Job Rejections Explained - Pt1

THE BEGINNING

Have you received a rejection response and have felt that the recipient couldn't have read your CV properly?

Or have you felt there are so many options out there for you, they are full of promise in the job description you read, you've placed all hope on landing an interview but you receive a rejection instead?

I am guessing "Yes"?!

It's not easy ??

We've all been in situations when we have been misunderstood personally but during the job search process, it hurts the most!

Feelings of despair, anguish, anger, frustration, panic, blame and fear become overwhelming.

However, for the remainder of this read please remove emotions from this equation, right about NOW

??

Fundamentally, the only issue here is that me/you/they have not articulated the message in a way that your audience understands.

Sounds so simple when I say it like that but I know it's not.

So, I'm going to try to explain, in the hope that you'll view a job application rejection as a positive signal for you to take action and better your chances next time, and the time after that, and so on...

Architects, Interior Designers.... actually anyone in the design industry is in the most amazing, unique and LUCKY position to be in, especially in comparison to some other industries.

When someone is in a position of looking for a job they have ONE and only task.

Yes, ok so it's to secure a job

But anyone can get "A" job

That's not what we're talking about here.

You're trying to secure the RIGHT JOB for YOU!

Unless you hid under a rock throughout the pandemic you'll know just how difficult this can be!

BUT

When you really think about it, your focus should not be on securing a job!!

Put all your focus into securing a job and you'll accept anything when your money is starting to run out.

You've put all your focus on the result that you've toooootally missed and in most cases, (honestly, 98% of people miss this, I'm not joking!) neglected the basic elements needed to enable a much smoother transition.

Your primary objective IS....

"Convince the reader of your value and ability"

That may sound like a "er, yeah ok Hayley, isn't that obvious?!", kind of comment but bare with me.

When you get a rejection or no response whatsoever you should ask yourself ONE question... why?

Just because you have received a rejection it does not mean that you aren't capable of doing the job

The only thing it means is that you haven't convinced or articulated to the reader why they should take action and interview you.

BOOM! ??

That is literally all it is!

??????

THE REFRAMING

Did you know that the average individual views around 4,000 adverts selling them something, per DAY?

Do you buy every product or service that you see per day?

Of course not!

However, the ones you do buy have struck a chord with you in some way shape or form.

They have appealed to you and have made you feel such a way that it causes you to take action and spend your hard-earned cash!

??????

Now, the majority of those adverts go unnoticed because it hasn't made an emotional connection with you whatsoever..

It could even be an advert for something you use every day like face cream (please apply the same rule for something that you rely on), for example.

There are millions of face creams [or what you can't live without] out there, so what makes you choose THE specific cream you use?

I'm guessing it'll be along the lines of...

• In budget
• You like that it's 100% natural
• Your friends use it and it seems good
• The packaging drew you in
• No idea what's in it but Angelia Jolie [or your idol in some shape, way or form] is the face of it and her skin is AMAZING! ???? (I'll look like them if I use it, scenario... if only!)

Whatever the reason is you made a choice ?

Let's be honest, you are never going to buy every single cream, try them all and then decide which one is right for you, are you?

Hell no! ??

No one has time for that! ?

You get sucked in by the packaging/endorsement/icon, maybe read the ingredients (like we know what "Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate" is ????, honestly why do we bother?! Haha), go with a gut feel and chuck it in our basket!

There's not really a lot of thought that goes into it in the grand scheme of things.

You could be shoving anything on your face, you've not tried it but ultimately you've been sold to so well that you have convinced yourself

YOU

MUST

HAVE

IT!

It's nuts! Haha

But let's be honest and break this down...

If that same product had a weird font, a not so sexy one-liner on the front of the box and was a really unappealing colour on the packaging, you wouldn't touch it!

Welcome to the world of advertising

These companies are paid Millions to provoke a target audience to take action and buy a product or service.

They research the buyer's likes, dislikes, interests, behaviours, routines, personality, mood, etc, etc and make sure that the advert is seen by individuals that are most likely to buy.

They also have access to your what you click online, the probability of you buying and well, whether their client should be spending any money on trying to attract your custom.

These companies will also run different variations of a specific campaign to target different "personas".

It's mind-boggling

All sorts of factors are taken into account, colour, typography, wording, style, etc waaay before the adverts go out.

Honestly, if you do research on even typography, for example, you'll find out that even the type of font you use sends a subliminal message to the reader that evoke thoughts, feelings and assumptions of behaviour... here's a read, if you'd like to explore further just on fonts ?????? https://www.canva.com/learn/font-psychology/

Anyway... I've gone way off the beaten track.....

THE ANTICIPATION and... getting back to you ??..

YOU ARE A DESIGNER!

Or there's a high probability that if you are reading this you are in the design industry.

As a business, we receive thousands of emails and applications per day.

Everyone is very keen to tell us how creative or design orientated they are but don't tell me that you are creative and then send me a boring word document littered with spelling mistakes, uninspired text that you reworded off an online template.

I'm not inspired to take action on that and I'm not writing this unless I'm being straight with you.. I've asked 1,000s of our clients the same question over the years and when I say "it's really frustrating that an architect can't design a CV"... they laugh.

????♀???

This is YOUR window of opportunity, so take it!

??????

It's like getting an email from the National Lottery titled

"Hayley, you've won a prize"

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!

FIIIINAAALLY, I'm going to get some luck in my life!

I'm planning who I'm going to split it with...

My family is No1...

Close friends...

Eeeeek.. I can take EVERYONE on an amazing holiday and we can have the best time EVER!!!

You click on the "SIGN IN" ????????

[Butterflies] ????

[Deflation] ????

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Ok, it's technically a win but I'm not going to get excited over THAT ??

I get frustrated that I wasted my time checking!

It's suuuch an anticlimax!!!

THE CONCLUSION

The same reaction happens when a recruiter or hiring manager who gets a message from a "Talented Designer".

We click the attached document to see no evidence of their talent or design skills the individual claimed to have. ??

What I want is for you to SHOW ME you are as creative as you claim to be by taking pride in your CV, Portfolio and LinkedIn and articulate your amazing skills in the presentation of your materials.

I've witnessed first-hand on countless occasions hiring managers employ individuals who do not have the skills for the job.

However, do you know what they did REALLY WELL?

They demonstrated their value, work ethic, personality, design flair, passion, drive, creativity, and all the great qualities of a great employee in their materials.

They didn't tell the reader they are amazing, THEY PROVED IT!

Even though they actually weren't the best person for the job!

So, back to my first point.

If you are in the design industry you are INCREDIBLY LUCKY!

A rejection is not a reason to get angry, upset or disappointed

Like adverts, you just didn't appeal to your target audience, that's all!

It's a MASSIVE POSITIVE

• Regroup
• Reword
• Redesign

Most of all, show your audience what you are amazing at DESIGNING! Use your materials as an opportunity to show off your creativity, 'blue-sky thinking" and treat yourself as your own design project ??

THE CONCLUSION

If you're not convincing your audience, it's time to change your message ??

Good luck with your job search

You've got this! ????????