Smart Job Search

Top 4 Reasons People Don't Get Job Offers

In more than 20 years of helping people get good jobs, I have discovered the top 4 reasons people don't get job offers (before they meet met, of course). There are others, but 90% of the unsuccessful job seekers make one or more of these mistakes:

1. Conducting reactive instead of proactive job search
2. Not understanding what employers really want hire
3. Red flags on applications and resumes
4. Red flags in interviews

It's also true that nearly all were not aware of what they were doing wrong. When that happens, we all invent excuses: "The economy sucks." "Nobody's hiring." "There are no good jobs in ___." Amazing how those excuses don't matter when the job seeker learns what to do.

Even in this economy, more than 80% of my clients land a good job in less than 3 employer contacts.

So, let's look at each reason.

1. Conducting reactive instead of proactive job search

In reactive job search first employer contact starts with another's action.
In proactive job search first employer contact starts with YOUR action.

So reactive job search includes: getting the job lead through classified ads (online or other); getting job leads from your network (yes, networking is reactive); and even the company "in house only" list of openings.

Proactive job search includes: doing informational interviews; making employment proposals directly with the person you want as supervisor; making telephone calls to prospective employers; and sending out your "first contact" material, whether it's a resume, letter of recommendation or introduction; e-mail, video presentation, etc..

Wouldn't that be a waste of energy if there isn't an opening? Emphatically, no! The best opportunity is before the employer knows that you are needed. Let them make a position for you. (Just last week, one of my clients received a job offer for a position that never existed before in that organizations - Director of Operations. That was a result of my client's proactive contact with the CEO.)

"Good things come to those that wait - but ONLY the leftovers from those that hustle!" Abraham Lincoln.  

Hustlers learn to do proactive job search;
Waiters do reactive job search.

2. Not understanding what employers really want

It's hard to sell ice cubes to Eskimos. Why? - because they already have ice.

Employers already have employees who work hard and do good work.

Employers are looking for something much rarer.

Read my article on Why Employers Hire Who They Hire

3. Red flags on applications and resumes

This is more common that you would think. Besides the obvious grammatical errors, misspellings, or inaccuracies, what isn't listed can be as much of a red flag as what is visible.

The greatest error here is the resume. If your resume just lists your jobs and job duties, you look like someone who was fired from every job you've had.

Everyone who's been fired had the same job duties as everyone else. A resume with just jobs and job duties has a big red flag from to to bottom!

Most of us know what the job duties were from the job title. Stop insulting employers by telling them what they already know and tell them what they want to know - what you DID with the job duties assigned. Phrases like "never missed a day", "met every deadline", "promoted three times in ten months" tell the employer much more about you - the duties just tell about the job.

See the page on resumes and applications.

4. Red flags in interviews

Employers get 95% of what they know about us from us. If you get as far as an interview, the employer already thinks you're hirable. If you don't get a job offer, you talked him out of hiring you. Let's not do that.

If you haven't recorded a video of you interviewing, do so immediately! Non-verbal communication shouts at the employer. See yourself as others see you. The first time you review the video, turn the sound off and ask yourself "Hire or no hire?" at 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes. The first "no hire" costs you the job.

A word about the advertised "perfect answers for every interview question" one-size-fits-nobody sellers, - don't fall for it. EVERY answer to every question, no matter how standard, needs an answer (or three) custom-fitted to you. Employers have heard all the canned answers. They'll turn you off as fast as you turn off a salesperson who gives you the "special for today only" line.

Read the section on interviews.

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If just reading the information doesn't help you see your red flags, and you want individual help with your job search, it is available through The Employment Coach.

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