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Job Hunting Nightmare

  • 25-04-2016 05:50PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭


    Hi guys

    I am feeling really fed up.

    I have been applying for jobs for ages, and I am rarely hearing anything back. I got a few general applies ( as in sorry you weren't successful good luck) but nothing other than that really.

    A few companies told me I was over qualified for the position :rolleyes:

    So lads what should I do? Should I take off my college qualifications? I left in 2010 and have worked on and off since than. I have had management experience but sadly the company I was working in shut down. I also tried to set up a business on my own for a while but the funds ran out so now I am back on the jobs market:(

    Any advice welcome
    Spud


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 CarolineHenry


    Hi Spud
    Sounds like you are having a tough time alright, it’s so frustrating when you’ve taken time to apply for a position and then get no response.

    How are you applying for the positions you are not hearing back from? If you are sending out the same CV each time, it would be a good idea to start tailoring your CV based on the job advert for each position you are applying to. This means more effort on your part, but it pays off in the long run. Are you sending a cover letter/email with your CV?

    Also, depending on the size of the organisation you are applying for, your CV might be screened by an applicant tracking system which is using keyword searches to screen CV’s – if you don’t have the right keywords in your CV it won’t get past the computer. You can figure out which keywords they are using by studying the job advert for the words which are commonplace in your industry and which you possess e.g. professional body acronyms, computer languages etc and making sure you use the same words to describe your experience.

    I wouldn’t recommend leaving out your qualifications, as you have worked hard to achieve them. If you have been working in a few unrelated roles recently, it might just be that your CV isn’t presenting your background as effectively as it could be and the companies don’t get why you want to change back to being an employee. Your cover letter could explain this by focusing on your motivations for wanting to apply for the job and work for that particular organisation.

    Hope this helps.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 982 ✭✭✭VincePP


    as above treat every application as a "project" and tailor the CV to each company. Not too much, not too little. Keep it concise and clear, but show that you know what you are applying for.

    Only apply for jobs you really feel you want. Read up on the company and its ethos and see how you fit in.

    If your cv shows several jobs in a short period - delete some unless they were seasonal positions during college. If you were in compmany A from November 2009 to February 2010, put 2009/2010 on the CV. If you get an interview and it comes up, you can tell them it was a 3 month position, but the CV doesn't need to show the exact months.

    If a job ended because a company closed down - state that.

    You say you tried doing your own thing - say this gave you an insight to the costs and requirements of operating a company and that you feel you're better suited to working within a company setup.



    I've run small bsuinesses and worked for lareg multinationals and over the years (I'm 30+ years either runnign a business are woring in senior position) I have seen thousands of Cv's. - if I put a job up today, I'd get 40-50 cv's. I'll whittle that down to about 10-12.

    I'll check linkedIn, i'll check Facebook, I'll do a google search. I'll check the companies you worked for previously.


    I'll then have the list down to 5 - that means about 40 cv's didn't get an interview. Possibly a few very good ones were there, but their Cv just didn't attract.

    Generally, about 50% of CV's are goddamn awful, another 20% are far too generic to warrant any attention, so out of 50 cv's, less than 20 even get a proper look. You want you CV in that 20. Then its a matter of time.


    Years ago (long before you were born I'd guess :) ) I sold advertising. There were 5 reps - we were all told to call to 10 companies a day and try and sell adverts. I called to about 10 companies a week. I consistently sold more than anyone else becaue I only called to companies that I felt would benefit from the advertising I was selling and had a reaosn tio advertise. The same sytem applies to all selling - and getting a job is about selling yourself to the right company.


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