Still Unemployed? Here’s What You May Be Doing Wrong

Posted by Mark in Career on 02 18th, 2010

Job search can be frustrating, no doubt about that. Often times we hear job seekers talking how they never hear back from the employer after a job interview. We agree that employers should contact each job applicant even if they are not hired, but when you have thousands of job applicants for two openings, it might be a little too hard for the company too.

There are many reasons why an employer may reject a job candidate. We explore five reasons below which shows why the employers aren’t too keen on hiring you.

1. Your Resume Sucks

Online job search is highly effective and using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. can help you land a job. However, a resume will always be required. Online resume or offline, without a resume that can highlight your experience and one that is effective, landing a job is next to impossible. Having a resume alone isn’t enough. It needs to be effective. Too often we see people using their LinkedIn profile as an online resume but everything on it seems unprofessional. If your profile image on LinkedIn shows you holding a beer can, good luck getting prospective employers interested in you. The first and foremost thing that you need to make sure is the fact that your resume doesn’t suck.

We’ve covered resume tips in the past. Below are some links that will help you guide in the right path when it comes to making sure your resume doesn’t suck :

1. If you are looking for jobs in a industry that demands you be creative, these creative resumes might be something you could draw inspiration from.
2. Writing an effective resume requires use of effective words. Take a look at these words that will help make your resume stand out.
3. If your resume looks like the resume of the future that we created a while back, it’s obvious you won’t get called for a job interview.
4. Ever think of lying in your resume? If you have, these are the resume lies employers usually don’t catch on to.
5. Before you throw away the junk mails, make sure you learn how to create outstanding resume using tactics used in junk mails.
6. And finally, here are a few tips on how you can write a killer resume by making the best out of your biggest screwups.

2. You’re Begging For It

It’s natural to be desperate when you lose a job. The desperation kicks in full swing if you haven’t saved any money and it comes down to putting food on the table. Being laid off from a job or getting fired and losing a steady income isn’t easy, both financially and emotionally. However, if your desperation starts showing during the job interview, it’s almost guaranteed employers aren’t going to hire you.

Employers look for people who are confident and can turn things around. They are looking for someone who can handle a tough situation. If you act desperate there is no way an employer is going to hire you. They might feel bad for you but they have a business to run, and in this case, their business mind will certainly overcome the emotional side. Grabbing an interviewers leg and begging while at the job interview isn’t the best way to land a job. We understand you are desperate and it’s natural, but don’t let it show.

3. You Are Being a Bit Too “Cocky”

Some job applicants are way out of their head. Most articles that you read on the web related to job interview tips always says “be confident.” This does not mean you have to act cocky. There is a difference between being confident and being an ass hole. Your employers wants someone who knows what they are talking about, they don’t want an aggressive person who might be a problem for the whole department down the road. Besides the whole cocky part, some job applicants seem to talk a bit too much.

Don’t get too personal with your interviewer. There is no reason to point out that your ex-wife or ex-husband made your life hell and you couldn’t perform as expected at your last job. Watch what you say while at the interview. Every word coming out of your mouth and every gesture you make is being watched. If you are talking out of your ass, there is a reason the employer didn’t extend the job offer to you.

4. You Don’t Exist On The Web

Although employers still use traditional ways to hire a job applicant, online channels have become extremely important. There are more employers looking to hire someone through social channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. As these platforms grow, employers are realizing they need to have a presence on there and they expect you to be there as well. Just make sure you are using these channels wisely and not sharing your darkest, deepest secrets for the world to see.

Your presence online can either be the reason they will hire you or the reason they won’t. Having a web presence is definitely something that can’t be ignored. If you don’t have one, that certainly may be one of the reason the employer isn’t too keen on hiring you.

5. You Forgot To Do Your Homework

Don’t ever go for a job interview unprepared. And we aren’t talking about ironing your clothes or brushing your hair. We are talking about the fact that you need to know about the company. Interviewer’s often like to ask questions related to the company such as history, name of the CEO, etc. to see how much time job applicant has put into researching. If you can’t answer some of the basic things about the company, it just shows you haven’t done your homework properly. You need to prove the employer that you want this job not just for the money (although that might be the primary reason), but cause the work itself interests you.

The more information you have on the company, the more reasons they have to believe that you are an ideal candidate. This is a critical step in preparing for a job interview and many seem to ignore it. And that my friend, is a very good reason that a particular employer doesn’t want to hire you.

Your Turn

We shared a few reasons as to why an employer may not be interested in you. We would love to hear what you think of them. Also feel free to add more to the list in the comments section.