How not to get shortlisted

How not to get shortlisted Writing applications is a tedious and tiring process it can often feel like a full-time job in itself.    As a Job Search Adviser here at Warwick, I have seen hundreds of CVs, cover letters and application forms so have some insight into how it must feel to be a recruiter. Make their job easy by giving them reasons to select, not reject, you.  These are some of the common mistakes applicants make that can often cost them progression to the next round of the recruitment process. 1.    Writing a shopping list In an effort to ‘get this over with’, many applicants start listing verbatim their skills and experiences in the hope that employers will grasp the connection between these and the job criteria. Employers, however, are busy people and will not waste time trying to infer meaning or spot the relevance.  Nor will they start musing on the candidates potential if you havent given them something concrete to go on, the chances are youll end up on the reject pile.  Unless you clearly state how your experience fits with and adds value to the organisation, don’t expect employers to fall over themselves with glee.  2.    Taking the spam approach You may think that sending countless applications will save you valuable time and create more opportunities for success.  But theres no obvious  correlation between the number of applications you send and the success rate.  In fact this strategy can often backfire. Employers are looking for (demonstrable) potential combined with genuine interest in their company and its mission or vision. Firing off applications that vaguely cover the job criteria are unlikely to impress. Taking the time to showcase  both your motivation and suitability,does not allow for a scattergun approach. If youre firing off hundreds of applications or uploading your CV to numerous job boards, youre selling yourself short. You need to choose: quantity or quality. You cant have both! 3.    Researching then regurgitating Some applicants go from one extreme to the other; from no research to regurgitating everything conceivable about the sector, company, role, MD etc etc.  In principle this seems a pretty solid approach: after all, recruiters want to see youve taken the time to understand what they do. But in practice too much can be as detrimental as too little. Employers are not (generally) interested in your forensic research skills â€" well, unless that’s part of the job criteria. What theyre  looking for is evidence that youd  be a good match and would fit with the company ethos and culture. They dont want to read about every single deal theyve cut or merger theyve initiated. Try to personalise your application: what is your personal motivation to join the company? How could you personally  add value to the organisation? 4.   Killing content with clichés ‘I am a motivated and hard-working individual with strong drive…’; ‘I am a self-starter with a keen eye for detail…’; ‘I am a great team player…’ Sound familiar? Of course marketability is about ‘talking the talk’ but this approach offers neither style nor substance. In some sectors, the applicant to job ratio is staggeringly high so the name of the game is to stand out. Clichés are both meaningless and lazy. Avoid at all costs. Be factual, be genuine, be original. If in doubt read it aloud how does it sound? If you cringe, then imagine what an employer will do.  5.   Waffling onand onand on Never write 50 words, where 100 will do! This certainly seems to be the mantra of some students. But, remember: employers are time poor they dont want to waste what time they have trying to decode endless verbiage.  In an effort to cover everything and then some  applicants produce lengthy accounts, often repeating themselves in the process. Ive seen CVs where chunks of prose cover much of the page this makes it hard to read and the salient points just get lost. Bear in mind most employers will  scan  your CV in seconds and make a judgement based on their first impression. If you cant be concise and precise, then you might as well throw your CV in the bin.  The same applies to application forms and cover letters focus on the facts and evidence. Before you hit send cast a critical eye over your application: does it hit the right notes, or just incite a feeling of zzzz? If in doubt ask a Job Search Adviser to check it for you. Dont leave anything to chance.