Is there anybody out there?

One of the most common complaints from candidates in 2012 was that they never heard back after they have applied to a company for a job.   Since the onset of the recession, the marketplace has definitely seen an increase in job seekers in all areas of business.   While this will inevitably put a strain on the ability of any Human Resources team to respond to every applicant it is definitely not the only reason why  candidates don’t hear back.

So why might you not hear back after you have applied?

You are just not qualified for the position.    If the job description demands a certain qualification/certificate or a number of years experience in a specific field and you don’t have it then avoid disappointment and don’t apply.   Read the job description carefully and apply only to those for which you truly are qualified and experienced.

You have applied to every job on the company website.  This relates to the point above.  If you are a suitable candidate for the Assistant Accountant position, it is unlikely that you have the experience for the Senior Accountant, Corporate Administrator and Secretary positions also advertised.  Multiple applications are off-putting to HR professionals as this demonstrates that you have not read the job descriptions and applied appropriately.  It can also make you look desperate and, while you may be in need of a new position, you want to find the right position in order that you can succeed.

Your resume is badly presented.   Candidates may think that distinctive formatting such as using a variety of fonts, colours and borders etc will get their resume noticed but more than likely this will not be in a positive way.  These ‘decorative features’ actually detract from the content of your resume and can land your resume in the rejection pile.   Don’t waste time on artwork and embellishment when you could be focusing on tailoring your resume to best effect, making keywords prominent and ensuring there are no grammatical errors or omissions.

Your resume and your online profile are not the same.  With more and more Human Resource professionals and Recruiters using social media such as Linked In to research candidates it is important that your online profile and resume match.

Your resume was number 199 out of 200 applicants!  Try to stay ahead of the competition.  Make it a priority each day to search the paper for suitable positions and apply straight away with your resume and a tailored cover letter/email highlighting your suitability.  Know the companies that you would like to work for and monitor the careers/jobs sections of their websites again responding quickly to new roles that you are interested in and qualified for.

 

Hopefully putting these tips into practise will help make your job search in 2013 a success!

 

 

 

If you would like to find a new job, take a fabulous next step in your career and gain international experience working in Cayman explore the new jobs section of our website and contact us today!