10 reasons why some job seekers don’t get offers
In the course of job hunting, thousands of job candidates are rejected from jobs. There are several reasons why they strike out. Here are six of them from thebalancecareers.com:
1. Unqualified. You don’t have all the skills and qualifications listed on a company job description, but you do need at least 90% of them. Less than that knocks you out of the race.
2. Overqualified. On the surface, it doesn’t make much sense rejecting an applicant who has more skills and qualifications necessary to do the job well. However, employers are hesitant because they feel candidates will get bored or will jump at the first opportunity to apply for a position more suitable to their qualifications.
3. Applied for too many jobs at one company. It’s OK to apply for a few positions at the same company, but not several. When your name pops up often, you’re lowering your chances of being considered. Companies prefer to hire people who want a specific job.
4. Sloppy resume. You’d think a lone typo on a resume won’t impact your chances of being considered. But on a resume, that lone typo stands out like an advertising billboard. And you can count on a rejection. Lesson: Proofread and spellcheck your resume before submitting it.
5. Cover letter is awful. Cover letters are often too long or they include non-essential information. Cover letters must be short, tight and pertinent. They should not rehash information in your resume. Instead, it should focus on why you are the perfect fit for the position.
6. Can’t explain why you were fired. Regardless of the reason you were fired, you’ll need to explain why and provide details. Hopefully, it will resonate with the prospective employer. Blaming your boss won’t fly.
Rochester Hills, Michigan career counseling firm Allison & Taylor Inc. lists an additional four common reasons candidates are rejected from jobs:
1. Past boss badmouthed job candidate.
Fifty percent of Allison-Taylor’s clients have lost good job offers because of mediocre comments from previous employers. In many of these cases, candidates performed well on interviews. However, it’s often something negative past employers said about candidates.
2. Job seeker was a victim of discrimination, sexual harassment or wrongful termination. Previous employers could be negatively impacting your new job search because of unflattering comments to prospective employers.
3. Candidates were protected by their prior company’s policy to only confirm the dates and title of employment.
AllisonTaylor’s experience is that with a little pressure, most managers break company policy and speak their mind to either help or hurt a candidate’s chances of landing a new job. Ask yourself: “Who from your past job will help or hinder my chances of passing muster?” This is critical information to know.
4. Candidates have not spent enough time developing a list of appropriate references. You’ve worked hard on your resume and honed your interview skills. But you’ve done nothing but type a list of references. Don’t leave this crucial information to chance. References are a critical final factor in who gets job offers. Prior employers and virtually anyone you listed as a reference will be contacted.