Are You Applying For Jobs Without Feedback? Here’s Why!

Understand why you are applying for jobs without feedback 

By Selipha Kihagi

Do you find yourself applying for jobs without feedback? If you do, you are not alone. Following a previous post on 3 major ways recruiters find candidates to hire, most people wanted to know why they have been applying for jobs without feedback. In response, this post will explore reasons you are not getting interviews and what you can do to change that outcome in the future.

It is no doubt that applying for jobs without feedback can be a frustrating experience. Just last year there was a 34-year-old graduate who had not gotten one single interview in 13 years. Despite his Honors Degree, a set of certifications and experience from various temporary positions, his over 500 applications had gone without any positive feedback and he could not understand why. You can imagine the kind of frustration this candidate was in.

I believe someone in a similar position would feel the need to give up at such an encounter. But this is not you yet. You can still change your odds if you understand the reasons why.

Reasons You Are Applying For Jobs Without Feedback

There are three areas you need to consider if you want to get selected for the interview; the manner in which you apply, your CV and level of experience. These factors are very crucial to recruiters and your chances of landing the interview depend on it. And before you smirk at these, allow yourself to explore the possibility that you could be a victim of the following four reasons.

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1. You were good for the position but somebody else beat you

The Kenyan job market today is competitive and as such recruiters and employers encounter a large pool of applicants. Being so, your application is compared to other thousands of applicants who could be as qualified as you are. With such many applications, sometimes the selection process is done on a first come first served basis, and interviews are done depending on how the applications roll in.

So when you are applying for jobs on the sixth day after the position was posted, somebody who applied on the first day and was suitably qualified already got the interview, passed and was offered the position. This then means that despite you being qualified, somebody else beat you to the punch.

2. You are applying for jobs without following instructions

Many times recruiters have complained about applications without subject titles, even when the instructions were very clear on what title to use. Others just email a forwarded message and write the position they are applying for at the very top. Then there are other candidates who will apply without any phone contacts to be reached on, or with random cover letters that read a totally different position that the one they are applying for.

While you may overlook this as important, recruiters and employers are very particular about the people they invite for interviews and getting it wrong in the application process is the first step to failure. So never be in a rush to make an application without reading every single instruction in the advert.

3. You are applying for positions that are not a good fit

Most people who have visited our offices can attest to having done this at one time or the other. You see a position you believe you are qualified for and submit a CV in your application, but in the real sense, your CV demonstrates different qualifications.

For example, you are applying for an Accountant position that insists on a particular package or software knowledge. While your CV shows you are an experienced Accountant, a recruiter cannot see anywhere that says you have knowledge in the software. This then becomes a disqualifying factor and someone else who have clearly indicated their experience with the software gets selected.

While in general you may be qualified for a position, the small details insisted as part of the requirements usually count a lot. You can read more on signs you applied for a wrong job here.

4. You made assumptions about the position

Most of us skim through a job application and do not pay attention to what the recruiters are looking for. For example, you realize you meet requirements needed for education, experience, and major skills for the position so you go ahead and apply.

However, if you read into the details, the position required fluency in a particular language which you did not have or that you were of a particular gender or religion. Always remember that some positions are sensitive and require that you are keen on the details; making assumptions will only deny you an interview.

What to Do About Applying for Jobs Without Feedback

If you have been applying for jobs without feedback, you need to look back at your recent applications and try to identify a pattern. Look at the requirements for the position and match them up to the CV and Cover Letter you used when applying. Write down the requirements you met fully, those you almost met and the ones you clearly missed out on for each job application.

Then once you list them all down, try and identify if there are common mistakes you made in the whole process and avoid making them in your next applications. This may sound like something that will take much of your time, but if you want to get interviews, you must invest time into your job search and do all you must.

And if you are still having difficulties, visit our offices with your CV and let a career adviser guide you on where you are going wrong.

Got queries? We are always glad to help so leave a comment below.