Careers

Not Getting Job Interviews?Job hunting is, as many wise people have said, a job all in itself. Studies have found that it takes from 21 to 80 job applications to get one job offer, on average, and that the standard corporate job opening receives roughly 250 applications. To get one interview, 62% of job seekers will have to apply for one to ten jobs, and 51% of job seekers will receive a job offer after having three interviews.

To get one interview, 62% of job seekers will have to apply for one to ten jobs, and 51% of job seekers will receive a job offer after having three interviews.

It is a numbers game, and when the labour market isn’t looking so hot, job hunting can feel like an impossible task. In Ireland right now though, things are still broadly positive, despite recession rumblings, rocketing inflation, war in Ukraine and most worrying for jobs, tech company layoffs.

Hiring rates in the first five months of 2022 were on average 27% higher than the same period in 2019, according to the IDA’s most recent Labour Market Pulse report. The total number of people employed in Ireland is at record levels, and the unemployment rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels, and is below 5%.

“I welcome the data insights which show that hiring rates are continuing to demonstrate strong signs of recovery in the wake of the pandemic,” says IDA Ireland’s CEO, Martin Shanahan, of the data.

So that’s good news for job hunters, but it can be frustrating when the job hunting process just isn’t getting any further than an application or an initial recruiter call.

Your application is generic

You might find this a faff but it is utterly necessary: every single job you apply for should have its own tailored cover letter and a freshly edited CV. What is it about your basic CV that is helping you stand out? Likely not much, so tweak your CV to suit each new application, removing roles and responsibilities that aren’t a fit, and making sure to emphasise the achievements that will impress.

You’re not using keywords

Many HR professionals use applicant tracking software (ATS) to enable easy handling of their recruitment and hiring needs. One downside for you as an applicant is if you don’t use keywords in your application that match those from the job advertisement, your application is likely to fail at the first hurdle. Make sure you are adding in relevant keywords, specifically from the roles and responsibilities section of the ad.

You didn’t impress the recruiter

Many interview processes will now begin with an initial call with a recruiter or hiring manager. You may think this is a fairly informal step but it is a crucial part of the process. After all, this person understands the wants and needs of the company, and if you don’t impress them, and convey your acumen and interest in the role, you won’t progress any further. Prepare for, and treat this call as seriously as you would any other interview.

By Kirstie McDermott