6 Things Which can Hinder You from Getting Job Interview

Not getting called up for job interviews can be the most frustrating time in any job seeker’s life. Chances are, you must have done all that is required by sending killer resumes and awesome cover letters to boot.

Not only that, to cover all bases and increase your chances of landing the perfect job, you applied to as many reputable companies as possible. Still, you are yet to be called for any job interviews.

The question now is, what is wrong? Why are so many people you know getting called up for interviews while you are still in the lurch? It’s not as if they are more qualified than you or their application was better than yours.

The frustration of not getting a job interview might lead you to start thinking you must be jinxed. Hold on a minute. Perhaps, there are certain things you are not doing right.

Here are some of the things most candidates who never get called up for interviews neglected while searching for a job.

1. Application documents are not universally compatible

Many candidates think any word editor or software used to type a resume, cover letter or CV is compatible with every software. That is patently false.

The fact is, some documents would not open in some programs or systems. One could be so unlucky that the only place the documents can be read was where the documents were created.

In a case like this, the hiring manager would just hit the ‘next’ button to open a new application. After all, it is most likely there are hundreds of applications to go through.

To avoid this, before sending your documents to the company, send it first to some of your friends. Make sure the documents can open on their laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and desktops.

If there are problems reading them on any of those platforms, fix the problems. Only then can you be sure your documents can be read on any computer or system.

2. Be specific who you address your cover letter to

Okay, you have a top-notch resume; your cover letter addresses all the relevant points and is likely to leave any hiring manager swooning with eagerness to invite you for an interview.

However, you are not getting the sort of replies you want. Here is the thing, most hiring managers would tell you they are tired of reading generic cover letters starting off with, ‘To Whom it May Concern’ or ‘Dear Hiring Manager.’

Making it a bit personal by addressing the cover letter to the right person is just the thing to give you an edge. These days, the Internet has made it easy to get all sorts of information about anything. So use the net and Google to find out who the hiring manager is. Then use that name in your cover letter.

How hard can that be?

3. Market yourself aggressively offline

There are many jobs available not listed online. If your job search is limited to applying for online listings only, you are putting all your eggs in one basket; while at the same time competing with thousands of candidates applying for these jobs.

Many companies fill up vacant positions in-house or from referrals from people working there. So to improve your chances of getting interviews, take your CV and resume to targeted companies and drop them with the relevant HR department.

This is an even more effective way of getting called for job interviews. For starters, you know your application is already with the company. Also, the companies are most likely places you really want to work.

4. Never ignore instructions or directions

Granted, reading an application can be very tedious. One can easily become jaded after reading so many applications. Some of them have instructions that read like they were designed by some wicked HR clerk intent on frustrating your life.

However, no matter how long the instructions and directions are, make sure you don’t ignore any of them. Some might seem innocuous, but be assured they were put there by the hiring manager for specific reasons.

Ignoring any instruction would give the hiring manager the impression you are not so hot on small details. So, to show the hiring manager you are a detail-oriented person, read the instructions more than once, and follow each of them as directed.

5. Networking is very important in your job search

This is an important point many job seekers never take seriously. Don’t just sit at home waiting for your phone to ring. People are out there giving out information to the right people concerning their application.

Yes, you need to follow up your application by telling people who might be able to put in a word or two in your favor. It won’t hurt your chances one bit.

If you don’t know anybody connected to the company, reach out to friends on any social media and ask. You would be surprised the sort of pointers you get from friends.

At the least, you would get the contact address of somebody who can be helpful. Best of all though, a friend or two in your network would know somebody important in the company.

So never underestimate the power of reaching out to as many people as possible.

6. Make sure you can be found online

Some hiring managers use social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, to get an idea who the applicant is.

It is not enough to have an active Facebook or Instagram page though, you must make sure your activities on these sites portray you as a very serious-minded person.

You don’t want some curious hiring manager coming across weird posts or things not expected of a serious 9-5 person. So you better brush up your posts on your social media accounts that even your grandmother would be proud of.

So these are the six ways that would start getting you job interviews. If you have any more tips you think are important, do tell us about them in the comment section below.                                                                                   -(Credit: Nairaland)