Perhaps you’ve been applying for jobs for a long while and are beginning to feel despondent. It can be very disheartening if you feel like you’re not getting anywhere. But there may be a reason why you haven’t yet been successful, and understanding this reason could unlock new opportunities.
- The job you want simply isn’t out there. The job market can be tricky, especially in times of austerity. It may be that companies in your target job area are cutting staff rather than hiring. If this is the case, think about any transferable skills you might have and whether there are any alternative careers you could apply for. It might be that jobs in your target field are available but just not advertised. Why not send your CV to the HR departments of companies in your chosen industry? They may not have anything right now but if something comes up you could be first in the queue. And there have been times when taking such a proactive approach has led to the creation of a job or the discovery that the company is looking for someone just like you but hasn’t got round to advertising the post.
- Your CV and cover letter aren’t up to scratch. If you’re still sending a generic CV and cover letter for each job application you are doing yourself a disservice. You need to convince the hiring manager that this is the role for you and why you would be the right person for the job. If you need help with CV or cover letting writing, there are plenty of professional services out there. Premier Jobsearch also has plenty of tips articles on these topics, so feel free to check those out.
- You’re applying for one job at a time. If you’re waiting a response after each application before applying for other opportunities, you may be missing out. Once you have sent off an application, file it in an ‘open applications’ folder and move on to the next application. You may end up getting several responses if these overlap, but that’s just the kind of dilemma you need in your job search!
- You don’t have the relevant experience. If this is the case, you will need to convince the hiring manager that you are capable of doing the job. Remember that you may be up against other candidates with a great deal of experience. You may need to do some sort of further study, work experience or internship to get a foot in the door. If possible, talk to people in the role you are applying for and find out how they got to where they are.
- You’re not able to get past the interview stage. If you are being offered interviews but not the job, it may be time to brush up on your interview technique. Find out as much information about the company as possible before the big day and make sure you look presentable. Make good eye contact and answer questions honestly and concisely. Check out our articles on preparing interviews for more tips. Finally, if you are not in the habit of asking for feedback when you are unsuccessful, start doing that. There may be recurring themes that you can address ahead of future interviews.
Try to stay positive and keep praying that the right role will come along at the right time.
