I'm reading your applications, but are you reading the job descriptions? 🤔 We post roles with "Senior" and "Enterprise" for highly technical, developer-centric products. Yet, we receive applications from folks who've only worked in real estate or restaurant customer service (outside of Software or Tech at all, not real estate and HoReCa for tech products). Transferrable skills are valuable, but let's be real. 🤷♂️ How do you leap from one field to another and expect to land a senior-level role? The client pool and product type are different, and there's a steep learning curve and risk gap. I anticipate comments about lacking empathy for those laid off and seeking jobs. This is not true. I strive to provide feedback and be approachable, but delivering hard truths is also necessary: 1️⃣ The job market is challenging right now, and what might have gotten you a job in a different industry or with a great title a couple of years back, won't be happening today. There are so many lays-off going on that a lot of companies hiring don't need to discuss bringing in people with "transferable skills" because they have people who have done the job in the same industry and same role that might be open for a new opportunity. Luckily, there's light at the end of this tunnel and reports indicate that it will improve by 2025 (can't wait to have engineers telling me how awful recruiter I am because I try to pitch a role with a different programming language to them) 2️⃣ LinkedIn Easy Apply has made it easy to apply—and get rejected. It's crucial to ask yourself, "How many of these roles am I genuinely a top candidate for?" One year ago, I left AutoScout24 thinking I would easily land another Talent Acquisition job. After several rejections, I realized I wasn't as special as I thought. I ended up pivoting to a new industry (agency recruitment) at a lower level than expected. This isn't an "I've done it, so you should too" post but a reflection on facing a retracting market. Being adaptable is painful and a lot of influencers prefer to post "you can do it" and "feel gooders" rather than bring the hard questions that need to be asked to tough market conditions. ❗ This post isn't to philosophize about the market but to honestly discuss how to navigate it - ofc I would want to have enough time to get personalized feedback to all my over 500+applicants per role but that's just not feasible.
“Only worked in real estate or restaurant customer service…” I have so many questions… First of all, are you sure? Because some people have more experience than fits on a resume. Second, have they been participating in supplemental education? Third, do they have extensive experience with various softwares? (CRMs, POSs, etc) Fourth, does the job post clearly state specific mandatory technical skills, or is this the common scenario where a leadership expert is the target of 98% of the post, but oh, btw, also be a specialist in two more additional subjects as a side note? Because honestly, I’ve seen a TON of companies complaining about a lack of “soft skills” then denigrating anyone from a communications or instructional background.
Reid Slaughter
4mo
Personally, I only applied to roles that I am 100% qualified for and meet the minimum expectations. It seems counterintuitive to not do so.
April W.
4mo
This post is very helpful and insightful to those who have received a rejection email regarding their application to have a better understanding to why they may not be a great fit for the role. However for a role like Customer Success, I believe an individual with extensive CSM experience can quickly learn and adapt to the industry whether they have developer-centric product experience or not. Below the qualifications for Rasa Customer Success Manager, it states "Please keep in mind that we are describing the background that would best fit the role. Even if you don’t meet all the requirements, yet you are confident that you are up for the task, we absolutely want to get to know you!" Your post contradicts that statement especially if the candidate meets all qualifications, EXCEPT having developer-centric product experience even if they've worked with enterprise clients. I believe wanting a candidate to have developer-centric product experience may need to be noted as a required/must have. That should reduce the number of "unqualified" candidates.
So if the market gets back to normal in 2025, will all these companies go through the cost and effort of hiring again? Because top talent, hired to a role where they are perfectly (or over-) qualified, will leave immediately when getting challenging roles becomes possible again. What I’m trying to say is that hiring overqualified candidates doesn’t pay in long term, no matter the market.
Aziz Q.
4mo
"thinking I would easily land another Talent Acquisition job. After several rejections, I realized I wasn't as special as I thought." This is so real, that realisation hit me like a ton of bricks 😂
Angelo Lima
4mo
I appreciate this kind of approach, today people have a fear of facing the truth. We need to be brave enough to recognize our weaknesses and points that need to be improved if we want to fly higher in our career
David Lahoz
4mo
I'm playing devil’s advocate (just a bit). Sometimes, you should try to aim higher even if you do not meet 100% of the “listing checklist.” That's how you could land and get into higher positions. Obviously, I am not saying that you should apply for a CISO position if you only worked as a waiter and have no expertise whatsoever. On the other side, sometimes the listings are full of “not so relevant” information for the application. For example, will you really choose between two positions, identical positions, just if they have “fresh fruit and ping pong table” as a “perk” or the one you like more because of reputation, feeling,etc? It is nice to have and know, but not a deal breaker.
Jessica Amoruso
4mo
Lol, I literally scrolled down and the post below yours was this 😂 I think I know why you receive so many non-relevant job applications
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4moHi. Thanks for sharing this. I mainly apply for jobs that I’m a good candidate but also as you mentioned I can have transferable skills. I think the issue for our end is that. That we can be a good candidate but know our resumes are not even seen or pass the ATS or been consider at least. So would like to know why in terms or if we have a good work experience we get rejected without an opportunity or as you said you received so many applications but also we received so many rejections without a chance to be seen or considered they we can do what the company needs but one word that you don’t have in your resume and you never be seen or if you want to a role that probably you like and want but you are “overqualified you don’t get a chance. Should be a win win for everyone