Is no-where responding to your job applications?
As a job seeker it can become very frustrating to be putting in countless hours of your time writing and submitting applications and not getting any kind of response from employers. It can reach a point where having no response is way worse than getting rejected. Even with negative feedback, you are able to discover why you didn’t get the role and you can begin working on the issues and use this for your next application. Job seeking can be hard with no guidance, so feedback from employers, whether it is good or bad, can have a positive impact on you and your job search. Below are some tips and things you can work on to try and improve your applications and start to see the results you need.
Go for quality over quantity
The first thing you should be working on is the actual applications you are submitting. You want to be spending a significant amount of time on each application. Make sure you are reading through your CV for every job you apply for and see if there are any changes you can make to make it more relevant to the employer. You also want to spend time on your cover letter, explain to the employer why you want the role and what you would be able to do for them.
You don’t necessarily have to have the longest CV with the most experience. You want to have relevant experience and skills they are looking for. This means condensing the content on your CV and making it a good fit for each application. You want to have taken the time to read the job description and make sure that you are giving the employer exactly what they are looking for. It can be easy to just click the apply button and submit with no further thought, especially if you’ve been applying for jobs for hours already. However, if you feel this way, take some time away from work and come back with a refreshed mind ready to apply for that job. It is all about quality, so make sure you are giving the employer 100% of what they are asking for.
Always take the time to write a cover letter
A cover letter may seem like the least of your worries. Some job seekers and a few employers even think of it as a waste of time. You can’t always guarantee that the employer will even ask for one with your application but having it ready to go will save you a lot of time in the long run. You want your cover letter to be a more detailed version of your personal statement. Take the time to talk about your experience and more importantly, your achievements. They want to read about what you can do for them. Having a cover letter ready, means you have a template for all applications, whether they ask for one or not, you have something ready. It is important to read over this, the same as your CV, whenever you apply for a new role. Make sure you are tailoring this and making sure that it isn’t the cover letter bringing you down. Remember, if no where seems to be responding, try and add a little bit extra to your application and a cover letter can sometimes be the answer.
Narrow your search
If you seem to be unsuccessful with more applications than you thought, maybe you should think about narrowing down your search. Are you applying for jobs that are perfect for you? Are you applying for the right level of job? Are you really reading the job description before you apply?
Make sure you answer those questions honestly because they can help you figure out what may be going wrong. Only apply for jobs that you know you are qualified for, or you may be setting yourself up for unnecessary rejection. It is good to be ambitious but also try and be realistic. Really think about what you want your next step to be and once you figure this out, get back to your jobs search and you may start to see more positive results.
Follow directions
This may seem simple and you may think you do it, but sometimes being a little overwhelmed can lead you to missing out small details. It is important to follow exact directions and make sure that you are sending in everything the employer has asked for. If they ask for your CV, a cover letter and a portfolio, you send them all of that and make sure it is all there before you click send. Do exactly what they ask of you and take the time to do it well. Remember, quality over quantity. If you have done what they ask, you’ve read the job spec and you fit the bill, then you may be looking forward to something positive. However, if you forget a small but important detail, it can be obvious that you haven’t read the full description, and this won’t have a very positive effect. Finally, double check everything. A simple task but can save your application.
Follow ups
Try and get into contact with the employer after you have submitted your application. There may be some information at the bottom of the job listing, telling you when the job closes for applications. After this date, you may want to give it a week or two before getting into contact.
Even if you think you haven’t been successful, showing your interest and being polite can keep you in their good books for any other jobs that may become vacant within their company. Remember, it is all about showing the employer that you are a good fit. Show them that you are enthusiastic and really interested in them as a business. There will be no harm in following up, sometimes they are just super busy and may have not gotten to your application yet.
Sometimes there are employers that do not get back to unsuccessful applicants. They may state this on their job description, or some may just leave you hanging. This seems to be a common part of job seeking and you need to ask yourself if you really want to work for an organisation that treats potential employees this way? It may just be a blessing in disguise, even if it doesn’t feel that way at first.
When it comes to job seeking, the most important advice is to persevere and not give up on your goals. You may want to look back at your goals and see what you can change to fit your search. Not everything happens quickly, and you just may need some more time to get your CV and application process correct. It does take practice, but once you spend some time and analyse what you are doing, you can start to spot where you may be going wrong and work on that. If you keep working on it and put in the hours, you can see results.
