embellish them a little. You might think it's okay to make-up-as-you-go during an interview. But your interviewer can usually tell if you're telling the absolute truth or not, and even if they can't at the moment, it will only tarnish your image down the line. You'll be regarded as untrustworthy and dishonest—two things you never want your employers to think.
7. You're Under or Overqualified for the Job
Even if you're overqualified for the job, surprise—you might not get the role. Why? Because some employers think you'll lose interest quickly, try to take advantage by asking for a promotion early on, or overshoot their salary range for the position. If you're underqualified, potential employers will want to look for someone who better matches the level of experience they have in mind.
8. You Show Red Flags
Red flags in a candidate can range from something small (unprofessional emails) to something big (cursing or badmouthing previous employers during an interview). Many recruiters and hiring managers take even the smallest details into account when they're scoping out for the perfect candidate, so if you show a bad attitude, you'll likely drop to the bottom of the list.
9. You're Using AI
Though AI has become so prominent and can certainly assist in helping you prepare for an upcoming interview, you should never use AI to script out your answers for you or have it running in the background in real-time during your conversation with a potential employer. You might not think it's obvious, but it is, and it will leave them with a very negative impression of you.
Levart_Photographer on Unsplash
10. You're Not Standing Out Enough
It's okay to want to stay humble or polite when briefing about your background and experiences during an interview, but if you come off too meek, you won't stand out enough to potential employers. It's also important to share relevant examples for situational and behavioral questions to give them an idea of how you work, think, and solve problems. If you don't, you won't be remembered in the list of candidates.
So, how do you get hired? How do you fix these mistakes and become the perfect candidate? Read on for our top tips.
1. Apply, Apply, Apply
As we mentioned previously, applying to only one or two jobs a day isn't enough. You should be regularly scanning job boards to find potential matches and applying to any roles that fit with your skills and level of experience. This isn't the time to be picky—you need to get your foot in the door first.
2. Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letters
Tailoring your resume and cover letter by highlighting relevant past experiences and required skills will help you stand out to potential employers. It'll show that you actually read through their job post, and that you put in the time and work to revise your application instead of sending in generic templates.
3. Include a Cover Letter—Even If It's Not Required
You might feel annoyed by this tip, but including a cover letter is always better than leaving it out. Sure, it might be time-consuming to write it and tailor it, but that's what employers are looking for. Plus, it gives them a quick overview of your resume and highlights why you're interested in applying. It'll help you stand out even more in job posts that don't require it, either; after all, if you're one of the few who wrote a cover letter out of the hundreds of applicants, you'll be more likely to catch their attention.
4. Research the Company Thoroughly
Before you apply, make sure to research the company. Take notes about what they do, what their goals are, what their values are, and anything they've done that stands out. If you do get an interview, that's your cue to dig even deeper.
5. Practice Your Interviewing Skills
Interviews can be difficult and nerve-wracking, but the more you do them, the easier they become. And even if you're not getting enough interview invites to practice your skills, you can still ask your friends and family to help you. Rehearsing your responses frequently will make them come out smoother and natural, and you'll feel better prepared when the real ones happen.
6. Network, Network, Network
Connect with your previous coworkers and department leads, reach out to recruiters online, and network with companies and people you find interesting. The more work you put into expanding your professional circle, the easier it'll be to find new opportunities.
7. Show Your Genuine Passion & Enthusiasm
Even if you're not interviewing for your dream job, you can still look at the role as a stepping stone, one that could get you closer to the position and title you want someday. By reframing your mindset and showing genuine passion and enthusiasm, you'll leave potential employers with a positive, memorable first impression.
Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
8. Be Confident, Not Arrogant
Even if you're overqualified for the job, you don't ever want to come off arrogant or like you're "too good" for the role. The key is to be confident, warm, and friendly. You want to show that you know that you're good at what you do, and that you're the best person for the job—but that you're also always open to growing and learning more.
9. Be Authentic
Potential employers want to see you, not an overly scripted person or someone using AI on the side to provide them with "correct" answers. They saw your resume and cover letter and were intrigued enough to want to meet you. All you have to do is be yourself and let your personality shine.
10. Don't Give Up
It can feel discouraging when you're met with rejections left and right, time and time again. But don't give up—reframe your mindset. The jobs you weren't deemed a perfect fit for were the right ones for you; they weren't meant to be. You need to continue applying to more and putting yourself out there to find the one that is meant to be.
