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Applying For Jobs & Not Getting Interviews

By Perminus Wainaina

Are you applying for jobs without feedback? Here’s why. 

Sometimes back I was interviewed by K-24 TV on the topic of how Kenyan professionals can succeed in a tough job market, and during the session, the host asked me the reasons why Kenyan professionals don’t get invited to job interviews even when they are qualified.

You can watch the interview on the link below as we discussed much more during the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbfF_TqkTkU

Back to the host question, there are only two reasons why you don’t get an interview whenever you apply for a job that you are qualified for. And being qualified means you have both education and experience.

This advice does not address fresh graduates without experience.

Some mistakes are of your making but you can do something about it. And I know this because I have been in HR and recruitment industry for ten plus years.

During this period, I have had a chance to interact with professionals at various stages of their career from entry-level graduates to CEO candidates. 

The top two mistakes why you might apply for a job and don’t get an interview are:

  1. You apply for jobs that you are qualified for but not suitable
  2. Your CV is not selling you

These are the top two reasons, and today I’ll help you so you don’t make the same mistake, and I guarantee you that if you follow my advice you will start getting interviews.

Let’s go through each in detail.

Mistake Number One. Applying for jobs that you are qualified for but not suitable.

Are you at a place where you believe you can do a job as long as you get employed? Do you look through job adverts and say “I can do this given a chance” instead of “I am qualified and suitable for this job”?

Just because you believe you can do something does not mean that you are qualified and suitable.

Leets look at some of the scenarios where you could be qualified but not suitable for a vacancy.

  1. Industry/sector experience. Some employers are keen on the industry or sector. That’s why it’s easier for someone working for an NGO to get a job at another NGO. The same applies to HR professionals working in the hospitality industry. Hotels hire amongst themselves and it becomes a bit hard for someone coming from another industry to get an interview.
  2. Specific Skill(s). At times, you might be qualified but are missing a specific skill. For instance, you might be working for an NGO applying for another NGO job but you miss the opportunity since you don’t have M&E or project management skill.
  3. Your background. Similar to industry or sector experience, your background might affect how some employers view you. For instance, if you are from a multinational applying to work for a small firm, the employer might think you’ll ask for a lot and therefore not give you a chance.
  4. You are overqualified. I see this alot with professionals who are not working. Employers will shy away from engaging you since they assume you won’t last long. The same applies to candidates with ‘a lot of qualifications’ – say you are 23 years old with a degree, an MBA etc and applying for an admin job. Some employers will assume you’ll either ask for more or you won’t last.
  5. Some jobs are suitable or unsuitable for candidates of a certain age. Your age is therefore a factor more so when you are applying for supervisory or managerial jobs. Also, the older you are the lesser the likelihood of employers considering you.
  6. Trust issues. If your CV shows you changing jobs often, you have many gaps, you have indicated that you are currently running a business or you’ve been out of employment for a long period, all this can work to your disadvantage. I’d advice you address the issue before sending applications.

So, how then do you make sure you are not making any of the mistakes above? My advice is for you to target jobs that match what you can offer.

And you do this by paying attention to the job advert/description. If they are specific on the industry and you don’t have experience in that industry then don’t apply.

If a role is junior for you and you can do the job with your eyes closed, then don’t go for it as most likely you’ll be judged as overqualified.  

Paying close attention to the job description will help you answer the question,  am I saying I can do this given a chance or does my experience, skills, and industry experience make me qualified for the job?  There’s a big difference. If you hesitate to answer don’t apply.

If you also notice a pattern i.e. employers requiring a certain qualification or skill which you don’t have then it’s only prudent to do something about it because even if you meet 100% of the other requirements and miss this key one, then you’ll continue missing out on opportunities.

For example, it is mandatory for one to have a practising licence to get an HR manager job. It doesn’t matter how good you are in HR, if you miss this important requirement, you’ll miss out on HR manager jobs.

Are there must-have skills or certifications in your industry that you are missing?

Mistake Number Two. Your CV.

Do you have only one CV that you use to apply for all jobs i.e. a standard CV? When was the last time you customized your CV when applying for a job?

When it comes to CVs, the majority of us do not edit our CV to match what an employer is looking for.

While your CV will generally contain standard information about your career, it is important that you edit it to suit a position before sending.

Always customize your CV for the position. Why? Most employers focus on keywords on the CV during the selection process and if yours does not have any that relate to what they want, it could be passed of.

Focus on how your responsibilities read and how the ones in the job description or advert are. Then make a point of including as many keywords/skills in your CV and cover letter. Obviously, it shouldn’t be copy and paste, but rather, it should give the reader i.e. the employer, the confidence that you are worth an interview.

Another mistake Kenyans make is when they hurriedly write a CV and it doesn’t bring out their skills well i.e. the CV is not professional. It sounds generic. Consider the career summary below for a customer service manager that a friend shared for my feedback.

“I am a hardworking, dedicated, and goal-oriented customer service professional with 6 years of experience looking to secure a challenging position in a reputable organization to expand my learning, knowledge, and skills. Am looking to secure a responsible career opportunity to fully utilize my training and skills, while making a significant contribution to the success of the company”

Does your CV profile read like this or something similar? It’s general, vague and doesn’t talk about your key skills and competencies. This could be ruining your chances of getting an interview.

Now, consider a more professional and polished career summary for the same customer service manager that has been provided to me by our professional CV writing team.

 ‘I’m an experienced customer service manager with over 6 years experience in the telecommunication industry. I have a proven track record in resolving and reducing customer complaints and exceeding customer service level expectations. I am seeking a position in Customer Service management where my extensive experience will be further developed and utilized in accomplishing the ultimate goals of the organization which is to acquire, retain and grow the customer base.”

Another example for an accountant from our team

I am an accomplished accounting Professional with a Bachelors degree in accounting option from XYZ University and CPA(K). I have gained knowledge in preparing financial reports, establishing internal controls, preparing accurate and timely statutory filings, VAT, and general ledger operations among other accounting duties including payables and receivables. I am now looking for a senior accounting role to develop my leadership and supervisory skills.

I have just highlighted the career summary/objective, but in my experience, there are many other CV sections that Kenyans make mistakes when writing their CVs.

At Corporate Staffing, We have assisted experienced professionals with our professional CV writing service and many are delighted when we send them the new CV. 

By choosing carefully the wording, and rewriting the skills as highlighted above, we make a dull CV look professional therefore making you more attractive to employers.

Have a look at your CV and ask yourself whether it’s highlighting your skills in a professional way. The reality is, for every job advertised; employers receive between 400 and 5000 CVs.

Is your CV failing you? 

For a limited time, we are offering free professional CV review to anyone with over two years of experience. Let our CV writing team review your CV and advice you on whether your CV is professional.

All you need to do is to email your current CV to Rebecca at cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke and copy brenda@corporatestaffing.co.ke, and evaline@corporatestaffing.co.ke.

After receiving your CV the team will review your CV against our 13 point checklist and give you feedback. We want you to succeed. You can then make the changes yourself or request the team to assist. This offer is for a limited time.

Remember, we judge others by their first appearance and it’s not any different when it comes to your CV. Your CV is the only document that a potential employer has to make a judgment on you. Strive to make it as great as possible.

In Conclusion

I know it’s competitive to get a job in Kenya more so when there are thousands who are competing with you for the same position.

However, before you blame the tough competition, the economy, tribalism or other factors that are beyond your control, sit back and strategize how you can make the situation better for yourself.

And the only way is by first ensuring that you have a professional CV and that you are applying for jobs that you qualify and are suitable for. If you follow my advice, I guarantee that you will notice a big difference whenever you apply for jobs.

Stand out. Don’t make the mistakes everyone is making. Be unique. I wish you the very best in your career.

Perminus Wainaina is the Managing Partner & Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd.