Getting a rejection may not be as disastrous as you think. It could be very fruitful for the time to come. But, many times we don’t realize things that we can’t see.
Often a job seeker believes that he is the perfect candidate for a vacancy. However, he is hit with a shock when another applicant gets the job. It often happens. Even with the perfect education and experience and a perfect portfolio to brag the skills, things can go the unexpected way. It is definitely not the ideal case but this situation can prove to be prolific in future when you try for other jobs.
Read on to see why some potential job seekers miss on the opportunities and how the problems could be corrected.
A Cover Letter…Icing on the Cake
A well-shaped Cover Letter can make a difference. It could make you stand out in the crowd and make you the lucky one who gets selected. As it is rightly said that the first impression is the last impression, a cover letter is the first impression that is cast upon the employer as he starts reviewing your application. A cover letter is the company’s first exposure to you. It decides whether your application lands in the trash bucket or is shortlisted.
While writing a cover letter, don’t go the traditional orthodox way with “Dear Sir/Madam” followed by a generic script. The cover letter has to say something that makes you different from the rest of the applicants and it makes you a promising candidate. Don’t just copy and paste the conventional lines; be yourself and let yourself shine in the Cover Letter.
Poor English could be a Setback
You might be in a field where good communication skills or good English does not mean much but it certainly means a great deal when hunting for a job. An employer prefers those applications that are written in flawless English. Grammatically incorrect phrases and low level vocabulary can make your application land into the trash bin. You might be the most qualified person but bad English could prove dangerous! Double check for vocabulary and Grammar, it is worth your time. If you are still not sure, hire someone to write a flawless application for you.
A Perfect Resume is Crucial
You come across a job opening and you send an email with your application against it. Many other people would find the job too attractive to ignore and they’ll do the same. In a few days’ time, the employer’s Inbox is stacked with hundreds of job applications.
Upon going through the applications, the employer starts becoming drowsy because reviewing a big pile of resumes is actually quite boring. Then, he comes across a resume; there is something good about it. He becomes perky and interested. The other resumes got a quick scan followed by rejection, but this one is put aside for further consideration. Yes, this has to be your resume!
Your resume is your personal advertisement. It either wins you an interview or not. A good resume not only highlights experience and achievements but also presents you in the best light. It points out that you are the perfect choice for the job.
Do Not Write up a Novel
A CV should not be a personal biography; it should rather be a chronicle of your career experiences and professional success. The employer is not really interested in the crash courses you took, he is rather looking for the projects you did afterwards because he wants to measure your professional capabilities. But do not start off from your amateur endeavors. Throw light upon the best ideas and results that you have produced so far. Do not write long stories about the experiences that you have had, just be precise and short so that the prospective employer could get to the very end of your CV.
The Age of Keywords
As mentioned earlier, in today’s cut throat economic conditions, every vacancy is showered with a huge number of applications. Recruiters of today use scanning software that looks for “Keywords” in every CV to find the right people (the candidates who have all the skills and qualities they are looking for) for interview calls. Many times, keywords could directly be deduced from job description. Terms such as “Microsoft Office,” “Accounts Payable and Receivable” and “Certified Network Administrator” are examples. Look for these words and nail them into your resume so that not only does it catch the employer’s eye but also that of the scanning software.
Your Application is far Behind in the Queue
It might be the case that the employer could not get to your application. As cited earlier, in today’s job market, a single job opening could get a flood of job applications, it is quite possible that while scanning through the CVs and applications, the recruiter picks out ten best applications from the first fifty applicants and doesn’t get into the hassle of reviewing the rest, with the hope that he would find the suitable candidate from the chosen CVs. It is advisable to send the job application as soon as a job opening comes up. With every passing day, the chances of getting a call become dim.
The Job doesn’t Suit You
If a victim of unemployment or ‘unhappy’ employment, candidates desperately apply to every job opening that comes their way.
Recruiters are real smart people. Most of the times, they don’t call an over qualified person because they can’t pay what they deserve. Similarly, if your CV portrays you as an under experienced or under qualified person, most likely you won’t get a call because the recruiter feels that you can’t handle the task at hand. Not getting an interview call might mean that the job doesn’t suit you!
No Follow up on Your Part
Every opportunity has a shelf life. You need to be extra diligent during the process of job hunting. A little slackness on your part could mean missing a dream job. Check your email inbox every now and then; don’t even spare the Junk Mail. Unrequited mail simply means that you are not interested!
Keep an eye on your mobile phone. Missing the call because the phone’s battery was discharged is a very lame excuse. Don’t ignore calls from unknown numbers (you are a grown up now!). If you didn’t respond to an employer’s calls, it is most likely that they won’t call again and your name from the potential candidates’ list is stuck off.
There isn’t Any Job
We live in an unfair world and we all fall prey to the injustice every now and then. A job opening could just be an illusion created by the company for many reasons.
Sometimes due to eleventh hour budget cuts, a vacancy is decimated long before it is even filled. Other times, the company might just like to fill in a large database of applicants because that would help in future employment process.
Sometimes, a vacancy is internally filled. Sometimes the place is taken by the buddy of a HR Manager. In such cases, the job opening advertisement is just a formality to legalize the process and make the recruitment appear moral, natural and formal. However, it is pretty unfair as it gives rise to false hopes.
Don’t Give up and Keep Trying
A few rejections or ill responses should not break you. Keep waiting for the right opportunity and keep on trying. Never giving up is the key to success in this tough world. Some people might fail to see the talent in you, but you might get noticed by others.
Job Hunting and Recruiting are painstaking processes. Sometimes, undeserving and incompetent people get good jobs. But, it is not for eternity. Talent always comes up and speaks for a person. It is important to be talented, hardworking and diligent. Good opportunities automatically follow!
