Confused as to why you are continually rejected in your job applications?

You are not alone.  Most job seekers are so tired of applying for 100’s of positions only to be left in the dark.  No feedback, no invitation to an interview, nothing – you sometimes wonder if there is actually people out there doing recruitment.  And the dreaded “If you haven’t heard from us by date, you were not successful.”

Are you so sick and tired of this, that you are ready to give up? Before you do, use the following points to see if there is something else you can do:

• Print out the first page of your CV – no need for the rest of it
• Fold and cut it in half, so you have two separate pieces of paper for the top and bottom
• Take the advert for the job you are applying for, and using a highlighter mark out the key skill requirements (at least 5)
• Take the top half of your CV and using the advert as a template, find the same skills that you marked on the advert
• Now see if you can find your name, telephone number and e-mail address on the same marked top half

Now do you see what is happening?  If you can’t find the skill requirements from the advert, and can’t find your contact details – how do you expect the recruiter to find it? At best you can hope that a temp will be tasked with reviewing a whole pile of similar CVs, to “find those who meet the job’s basic criteria.” But don’t hold your breath, most of the time they don’t have the skills or experience to know that you qualify for the position or not.

Unfortunately, people still believe that the more effort they put into page 2, highlighting how skilled they are, the more successful they will be. NO – sorry! If recruiters can’t find the information on the first half of the first page, you have lost the opportunity. They seldom look for information; remember that there are lots more jobseekers than positions available.

Your CV should match up to the advert, it’s that simple.  It should get you a job interview – no more, no less. Anything else is wishful thinking.

As long as the labour market favours recruiters, they will take advantage of the situation and work as little as possible. The only time this situation will change is when there are more positions than jobseekers!

I can’t wait for that day, but until then, you will have to take charge of your life and do what you have to, to be successful.  A professional CV will get you noticed, so what are you still waiting for?