Many people apply for lots of roles and wonder why they are rarely invited to interviews.
This article outlines why this happens and how you can secure more job interview invitations by applying for the right roles.
Why do I apply for lots of roles and rarely hear back?
If you are applying for lots of roles, but aren’t invited to many interviews, and would like to secure more interview invitations, consider whether:
Your CV needs improving. Your CV needs to clearly and concisely demonstrate your skills and experience to the recruiter. If you have the skills and experience for the roles you are applying for, this suggests you need to improve your CV. I offer a CV Writing service, or if you prefer to write your own CV, you may wish to read my CV Writing blog articles where I explain how you can improve your own CV.
You may be applying for the wrong roles. When I worked in HR, around 75% of applicants did not have the required skills/experience for the roles they were applying for. Many people waste time applying for lots of roles which they are unlikely to be interviewed for, because they do not have the skills and experience required for the role. This article outlines how to evaluate how closely your experience matches the job description, so you can focus on applying for roles which you are likely to be interviewed for, based on your current level of expertise.
Factors outside your control. Sometimes recruiters receive hundreds of applications for popular roles, whilst they may not receive any applicants for other roles. They may shortlist for interviews earlier than anticipated, they may not be able (or need) to review every applicant’s CV. Alternatively, a role may be placed on hold, or filled internally. These factors are outside your control, and have no relation to your skills, experience or CV.
Are you applying for the right roles?
The closer your skills and experience match the role profile, the more likely you are to be interviewed. If you regularly apply for lots of roles and would like to secure more interview invitations, the following points can help you to assess whether you are applying for the right roles.
Is the role at the right level?
You can quickly gain an insight into this by looking at the advertised salary. You can usually expect a salary increase of around 10%, although this can be higher in competitive industries, or if you are receiving a salary which is substantially below market average. Typically, most people receive a salary increase of £3-£5k, realistically a £10-£15k salary increase is unlikely, although not impossible. Many companies do not advertise salaries, so if there is no salary listed, look for other clues.
Many job titles follow a pattern similar to this: administrator, assistant, advisor, coordinator, officer, executive, lead / supervisor, manager, associate director / assistant director, department head, director, VP. Someone is unlikely to move from HR or marketing assistant, straight to HR or marketing manager, they would usually move into a role as HR Advisor, HR Officer, Marketing Officer or Marketing Executive first.
Job titles can sometimes be misleading, smaller companies or charities may have a Marketing Manager, Finance Manager or IT Manager as the sole employee responsible for this function, regardless of their career level. Some companies call every member of their sales team a Sales Manager or Sales Director, including their junior employees.
Do you have the desired skills and experience?
Most companies have a person specification which states their skills and experience required, or a section which says “you will have experience in”, and “ideally you will have experience in”. You are unlikely to secure many interview invitations unless you meet all the essential criteria. Applying for roles can be time-consuming, so focus on applying for roles which you are likely to be interviewed for.
Evaluating your skills and experience helps you to identify your specific development areas so you can develop a career plan which broadens your skills and experience and speeds up your career progression. You may find this career development blog article helpful.
The wording of the job description
It can be helpful to look at the wording of the job description. Typically, junior and professional job descriptions contain verbs such as supporting, contributing towards, maintaining, and monitoring. Whereas management and leadership roles with full accountability use verbs such as leading, managing, and overseeing. For a junior role, you may see phrases like “a great opportunity to begin your career in…” “develop experience in…” or “gain exposure to…”
Ideally, your goal should be to secure as many interview invitations as possible, by applying for the right roles. This is far more effective than spending hours unsuccessfully applying for hundreds of roles.
Would you like professional assistance identifying roles you will realistically be interviewed for, or overcoming other career related challenges? I offer a full CV writing service, interview skills coaching and career coaching sessions – please don’t hesitate to contact me.
