Are you not getting hired, why?

I like to think of Job-Hunting like purchasing a car. No one really wants to spend their days walking a car lot just like no one really wants to apply over and over to be automatically rejected or as some people say "ghosted". Pretty much the only time you are doing either is when you are in the position of need for one reason or another. Sure, the end state of the event is a necessary evil to perpetuate your existence on the planet but what could you be doing to make finding a job easier as an applicant/candidate?

As someone who is relatively new to recruiting, I have picked up on several things that seem to be a common occurrence in some job seekers. I do not know if it is out of disregard for the job postings, lack of knowledge on applying and acquiring employment or individuals are throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. Full disclaimer I recruit for Government Contracts, so my jobs do have more requirements than most private jobs but regardless the same holds true when applying to either sector.

I would say one of the first thing someone needs to do is identify what it is they want to do, what it is they are qualified to do, and what they will not do. This may sound funny to say out loud but just think about it. For me it would sound something like this "I would like to be a valued member of a team using my military experience, I am qualified to bring some military experience to the table, and I do not want to be a shift manager on the graveyard shift". Sounds simple right, not so much for everyone. What would yours sound like if you asked yourself the same questions?

What does your resume say about you as a worker? Are you a job hopper, does your resume read like Ikea furniture assembly instructions, do the recruiters or hiring managers have to spend 15 minutes reading 8 pages and trying to digest your dissertation on your last 45 years? Keep in mind many recruiters and hiring managers look at anywhere from 25-50 resumes a day, answer emails, make calls and attend meetings. This one thing says so much about your education, your past work performance, your skills and so on. Do you have a LinkedIn profile that mirrors what you have listed on your resume? Recruiters and hiring managers will compare and contrast to see what you have listed and there are times the two do not even read like they are the same person.

Time to apply now that you know what you want to do, what's next? You fill out an application online, attach your resume then post and pray. You applying and instantly are regretted, ever wonder why? It is because some companies use an Applicant Tracking System or (ATS) which allows recruiters and hiring managers to review potentials candidates, shortlist applicants and makes it easier when vetting a candidate pool. These systems are usually mandated by people leadership of an organization that does not have to use them. When you talk to a Recruiter/Hiring manager and they are pulling their hair out, this usually the reason why.

Be honest with yourself when you apply to jobs. Just being upfront and trying to save you and some recruiters some time. Let's say you graduate college and you find yourself applying for a Civil Engineer position that requires a degree, 10 years of Civil Engineering experience, US Citizenship, clean background check and 100% travel but you meet exactly none of qualifications when you apply. Then you wonder why the company never responds to your online application. Not saying I do that but there others out there that do. I like to respond to the applicant by posing a question asking them to demonstrate how they meet the requirements. To date I have only had one person respond in a negative way when I asked if he met any of the qualifications as he had just graduated from high school three months ago and was applying to a $150K a year job.

When you get past the bots and a recruiter reaches out to you to talk about the program either by email or phone it conveys a sense of interest and urgency when you answer, respond or set up a time to talk. If it is a good job there is a 100% chance that the recruiter is talking to multiple people, or that there are other people recruiting for the same position. Remember, for recruiters it is a numbers game as well. Many of them have multiple positions on multiple programs they are actively working on at all times. Take their call, respond to their email and convey you are interested in the job. Yes in 2019 there are applicants who apply to jobs and do not have an email, no voicemail set up, or do not respond to any forms of communication. How do people expect to get contacted if they have no way to receive a message, even better what does this say when a recruiter or hiring manager is trying to contact you and you do not respond on any platform?

The last thing I would like to tell applicants about applying to jobs. It is not about you personally. Read that again out loud, it is not about you. There is a myriad of reasons why people are not selected; the hiring manager knows another applicant, they are trying to accommodate an HR directive, they have ATS software that rejects you instantly, they program manager will not hire someone who previously worked for company X but prefers individuals from company Y. Yes the last one sounds silly, but its true and happens.

Be patient, professional and open to new opportunites when it comes to seeking employment. If you can help someone out or give them beneficial guidance please do. If someone you are not a fit for a job be honest with yourself and if you are a recruiter be honest with the applicants.

** These are my personal opinions and experiences on what I have witnessed in my first 90 days as a recruiter for a company that pursues Government Contracts**