Why Is The Job Search Process So Difficult!

Key Points Candidates Might Miss During Their Job Hunt Process

In an ultra-competitive market as we have today (or any market for that matter), how a candidate conducts a job search is magnified and can be a differentiator. The candidates that put the effort in to maintain more organized search will get much better results. This article highlights some of the more glaring points I have seen candidates miss over the years in my former career as a corporate executive and now as a recruiter.

Before Applying:

• NOT reading the entire job description before applying. So many candidates apply for jobs that they are not qualified for because they relate to the job title. There are no standard job title rules – no 2 companies will use the same title to map to the same responsibilities. READ THE JD!
• NOT aligning your resume with the job description – DO NOT send out the same resume for every job application. I have spoken about this is the fifth edition of this newsletter. See: My Weekly Thought's Newsletter #5

When Applying:

• NOT uploading a true PDF version of your resume. This is easier for most systems to process and eliminates any possibility of editing.
• NOT tracking your application in a spreadsheet or email folder. Too many times I have called a candidate who applied and after I give them my name, the job title and location, they ask me if I can send them the job description. This shows lack of organizational skills and means the candidate is probably just applying to jobs randomly with no organized plan or effort to track their submissions.

Upon Getting a Response to a Job Application:

• NOT knowing if the response is from a recruiter or the actual hiring company. While any response is important and should be handled as such, always know who the response is from. A recruiter can determine if the candidate has potential and may recommend resume updates, coach for the client interview, and continue to help if other roles present themselves. Speaking with the HR contact or hiring manager of a company will essentially be a success or go home scenario.
• NOT responding within 24 hours. Ghosting the positive response. If you are no longer interested, RESPOND stating that. NEVER ghost any positive response. If the response is requesting a date/time to speak – always respond with 3 date/times and be flexible.

At the Time of First Scheduled Phone Call:

• NOT being available at the appointed time. If you are held up and unavailable - let your contact know immediately.
• NOT understanding the role. Have the job description and your submitted resume in front of you. So many times, during a scheduled call, the candidate would not remember what job I was referring to and asked me to send a job description to remind them. This is a red flag and shows a lack of organizational skills and that the candidate is not serious about the opportunity.
• NOT researching the company. Being misinformed about the company you are interviewing for can come back to bite the candidate.?Any interviewer will usually ask why you are interested in working for them. Having a solid answer helps.

During the Scheduled Call:

• NOT sounding enthusiastic or happy. (Or not smiling on a Video Call) Perception is reality. First impressions on phone/videos calls are the equivalent of a handshake in person. Smile, sound pleasant and do not be afraid to laugh when it is called for.
• NOT being consistent with what is on your resume and/or LINKEDIN profile. If a candidate contradicts their resume in any way, it will raise a concern should it be looked at.
• NOT expanding on Yes/No answers. Interviews are usually uncomfortable. Candidate answers can demonstrate how well they work under pressure and handle stress. If?a question seems straightforward to answer - usually a simple “yes” or “no” is not good enough. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see a willingness to go above and beyond, so be prepared to talk in detail when responding to these questions.
• NOT having questions at the end of the interview. Candidates should always have questions about the company, role or even culture in their back pocket when asked ‘do you have any questions’? If opportunity is not given, then the candidate should say ‘I have a question before we wrap up’.
• NOT asking what the next steps are. Candidates should always end every interview (if the interviewer did not mention anything) with “I am very interested in this opportunity, are there any next steps you can share with me?”

After EVERY Scheduled Call:

• NOT sending a Thankyou note. This is very important. Should be sent within 24 hours of any interview. A simple – thank you for your time, I enjoyed our conversation and look forward to hearing back from you is all that is needed. There are many sources of information for this. Here is one example: Interview Thank You Note Examples
• ?NOT allowing the recruiter or company adequate time to get back to you. If a time frame for the next steps were given, allow that time period to pass before following up. If no time was given (and you did not ask) – allow one week (5 business days) to pass before following up. Then follow up every 5 business days afterwards. Realistically, if you do not get any response in 15-20 business days – move on and accept the fact that you probably are not being considered for the role.

Of course, there are exceptions to everything and as a candidate you have to use common sense to address your job search. I hope the guidelines above help you to recognize some areas that can help you to get the job you want. Feel free to reach out to me on LINKEDIN anytime!

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