US News lists nine reasons why you're not getting hired as follows:
1. Your resume is not targeted.
2. Your resume is about your past, not your future.
3. The cover letter conundrum: either you’re not sending targeted cover letters or you’re relying on cover letters to make your case.
4. You’re not looking for the right job.
5. Job boards are your primary job search tools.
6. You project a negative attitude.
7. You’re not networking in person.
8. You are not participating in social (online) networking.
9. Your Google results are confusing or negative.
These are "ok" but don't really get to the heart of the matter IMO. If someone's not getting hired, here's what I think are the most likely reasons:
- You're not networking like crazy. This is the one tip from above that I agree with. If you're not networking, you're probably not getting many job opportunities (interviews). Obviously if you're not getting interviews it's difficult to get hired.
- You have no accomplishments. Organizations hire people to get things done. If you don't have a track record of getting things done (delivering measurable results in past jobs), employers are going to assume that you're mediocre at best. And no one wants to hire a mediocre employee.
- You're not communicating your accomplishments. Perhaps you do have accomplishments, but they aren't coming across. You need to fine tune your resume and rehearse your interview answers so they both SHOUT your accomplishments.
- You're not likeable. Being likeable is just as important as being a good employee. And if people don't like you, you're doomed (who wants to work with someone they don't like, after all?) So focus on what it takes to be likeable and improve your odds of success.
Once you fix these four, then I think it's fine to consider the ones US News lists. But if you address their nine and still miss any of the four I listed, you're in for a rough road IMO.
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