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Have you ever been eliminated in a job you applied for, without having a chance to do an interview? Of course you have. I guess everyone has experienced this situation. If you’ve been experiencing this situation lately, perhaps you have something wrong or you may have the right skills and expertise, but you may still not fit the criteria that the company is currently looking for. In fact, there is not a single correct answer. So let’s  take a look at the possible mistakes and what needs to be done.

Maybe the biggest mistake that was made at the beginning of the job search process is having so much expectation. In fact we all know that the job in our dreams is not real.  Every job has good parts and dreadful parts. What you might label as your “dream job” could turn out to be a nightmare if you don’t have a great manager, supportive colleagues, or a decent company culture. Therefore, during the job search process, you should stretch the criteria in your mind and consider the job as a whole experience, not just what is written. When you think like this, you will reduce the stress of job search for yourself. What you need to do at the very beginning of the process is actually simple: expand your professional network, submit your applications to job postings that match your competencies, and follow up your applications.

Secondly, it is necessary to know that no job description is 100% accurate. Some job postings can be published one after the other without being changed over time, thus expectations are not fully reflected or sometimes the content of the postings may not come out of the professional hands. For this reason, job postings do not match the searched profile correctly. In such a case, you are either eliminated at the CV stage or it is understood that the profile sought during the interview is a very different person. In both cases there will be a disappointment for candidates. Therefore, it would be better to consider the job description as a guide. Compare your experience and knowledge with required skills and then apply if you meet 75% of these requirements.

Third, job postings on job search portals are not always up to date. Many job portals, including LinkedIn, offer great service by bringing together opportunities from hundreds of companies, but sometimes job postings on these portals don’t reflect the truth. You can usually verify a job posting by checking the company’s website to see if it’s also listed there. On sites like LinkedIn, check the date it was posted. If it says, “posted 6 months ago,” it’s likely that the position is no longer open.

Another important subject is your resume that you applied for job postings. When you apply for a job, your resume goes to a pool scanned by the recruitment consultant, and the recruitment consultant looks at each resume for an average of 7-8 seconds and makes her/his decision.  To make sure your resume really stands out, tailor it for the role and company you’re applying for. It should highlight your career progression, include skills and keywords that are in the job description, and showcase achievements that are listed as “must-haves” for the role.

The last one is that keep a cover letter ready that reflects you and explains how to perform your skills to the position.

If all this confuses you, you can contact us for career counseling, professional CV and cover letter writing. 

RecoverCV – Professional Business & Career Counseling