Why Am I Not Getting Hired?

As the head of UpRush Social Geekers , I often help out in paper-screening applicants for the different job openings that we have. This has given me some insight on why some applicants are not even getting their foot at the door. Let's talk about some of the common ones I have observed.

Vague Accomplishment and Unclear Duties and Responsibilities

A lot of CVs that I come across would have the Scope of Responsibilities as a copy-pasted version of what is in their job description. While this may verily describe what you are required to do, it is not a good description of what you have done, which is basically more important for recruiters.

The Duties and Responsibilities in your job description only describes what you are expected to do. Your CV should indicate what you have already done.

Describing projects or initiatives you have successfully spearheaded or undertaken, including the impact of these projects will definitely put you at the top of the list of any recruiter. It might also be a good idea to minimize the use of such words as "collaborated", "worked with", or "managed". Instead, be specific with how you collaborated, worked with, or managed a project. What was your role? What was expected of you? What standard did you have to meet? Where you able to meet those expectations? How?

No Scope of Responsibilities

Worst than vague duties and responsibilities is failing to write any duties and responsibilities at all. Your CV or resume is more than just a chronological list of the companies you have worked with. Again, recruiters need to know what you have already done, what you are capable of.

By the way, make sure that you write your employment history in a reverse chronological order. It's the latest experience that holds more value for us recruiters.

Generic Objective

Personally, I am not a fan of putting objectives in CV as I think it can actually limit your options; however, if you feel it is something that needs to be there, make sure that you tailor it to the company and position you are applying for, targeting the specific skills and competencies they are looking for. This would also mean writing and rewriting your objective each time you apply with a company and for a position.

Not Proofreading

It goes without saying that, before you start sending out your CV or resume, you need to make sure that you have thoroughly reviewed and proofread it. Recruiters will assess you not just on the content of your CV or resume but also on how well you have prepared it. I have come across a number of profiles where there are a lot of grammatical errors and/ or misspellings, or where the objective indicated is for a position entirely different from what they are applying for in UpRush Social Geekers . There were even cover letters sent to us that were for a different company. Imagine all of that and you were applying for a position that required attention to details!

Now, What?

This is not an exhaustive list of everything that you need to keep in mind when creating your CV or resume. At the same time, making these changes will not also guarantee that you would get the job. This is just so you can get your foot at the door. How you perform during the interview can still make or break your application.

Are you a company looking to hire the right talent for your organization? Email UpRush Social Geekers at [email protected].