Three Reasons Why You Won’t Be HIRED
Updated: Jul 7
Let’s begin with a heads-up! the third reason is very important to note as it's a repeated costly pattern.
What share of difficulty have you faced in the job application space? Are they the rejection letters and notifications that you receive? And as they come, they pile up to an insurmountable pain in your heart. A feeling I know to be awful.
So here's a little story, I had barely finished a course on content marketing when I got my first tech job. Despite being pleased, it wasn’t entirely the role I was pining for. This position didn’t need me to write often and I just wanted to write. However, I kept applying till I was introduced to a recruiter who had a position that would require me to do the exact thing that I wanted.
To determine my ability, he gave me a writing test. I spent two days researching and weaving words in the most magical ways I knew to impress him. Beaming with enthusiasm and hope that soon dwindled, I submitted my test. And guess what? He ghosted me and a few weeks later I received a message that said I wasn't accepted. I felt terrible, to say the least. I knew I was a fine writer, I’ve always been.
“What went wrong”? was the question that bugged and clung to my mind.
If you’ve ever experienced anything like this, you must have battled with the notion that you are not good enough. And that brings me to the number one reason why you won’t be hired
1. Just Maybe You Aren't Good Enough
This isn’t to discourage you. It's okay to not be good enough yet for the role you aspire for even if you thought you were. Because recruiters can see through. They know if you are competent or not.
I had to approach someone who was excelling in the field of content writing and asked to see samples of her work. Comparing hers to mine, I found the test I had submitted to the recruiter laughable. Oh poor me. Realizing this made me take steps toward finding what my work lacked.
However, I took to voraciously learning and seeking guidance to fill up my knowledge gaps. So yes! Maybe further studying, seeking guidance, doing an internship, taking voluntary work, learning, and upskilling is how you increase your employability, especially at the entry-level. These things better equip you to become an ideal candidate.
If you had just reskilled in a new course, you might also want to seek guidance from those doing great in your field.
2. Your Resume is Lacking
No matter how skillful you are, a poorly crafted resume will cost you. A well-crafted resume makes an excellent first impression on a hiring manager, increasing your chances of recognition.
To get a job in a competitive market, you must endeavor to stand out, and here are a few things your resume should come with;
Your resume should be tailored to highlight your relevant qualifications regarding the role you are applying for. However, there are general skills and cognitive abilities you have to develop that employers look out for, skills like problem-solving, and critical thinking; read more on what it is about; https://www.edcent.org/post/top-in-demand-skill-the-art-of-critical-thinking
Employers are looking for soft skills which is essential for the workplace today. Read more: https://www.edcent.org/post/top-three-soft-skills-for-career-advancement
Take your time to research your job descriptions so that you can craft a resume to show that you have taken the time to understand your employer's needs.
Your resume should be polished to reflect your professionalism and error-free to portray your attention to detail.
Articulate your work experience well, there are helpful resume apps that give you guidance on how to articulate your experience. One such app is Intelligent CV. Give yourself compelling job tiles, you can replace content writer with creative. Look for better synonyms that do more justice to your skill sets.
Don’t look down on your experience! For stance, if you have once managed a store, even if it were just your uncle’s, know how to articulate that as an experience if you are trying to apply as a store clerk.
Lastly, your resume shows how you can add value to your employer. You may also want to seek professional guidance or service regarding crafting a resume. In essence, a compelling cv best positions you as an ideal candidate
3. Your Interviews skills Are Poor
There are numerous tips on what to say and not what to say during an interview and the right posture to take. We won’t delve into that but here is your take home; when you are asked questions in an interview, written or in-person interviews, Be original!
Don't give generic answers that usually follow a certain format. In cover letters and interview questions, everyone is saying the same thing, and doing this shows ingenuity and incompetence.
As much as you are supposed to research, don’t duplicate answers. Master and tell your story. Your work experience is peculiar to you, learn how to articulate what is intrinsic in you. Being genuine and having a mind of your own can make a remarkable impression on recruiters. Also, speak with enthusiasm, let hiring managers feel your interest in their offers through your enthusiasm.
Secondly, go back to studying failed interview questions. You know those interviews that ended leaving you feeling heavy because of how bad it went. Go back to researching the questions you didn’t answer correctly, make it yours, and ace the next.
If you can fix the three points mentioned, the right job will find you.
But here’s how Edcent helps make you an ideal candidate; Instructors taking the course on the Edcent platform use an approach that gives you the space to formulate your thoughts and provides you with hands-on materials you need for real-life exposure. And if you want to skill up in a communication course to help you best present yourself, Edcent is the place to be.