Top Reasons Why You Are Not Getting Job Offer
If you are an active job seeker, not getting the job offers you are seeking can be very depressing. You might have lost count of the number of applications you have sent and sitting around expecting feedback and callbacks can put you in a bad mood even if you have nerves of steel. That period of waiting for weeks and months and not getting the required result despite all you did to make sure your application is successful may have you wondering if there is something you are not doing right or something you are doing wrong.
If an organization where you applied to does not send you a rejection mail or any other form of response, there is no way for you to figure out why you did not get the job offer. Getting a rejection mail is not a good thing but at least it tells you why you did not get the job and that way you can work to get better and avoid the same mistakes the next time you send in an application. In a situation where you do not receive an email, you are left speculating. We don’t want you playing a guessing game when it comes to making decisions that concern your career. After careful research, we have come up with the top five reasons why you are not getting job offers.
- Badly written CV/Resume and Cover Letter: Your Curriculum Vitae or resume and cover letter are important documents needed to make your job application successful and get you the job offer you desire. These documents are often the first point of contact, virtual most times, between you and your prospective employer. If they are ridden with errors, badly arranged, and typed with an unprofessional font, then the chances that the hiring team will not get back to you nor go as far as offering you the job will be high. This is because your CV or resume represents and speaks for you. If it is saying that you are disorganized, then no employer will be interested in offering you a job. The same goes for your cover letter. If it does not sound convincing enough, then it may not motivate a hiring manager to give you a chance. It should not be so long it gets boring and the important details are obscured or so short the important facts are omitted. These documents need to be properly worded and organized. You should use keywords that are easily recognized by software like the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). Software like ATS vets resumes and CVs sent in for job applications. The software is programmed to automatically disqualify a candidate if his document has so many mistakes or fails to highlight the requirements needed for the job. Use headings to highlight important information like your skills, work experience, and education in your CV and resume. Also, remember that your CV and cover letter are not one-size-fits-all. Tailor it to fit whatever role you are currently applying for.
- Inaccurate and Incomplete Application: Technology has made it possible for job applications to be sent online through devices as small as your phone. Because most job application software has been programmed to do so, you may usually receive an “application successful” message immediately after you are done filling in your details and credentials on an organization’s job portal. However, that does not guarantee that you will receive a response from the hiring team. Hiring teams also verify vet and sort all the applications sent in before deciding if an applicant has made it to the next stage. If you make mistakes in spelling your name, putting in the dates of your employment history, date of birth, and graduation, uploading an updated copy of your CV or any other document required, it could be the reason why you did not proceed to a second stage of the recruitment exercise – and that invariably means you have missed out on a job offer. Therefore, it is necessary that you check and crosscheck every piece of information you input to ensure its correctness. Fill in all fields required to make your application complete. Make sure all the information you give corresponds with what is on your credentials. Write out abbreviations and dates in full to avoid mistakes. If possible, have a second pair of eyes proofread and go through your application before you click “submit.”
- Applying for Jobs You are not Qualified for or Jobs not in Your Field: While it is ok to explore all options open to you when applying for jobs, applying for jobs that you do not qualify for will reduce your chances of getting a job offer. Employers want candidates who are very well in tune with what the job requires and have the qualifications to back it up. When applying for a job, it is easy to get carried away under the illusion that you can do any job that comes your way because you need to survive. This is not true. Look for jobs in your field or in related career paths. Before you put in your application for any job, make sure you match a good percentage of the requirements, have a certification or an equivalent in the field, and the skills to support it.
- Lack of Skills and Experience: While employers might ask for certifications, they are also interested in the skills and experience a candidate has. If you lack these, then it may be a reason why you are not getting job offers. Try to brush up on your skillset by learning in-demand soft skills and hard skills. You can even take certified online courses for free. Do not hold back on any opportunity to showcase your skills. It doesn’t have to be a paid work experience. It could be a volunteering or internship opportunity. Good in-demand skills and vast work experience make you more employable.
- Not Showing Proper Etiquette During Interviews: Even when some candidates have made it to the first interview stage, they are still shocked when they do not get the job. How you conduct yourself during an interview matters a lot. An interview, either virtual or in-person is an opportunity to sell yourself and show your interviewer why you should be hired amongst other candidates who have the same or better qualifications than you. If you come to an interview in rumpled, untidy clothes or show up an hour late for your interview, do you think you will make a good impression? Maybe a lasting one as a sloppy dresser and a latecomer and that is certainly the opposite of what employers are looking for! The seemingly little things you overlook at interviews could be costing you job offers. The key to acing an interview is prior preparation. Practice all interview etiquettes like handshakes, sitting posture, and eye contact. Be polite and confident and try not to present yourself as desperate. Make in-depth research on the organization you applied to and also practice possible interview questions so you do not stutter and come off as unserious when being questioned. Also, have your own list of appropriate questions to ask your prospective employer.
Final Thoughts
Working hard to land a job and not getting the expected results can hit hard. Rejection is never easy to handle but it is a call to attention. It encourages you to go back to your drawing board and find out what you may not be doing well. Going through the top five reasons mentioned in this article why most job candidates do not get a job offer will help you figure out what is wrong. We have also offered tips to solve each of the problems. We hope they will help you land your next job. Good luck!