Have you been good at your job but no one wanted to work with you or hire you? Your CV is ready and up-to-date, and your skillset can be vouched for by previous employers but you are still not getting hired. You keep getting answers like, “You just weren’t the right fit" or "There was a better candidate”. It probably has more to do with self-awareness than your skills. This article highlights possible reasons for not getting hired and what to do so you get your big break.
1. Your CV is not correctly formatted for an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a form of software that employers use to swiftly identify whether or not a candidate is qualified for a position. In this new job market, Artificial Intelligence and other automated tools are reviewing your CV. Getting too fancy with the formatting and using synonyms for experience and education could be the reason for not getting hired. Patricia Awori, a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist shared the top 5 best CV formats and some helpful pointers;
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Make your CV ATS friendly - use simple formatting, avoid downloaded graphics/fonts, use keywords highlighted in the JD, and use standard section headings for example; work experience.
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Targeted CVs - tailor your CV to the specific job being applied for.
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Focus on accomplishments - in each role held, listed in bullets, highlight what you were able to achieve in summary (content should reflect the duties mentioned in the JD)
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Length - keep your CV within 1-3 pages (1 for junior roles and 3 for senior roles)
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Alignment - ensure the content of the CV is aligned to the left, otherwise, the CV appears messy (especially if several alignments are used)
Yes, the standard might be boring but it will get you hired. Check out different ATS-friendly CV formats here.
2. You were not honest about your over-qualification or under-qualification
Being overqualified looks like applying for an entry-level job while having loads of experience. Underqualified means you do not have the required skills or experience for a job but are applying for it anyway. If you do not acknowledge that fact or downplay it once called in for the interview, the employer or recruiter may flag you as a phoney or unreliable candidate. For the over-qualified professional, the employer is wondering whether he can keep you interested in that role and for how long. If you are under-qualified, they are pessimistic that your skillset is not up to the task.
How to deal with this issue is to address the why - whether it’s a career transition, health reasons, or taking a break and returning to the workforce. It gives shape to your career story. Here are the do's and don’ts of applying for a job when you are over-qualified. For the underqualified professional, if you are addressing your skillset gaps, mention the programs you are undertaking on your CV. In your interviews share success stories in your career where you had to learn on the job and you performed the task in record time. Here are also more helpful pointers for older job seekers applying for junior-level roles.
3. Your expectations were high
High expectations could be asking for pay that is not realistic to what professionals at your level in the industry earn. Or expecting a work environment that gives mental health days off, health benefits, and other incentives from an employer who is known not to give such. Giving answers such as the ones mentioned might be why you are not getting hired.
The answer isn’t to set low expectations because you are desperate. It is to do the research on the companies you are applying to. To manage your expectations, whether it is regarding pay, work hours, or work environments. Ask recruiters, friends, and family if any are in the industry you are applying to. In your next interview, these answers will help you communicate realistically and honestly. Here are proven ways to answer the expected salary expectation question in interviews.
4. Your personality is intense and you haven’t applied it to the work you do
Recruiters and employers may seem fair and balanced but they are human and biased. When you enter that room for an interview, they are reading you and forming perceptions of you. Some perceptions are fair, others are biased based on their personal experiences. Intense personalities are generally more emotional, creative, strong-willed, and highly expressive.
Before you learn to apply your personality to the work you do, you may stand out for the wrong reasons. You will be read all wrong hence not getting hired. For example, your ability to obsess over details could make you nitpick at your boss’ bad decisions or show up way earlier than expected. Being highly emotional, you could react strongly during interviews or be defensive when receiving criticism. But also these excesses work well when applied to the work you do. For example, obsessing over details can make you a great fact-checker, strategic thinker, or proofreader. Highly emotional people are usually empaths in the workplace and great communicators in their field of expertise.
The solution here is to apply the “excesses” of your personality to your work. You can start by taking a personality test to understand which professions suit your personality. You may find you are already applying yourself to your work, if you aren’t, start. Communicate these newfound details in your CV and interviews. You can also get a career coach to help you align yourself to your professional development. It will be easy once you understand your personality and what people like you in your field do to be great. Your personality makes you the right fit for any recruiter or employer. Because you naturally invest yourself in the work you do.
5. You were too negative or perceived as problematic
This trait is generally seen during interviews when asked behavioural questions, or for feedback. If you fell out with a previous employer, it’s easy to accidentally get a little too negative and point out how it was everyone’s fault. Or to criticize a product or work process.
One way to do better at these questions is to answer the question from a solution-based and personal responsibility perspective. Also, be mindful that you’re not offending anyone in or outside the room even if their behaviour was or is terrible.
Conclusion
The journey of self-knowledge and awareness for a job seeker is part of your life journey. It is also fulfilling and rewarding once you overcome the barriers in your way to getting the jobs you want. Whatever you realize as the reason for not getting hired, take it as a stepping stone to know yourself better and tell a better career story. You will land that job you’re hoping for.