Facts you need to know before you apply for a job

January going through to April is the crazy time in regards to people applying for a new job. If your New Year resolution is to get a pay rise, a better job, a promotion, or a job that you love, before you leap ahead and start applying for jobs, I would like to share some key pointers, so you are better prepared for the journey.

Not all jobs listed on job boards are genuine

It is against the law, but recruiters do advertise for jobs that don’t actually exist so they can sell you to potential employers down the line. If the job description is vague and they don’t provide specific details about the job, get sceptical and don’t waste your time applying for a potentially non-existent job.

Job boards only have about a 5% success rate

Don’t spend all of your time on job boards, such as SEEK. Generally speaking, job boards only have about a 5% success rate. This compares to networking of up to 69% and tapping into the hidden job market, which has a success rate of up to 84%.

Job boards are comfortable and easy, which is why we use them. They will also do your head in when you don’t hear back from employers/recruiters and will result in you feeling diminished and less worthy. So don’t put all your efforts into job boards. Expand your repertoire of job-hunting strategies.

Not hearing back from recruiters and employers is the norm

This is a sad reality about the modern job search. When I surveyed clients, up to 75% had not heard back from recruiters and employers on specific job applications. The morale of the story is if you don’t hear back from employers, don’t take it personally and move on quickly. It is just an uncomfortable reality of the modern job search.

It is worth investing in a professional resume

Ask any recruiter and they will tell you that: ‘They simply don’t have the time to thoroughly review every CV and will skim read a resume, hoping that a great candidate just appears. If you have a CV that ensures you are a great candidate, it is the best thing you can do to win the race for your perfect job”. Andrew Oldin – Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Consultant.

Now a professional resume is not a guarantee to your dream job, as there are too many variables involved. But having a professional one certainly helps (significantly).

LinkedIn is about keywords

Having an effective LinkedIn profile is a key tool for job search success. Yet most professionals don’t realise that 49% of all searches are made via key word searches. If you don’t have a profile that is keyword optimised, then it is less likely that employers and recruiters will find you.

What do I mean by keywords? Keywords are the skills and qualifications that identify you as a suitable job candidate.

The majority of cover letters don’t get read

Many cover letters get quickly discarded. However, other employer’s will disregard your application without one. The solution?  Write a cover letter, but don’t use a generic one and make sure your cover letter  is outstanding.

Don’t apply for jobs you are not qualified for

Whether it is government, or the private sector, if you don’t meet the majority of the employer’s requirements, your application is more than likely going to be discarded. Most employers are not interested in potential, or talent, they are only interested in people that can do the job. This is a sad reality of the modern job search. If you are talent and want to change career scope, use networking. This is the key tool you can utilise to ensure career success.

Oh – and recruiters get really tired of unqualified job applicants. They only get paid a commission if job candidate is the perfect match. So if you want to get into recruiters bad books, apply for jobs you are not qualified for.

Rejection is normal

Finally, rejection is just a normal part of the job search journey. Don’t succumb to rejection shock and take it personally. Use rejection as an opportunity to learn and reframe rejection, so you can quickly move onto the next opportunity.