Why you are getting rejected even before the interview? The main reasons!

The recent changes and challenges in the labor market have resulted in numerous financial hardships for every company, leading to terminations and layoffs.

Consequently, there is a significant amount of professionals at various levels who are actively looking for a job and submitting applications for various positions but are not being hired.

As an IT Recruiter, I also regularly receive a lot of CVs every day for different positions, that are mostly irrelevant and consequently rejected even without proceeding to the interview stage. And some applicants with work experience wonder why they were not contacted by the company without accepting the mistakes they made while applying. Some people are trying to determine the problem and work on it, while others keep making the same mistakes.

This widespread problem prompts me to highlight some of the most common mistakes that applicants make, hoping that it will assist candidates in achieving success.

So, below I have listed the main reasons that might explain why you weren’t shortlisted even before the interview.

1. You are applying for the position without conducting any research on the company

Taking the time to research the company not only demonstrates your preparedness and professionalism but also helps to find useful information and the main answers to the questions that you may have. The most frequently happening consequence of this, which I see a lot is that sometimes candidates receive rejection feedback after an interview, but then still apply to the same company again a few days later.

2. You are applying for the position without reading the job description

Usually, the most critical points that can lead to rejection are clearly mentioned in the job description. Suppose, for example, the job description clearly states that both technical background and fluent English are essential requirements for the role. In that case, it means that even if you have excellent English skills, you will not be shortlisted without the necessary technical knowledge.

3. You are sending your CV to multiple companies with the same message

It’s unprofessional when a recruiter notice that you have sent a CV and your email’s “to” section containing the email addresses of more than 10 HR representatives from different companies. If you haven’t taken the time to research and apply to the company appropriately, why should the recruiter take the time to review your CV?

4. You don’t mention the position name in the subject line of your email

Let the recruiter know why you are writing and specify the position you are applying for. It requires additional time for the recruiter to determine your intent. Also, emails without subject lines are often flagged as spam, reducing your chances of standing out among other candidates.

5. You have a lot of mistakes/omissions in your CV

The significance of having a professional CV is a commonly discussed topic among HR managers. When the CV contains grammar and spelling mistakes, incorrect dates and information, non-working links, unprofessional picture, as well as long and irrelevant text, it suggests that the candidate lacks attention to detail and has not dedicated enough time and effort to develop a professional document. And the probability that he/she would be as “messy” in the job as they are in their CV is high.

6. You are not sending your CV in PDF format

When you have prepared a professional CV with suitable content, always send the recruiters the PDF version, as it is always unchangeable on all devices. Don’t send your CV in Word because nobody has time to deal with formatting issues.

7. The information/dates provided in your different profiles are inconsistent

Sometimes candidates intentionally include incorrect dates, position names, or levels in their CVs in an attempt to fill gaps in their career history or to show a longer experience. For example, a candidate might indicate on their CV that they worked in a company for 6 months, whereas their LinkedIn profile states that they actually completed only a 3-months internship there.

8. Someone sends your CV on your behalf

It’s unprofessional when recruiters receive your CV from someone else’s email address, such as your sisters, girlfriends, or friends. In today’s tech-driven world, having your own email address and the ability to use it effectively is crucial, especially if you want to work in the tech industry. If you can’t independently apply for positions and manage your own professional communication, how will you handle your everyday tasks?

This list of mistakes could go on and on, but I mentioned a few that I met more frequently, with the hope that it will assist candidates in achieving success.

So, to avoid technical issues always take your time when applying for each position. Edit your CV to match the job description, show your interest and personal skills, and set yourself apart from other applicants.

Opportunities can be limitless, so put in the effort to make your application unique.

To be continued…