You have seen a suitable job, gone through the job description and are more than convinced that you are the person they are looking for. You go ahead and send in an application and eagerly wait for that interview call.
Days go by and you still don’t hear from them. Not even a regret email. You start to wonder; Did they even look at my CV? What if they already had a candidate in mind and advertising the job was just a formality?
At my job I am surrounded by a team of highly qualified recruiters and CV writers who at the end of the day admit that sometimes being left out of a job has more to do with you than the recruiter. It has everything to do with your CV. Here are some of the insights they shared;
3 CV Red Flags That Might Work Against You
1. You are leaving out information that was key for the job
When you come across a job advert, do you stop and fully internalize what it is the recruiter is looking for or do you just see the years of experience and the education qualifications and immediately conclude that you are the best candidate?
An application is more than the years of experience and a degree or diploma. It is in what the employer is looking for and not what you think you are.
At the end of the day, remember that when you are sending that CV, you are sending it to someone you don’t know and who has no idea who you are. What will make them stop and say “Wow, this is exactly who I am looking for”
It is in the details. It is in tailoring your CV to fit the job description.
2. Unexplained employment gaps
This is not to discourage you from applying for jobs when you have been out of the job market for long. However, employers are always concerned about employment gaps especially if they are not explained. Whether you left employment for a while to start a business, study or had a baby, these things happen and the employer will understand.
Most of the time it might not be the deciding factor, but if an employer is strict on someone with recent experience, then your chances will probably be very slim. Therefore, don’t leave it blank hoping that they will not notice because you will just be ruining your chances of getting the position.
3. There is evidence of a demotion in your CV
If you held a senior position but your rank later dropped in recent positions, then that is a clear red flag. Some recruiters may want to know why that was and invite you for an interview for that reason, while others will prefer to choose someone who has been consistent.
I know of a lady who suffered a demotion and had to do away with the senior position altogether because she couldn’t get a job. This does not mean you lie about your qualifications; it is about knowing what will work and what will not.
Now you know, the ball is in your court
If you have been looking for a job for a long time and have the qualifications but can’t seem to land any, its time you took control of the situation. If you can’t seem to know where you are going wrong, instead of giving up, you get a professional CV writer that sells you as the best candidate for the job and finally start you career journey.
https://jobcenterkenya.com/3-cv-red-flags-costing-you-the-job/
0 Comments