By Joey Trebif
Founder, CareerAlley
You have probably heard repeatedly from a friend or career coach that a job hunt during poor economic conditions is a hard prospect. What many people do not realize is that even in the most favorable conditions, a job search can be unsuccessful if you are not going about the process in the right way. There are a number of reasons why successful, motivated, qualified people might fail to land the job of their dreams – and the economy is not always to blame.
Why Can I Not Find a Job?
Here are some of the most common reasons why your job search or career transition can be less than successful:
- Poor resume design – Is your resume out of date? Is the information presented poorly? Simply tweaking a few design features of your resume has the potential to get you noticed.
[Related: Resume or CV]
- Looking in the wrong places – Casting a broad net when applying for jobs might work for some people, but when you have a highly specific set of job skills and work history, this strategy might leave you looking like a misfit. Look for career listings in trade publications and other outlets that cater more to people in your position.
- Making the wrong first impression – If you have been landing interviews but not closing on the job, you might need to revisit your interview skills. Keep in mind that most people have gone through some training in basic interview techniques, so if that is where your skill level is, then you are not going to stand out even if you have a lot to offer. Getting some one-on-one coaching or individual instruction can be a great way to help you make the impression that gets you hired.
- Your Resume Needs Lots of Work – Your resume is arguably the most important career document you will ever have. It is what helps you get your foot in the door, gets hiring managers to notice you and ultimately gets you the interview. Spelling errors and grammatical are unacceptable. Failure to highlight your skills and experience is, well, just dumb. That being said, most of us are not experts on resume writing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advise when writing your resume. Your friends, family and recruiters can help review your resume and offer advice.
- You Don’t Know How to Interview – Interviewing is a two way street and your success will depend on your ability to answer the questions asked and asking the right questions. You need to listen to what the interviewer is saying and respond with answers that will convince them that you are the right person for the job. Facial expressions, eye contact and keywords that match the job description are all very important in the interview process.
- You Don’t Have the Right Experience – It’s a waste of time to submit your resume for a position where you are not qualified. There will be many qualified resumes that are submitted and yours will get tossed very quickly if you don’t have relevant experience or skills. If, however, you have the skills and experience but they are not specifically highlighted on your resume, this is a perfect example as to why you should have multiple versions of your resume.
[Related: Recruiting in the Digital Age: Making the Most of Virtual Career Fairs]
This article was written by Joey Trebif at CareerAlley and was republished with permission.
Comments are closed.