Five epic fails executive women make with job applications

Something happens when we're feeling desperate applying for roles. It's as though our common sense evaporates and we forget our smart 'n savvy business acumen. Throw in a bush-fire, followed by a pandemic and then a recession and you begin to get the picture.

It's a candidate rich market right now with higher unemployment creating increased competition. The tactics that work in a booming economy simply won't work now. Here are five common, but ineffective approaches that women frequently use when they start getting panicky about applying for roles. 

EPIC FAIL #1. SELF SELECTING OUT FAR TOO SOON. 

Research tell us that this is common for women everywhere and worse when confidence is at a low ebb. We tend to think there will be someone better qualified, more experienced or that the 20% of the role that you can't do (yet) is the deal breaker. Remember the Hewlett Packard research on the topic? Women tend to wait to apply until they've matched 100% of the criteria whereas men tend to apply at around 60%. In a downturn, when you're feeling blue and your confidence is not at it's peak, I reckon your Opt Out habit has probably come back to haunt you again.

Instead: Get out of your own way. Find a trusted source to help you sift through the roles you are looking at. Get them to tell you why they think you'd be good at the role and if they can provide examples where you've done something similar in the past that's even better. According to research "You've got this" feedback doesn't work as well for women. Specific examples will help you build your confidence far faster.

EPIC FAIL #2. HIT AND HOPE 

Where you hit submit then hope your application was received. It's all guess work. You're even hoping you addressed the right criteria or that you picked up on the right themes. This leaves you in limbo land feeling even more uncertain, with no clarity, no control over your situation and leaking confidence like a sieve.

Instead: Hope is not a strategy. Take a strategic approach to contacting the hiring manager or recruiter to find out more before applying. If you can't get through, leverage your network to see if you can gain more intel and/or visibility into the recruitment process. Build relationships, ask for introductions, ask about other opportunities, be gracious and where you can, ask for feedback. Mostly recruiters and hiring mangers won't give you feedback, but every now and then someone does. And 7 times out of 10 it will be incredibly helpful.

EPIC FAIL #3. SPRAY AND PRAY 

A numbers game - where you send out multiple applications for multiple roles, without really doing the deep thinking work then praying that something will stick. You don't have time to tailor or build a business case because you're submitting so many applications you lose sight of who you truly are, how you really help and what you really want, leaving you exhausted which is a huge drain on your professional mojo.

Instead: Stop being busy, start being strategic. Develop a smart system that allows you to tailor each application easily then track each part of your application process. Work out what works and what doesn't. If you keep getting rejected for your dream role, don't catastrophise and throw the baby out with the bathwater or start to take the rejection personally. Remember, it could just be one word, a phrase or a paragraph in one part of your application that misses the mark. It's a game. So play the game strategically.

EPIC FAIL #4. THE BLANK CANVAS 

Where you present all your skills and talents hoping to wow them with the breadth of your capability (like a pick and mix lolly bar) rather than build a business case for exactly what they are looking for (like a specialist Belgian chocolate store). 

Instead - Build a better business case, play to your strengths and don't try to hedge your bets. Make your business case so compelling that the reader can't help but want to read more.Try writing your business case as if you were writing about someone else - it helps to remove your self consciousness. After all, when we remove the self out of self-promotion and focus instead on how we help, it makes it far easier.

EPIC FAIL #5. BLAND NOT BRANDED

Unfortunately bland = boring. Sticking to the pure facts might be factual, but it makes for a boring read. "I was doing my job" may be honest, but simply doesn't cut it in a highly competitive field when they’re looking for someone who does a GREAT job. Recruiters and hiring manager are people too. If your application got through the CV scanning software, the person reading at the other end needs to be engaged. 

Instead - Create a narrative and tell a story based in fact, grounded in context, along with scale and impact.  Don't be afraid to include a little colour to make your application even more compelling. 

• Sell the sizzle not the sausage. What do you stand for? Why is that important? How does that add value? Weave that into your application to make sure you stand out from the crowd. Say it like you mean it too. No half-hearted attempts.
• Describe the context - Instead of saying "you rolled out a desktop replacement initiative throughout the company", say you "project managed the enterprise wide technology deployment of hardware and accompanying software throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region to more than 10,000 staff".
• Add some colour - Research tells us that women are less likely to use descriptors or adjectives that enhance the perception of their work. We're far more likely to say we did the job, whereas a man will more likely say he did an excellent job, or a unique job, or an interesting job. Maybe it was a tailored response, or a unique approach, or a ground breaking piece of work. Get online and find some adjectives you are comfortable with today.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON JOB APPLICATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE WOMEN

It's tough out there at the moment. Don't allow the mantra of low agency and low confidence to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. And don't let fear or panic undermine you even further. Back yourself, sell yourself and express your expertise in language that the hiring manager values and understands.

In an economic downturn, if someone does offer you something that's not quite in your sweet spot, be prepared to consider it anyway. Once you start working and getting your professional mojo back, you can always manoeuvre internally from there.

Springboard into something better

YOUR THOUGHTS?  Drop me a note.

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• Amanda Blesing is a leadership coach for executive women
• She's passionate about helping women to lead and succeed with bucket loads of confidence.
• Head over to www.amandablesing.com or DM to get in touch

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