Job applications - unsuccessful

Duke77

Hi

Recently I applied to three different companies for Junior/Graduate roles that were advertised on their websites and also on irishjobs.ie. All three advertisements mentioned that full training would be given if successful and that any experience would be beneficial.

I have at least 3 years experience for these roles, I applied as I have been unemployed for quite some time. I thought a graduate role would help me get back into working in the sector that appeals to me.

When I submitted the applications (not all together), withing a few hours the job advertisement was removed from their website and also from other job boards. Being a little naive to say, I kind of got my hopes up, as two of these jobs have been advertised for quite some time.

It has been two weeks now, and this morning I noticed that one of the jobs has been re advertised. I take it I was unsuccesful?

Last week I recieved an email from one of the other recruiters saying that I was unsuccessful too. But that job too was also re advertised..and still recruiting.

I cant get my head round it, why companies cannot give you the benefit of the doubt, and call you up for at least an interview? I'm here looking for work, and willing to work. They are still advertising for somebody. One of those jobs has been advertised since the start of December.

Bloody Joke, and I'm a little annoyed now, this country has gone to hell, and I really think its time for me to just walk away and leave this place and emigrate.

I left a good job back about 2004 to go to college, I went as a mature student, and worked hard to get good results on my own in a class of 50+
I also paid for my own tuition and never got any assistance. Now with the degree i find it hard to get work. I feel really let down

Its not what you know its who you know...

Samsgirl

A lot of the times recruitment agencies put up roles that don't exist. So I wouldn't take it as an unsuccesful application. There is a good thread on here about agencies doing that.

Duke77

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I found that out too. The jobs I applied to above where actual advertisements from the companies itself. Came acroos them on irishjos & indeed and also on their websites. This morning just noticed they advertised them again after they had them removed about two weeks ago.

cheers

Duke77

Duke77 wrote: »

.................

.

Its not what you know its who you know...

Not in most cases to be fair.

Duke77 wrote: »

.................I cant get my head round it, why companies cannot give you the benefit of the doubt, and call you up for at least an interview?

Perhaps they don't like the look of your CV, maybe they think you have too much experience or are over qualified .

What's the degree in?

Ongo Goblogian

Recruitment agents are the bane of those seeking jobs. They play both sides to their own benefit. In reality an agent would have a client and try to get the best deal for that client. But who is the client in most cases, the company looking for an employee or the employee looking for a company? Agents often take a fee from an employer which can essentially amount to a 15 to 20% drop in any potential salary you get from a direct employer. I know of one Recruitment agency that gets just under €17 an hour for employees that it sends to a packing warehouse/distributor. The employees are mainly non national with poor English, but they don't discriminate and will hire Irish people if they apply(I know a few guys who used to do a few shifts while in college). The recruiter pays only minimum wage as an hourly rate to the employees and also charges for high vis gear, transport(24/7 shift work) and meals, these deductions are not optional. Each employee ends up with less than minimum wage and has no job security. They can be dismissed on a whim of the distribution warehouse managers without reason and the agent will send in a replacement within hours.

TL:DR Recruitment agents are not working for you, you end up working for them. Avoid them if you can.

Try and apply to the companies that have their own in house HR dept. Lots of the big tech companies will have this and actively avoid recruitment agencies. Although you did not mention the field you are in, if it is niche you may have no option other that the agencies, but do not get disheartened by the lack of success after three applications as a lot of these agents are only building up their own portfolios of CV's to show to their real potential clients (the Employers).

pilly

I think you're being extremely naïve to believe that the job was taken down because you applied. And for saying that you feel like emigrating because you haven't gotten 2 jobs that you applied for.

People are applying for tons of jobs every day of the week. You have to keep trying. Unemployment is at a very low level so there is work out there, you just have to keep looking.

Duke77

pilly wrote: »

I think you're being extremely naïve to believe that the job was taken down because you applied. And for saying that you feel like emigrating because you haven't gotten 2 jobs that you applied for.

People are applying for tons of jobs every day of the week. You have to keep trying. Unemployment is at a very low level so there is work out there, you just have to keep looking.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I agree about being naive when I applied for those jobs. But this has been on going since i finished college. I am constantly applying for work with both recruitment agencies and actual company HR. With no luck with either, and its not just down to the outcome with the 3 recent applications that I just feel its time to move on. Those 3 applications I made recently was just an example.

When a job lists that no experience and training wil be provided, why can i not even get to an interview stage? I have had my CV prepared by a recruitment specialist here in Ireland and when I went over to the UK a few years ago. I tailor it to each application when being submitted.

_Brian

Are you a graduate??

You say you have three years experience which wouldn't be typical, it will be seen as a reason to seek more money.

I'd wager they're looking for people Fresh from college so they can be thrown a very small salary for the first few years.

pilly

Duke77 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I agree about being naive when I applied for those jobs. But this has been on going since i finished college. I am constantly applying for work with both recruitment agencies and actual company HR. With no luck with either, and its not just down to the outcome with the 3 recent applications that I just feel its time to move on. Those 3 applications I made recently was just an example.

When a job lists that no experience and training wil be provided, why can i not even get to an interview stage? I have had my CV prepared by a recruitment specialist here in Ireland and when I went over to the UK a few years ago. I tailor it to each application when being submitted.

I'm not sure what to tell you so, it sounds like you're doing all the right things but not getting to the interview stage. There has to be something stopping people from calling you for interview but it's hard to know without knowing the type of job you're looking for.

How long are you finished college? You say you started college in 2004 or is that a typo? Is your qualification now out of date if that's the case?

Ongo Goblogian

Duke77 wrote: »

... I tailor it to each application when being submitted.

I would not mess about with the CV too much, just stick to the bullet point facts. Tailor a cover letter for each application. How many actual interviews have you done compared to how many CV's sent. Roughly only 2% of applications get to an interview stage depending on the market. The key is getting your CV into that 2%. If you lobbed out 30 CV's and heard nothing back, I would be looking at either your CV or the roles you are applying for. CV experts are ten a penny and every one will tell you different. Just keep it neat tidy and relevant. Spellcheck, spellcheck and spellcheck. Also have a mate or two proof read it for errors(you are not looking for advice from mate on CV contents, just proof reading and making sure it scans the eye correctly). The thing is to keep trying, keep casting the net and eventually you will catch something.

Also try for roles a bit less than what you think your qualified for and use it a stepping stone. The fact that you were out of the employment loop for a while may nullify your actual experience to an employer.

Another angle is to apply for graduate roles as if you were a recent graduate, remove actual dates from CV in an attempt to get to an interview, where you can then mention your previous experience to elevate you above the other graduates.

Truth is there is no right and wrong way to do this other then persevere. The goal posts constantly shift and sway and you have to keep shooting, eventually you will hit a target.

Lux23

Have you followed up with the recruiter?

tiredblondie

Would you not mail them and ask them why there was no reply?
No harm in it, i don't think anyway - maybe they can give you some pointers as to why they didn't want to call you for interview?

Mister R

Augeo wrote: »

Perhaps they don't like the look of your CV, maybe they think you have too much experience or are over qualified .

What's the degree in?

I found this a lot back when I was looking for work. If you did attempt to apply for something where there was more availability I was told on 2 occasions "Did I not feel overqualified for the role I was applying?" at interviews and I suspect it was a factor in some of the other applications.

It can be a difficult balance for a graduate to have first off the right amount of experience (because in reality they all want you to have some) and then not be overqualified for a position when you try and get a more entry level position in order to gain the experience for more graduate roles.

I also never found recruitment agencies overly useful at all.