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How people miss out on job opportunities

With the high unemployment rate in the country, we cannot rule out that most job seekers miss out on job opportunities because they lack the basic skills, experience and education requirements needed by employers. Most employers consider fresh graduates “half-baked” as they are more theoretical than experienced thus they need to hire applicants with experience. However, there are basic factors that make people miss out on job opportunities that would have opened greater chances. Here are a few of them:

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With the high unemployment rate in the country, we cannot rule out that most job seekers miss out on job opportunities because they lack the basic skills, experience and education requirements needed by employers. Most employers consider fresh graduates “half-baked” as they are more theoretical than experienced thus they need to hire applicants with experience. However, there are basic factors that make people miss out on job opportunities that would have opened greater chances. Here are a few of them:

With the high unemployment rate in the country, we cannot rule out that most job seekers miss out on job opportunities because they lack the basic skills, experience and education requirements needed by employers. Most employers consider fresh graduates “half-baked” as they are more theoretical than experienced thus they need to hire applicants with experience. However, there are basic factors that make people miss out on job opportunities that would have opened greater chances. Here are a few of them:

1.    Time management

Different organizations inform applicants about interview invitations a week earlier or at least a few days or a day before. There has been a rise on the number of people who want to move or change careers. Hence, most organizations try to ask the applicants on their availability. This is a good move as it enables the candidates to plan ahead their work schedule and take an off if need be. However, failure to scout the location of the interview beforehand or showing up late for an interview could cause one to miss out on a job opportunity. It is always advisable to take a day and visit the interview location to know how much time is needed to get there and even find out more information about the company. Get their brochures, do a bit of digging on the organization online or even ask the current employees about their feel of the organization.

2.     Online reputation

We live in an era where our social media presence does the talking for us. Have you ever sat down and thought that a post on any of your social media pages could make you lose a job? About 43% of employers will check your social media to know more about you. It is best to avoid writing negative comments on social issues or the current organization you are working for. It is best therefore to ensure that you have a positive online presence as some things are better left unwritten and their end result might cost you dearly.

3.     Using phones during interviews

It is uncouth to use your phone during interviews. Imagine sitting in an interview room with a panel of close to five interviewers who have taken their time to invite you for an interview and the best you can do is use your phone while the interview is in progress. What picture does that portray of you? No matter how good the past organizations you have worked for are or how great your CV is, most employers will quickly dismiss you. Rule number one when you go for an interview, switch off your phone or keep it on silent mode.

4.     Job snobbery

According to an article on the www.independent.co.uk by Emily Dugan, “Too many unemployed graduates are guilty of “job snobbery” by turning down work they consider menial, according to a recruitment expert.” She goes on to write, “there is an element of snobbery which says, ‘I have got these qualifications, I am too good”. The snobbery attitude has made most graduates lose out on opportunities that would have seen them grow and develop their skills.

5.     Agreeing to attend an interview then failing to show up with no prior communication

It is your right to turn down a job offer or an interview invitation if you feel that the position or the company are not in synch with the direction you have chosen for your career. An interview invitation does not mean you have the job but simply means that the interviewers are interested in knowing who you are. By failing to attend an interview that you had agreed to take part in with no prior communication to the employer depicts a questionable character of who you are. For example, organization X invites you for an interview and you ignore after acknowledging attendance. The person who called you moves to company Y where you have applied for a job and are in charge of interview invitations. With your good CV and qualifications will they give you a chance? If you consider the job menial and not worth your time or another job offer came up, it is best to decline either by calling the employer and letting them know or by dropping them an email.

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