6 Reasons You Didn’t Get The Job Even Though You Were Qualified
By Jane Okoth
How many times have you ever spotted a job advert and thought you were the best fit for the role? In a typical recruitment world, the qualified candidate will get the job. However there are many reasons why a qualified job seeker may not get the job even though they have the all the skills and qualifications it takes.
If you didn’t get the job you applied for, it doesn’t mean that you were not qualified. According to Wanjiru Chabeda, a Recruitment Manager At Corporate Staffing Services, there are a lot of factors that come into play when short listing candidates and even the best candidate may miss out on the short listing.
Here are 5 reasons from a recruiter’s point of view why you didn’t get the job even though you were very qualified for the position.
Why You Didn’t Get The Job Even Though You Were Qualified
1. You Didn’t Get The Job Because You Applied Past The Deadline
Seen a job advert whose deadline passed and still want to apply for that job? Don’t even think about it. According to Ms Chabeda , when you apply for a job matters.
“Whenever an advert goes out and people start applying, the short listing begins immediately. Besides, recruiters have a 100 plus job applications to review and chances is that they will not think about considering late applications. If you apply for a job past the deadline, chances are that you will miss out on a good opportunity even though you were highly qualified,” Ms Chabeda says.
2. You Didn’t Follow The Job Application Instructions
Failure to follow instructions is one of the key reasons why your job application will be rejected and never make it to the interview stage.
Many companies have different ways of recruiting candidates for positions. You may have come across through an advert that read “no phone calls please or no certificates will be allowed. Some other companies may also ask you to bring along copies of your original CV and other testimonials as well as instructions on how to dress.
Whatever instructions an employer has, he or she has their reasons and failing to follow them speak volumes about the kind of person you are causing you to be disqualified for the job.
So what happens if you don’t follow instructions? You will either carry along the wrong documents, you will not dress appropriately or you will come to the interview unprepared.
Word of advice is that whatever you do; don’t forget to read the job application instructions because if you don’t, how will the employer be sure you are going to do the same once hired?
3. You Had Unexplained Gaps In Your CV
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in an application that puts the employer off is not accounting for employment gaps. In any job application, you must do whatever it takes to ensure your CV clearly demonstrates your skills and qualifications for the job and that includes explaining your employment gaps.
Whether you were fired or terminated for one reason or the other or are a fresh graduate not able to secure a job, it’s very important to address the employment gaps in your CV. They key thing is to look like you were occupied during the unemployment period because one the employer notices that you were unemployed for almost a year, it casts doubt about your suitability.
Whether it will be in the form of volunteer work, internship or even going back to school, its upon you to address that in your CV.
4. You Copied The Job Description On Your CV
When applying for a position, it is always recommended that you have your CV tailored to fit the job you are applying for. “However, this does not mean that you copy paste the whole job description into your CV,” warns Ms Chabeda.
The worst part here is that you will be caught red handed because the recruiter probably made that job description himself and spotting it is easy. Again it portrays you as a lazy job seeker who cannot get his applications in order thereby not bring you out as a strong candidate.
5. You Had Too Much Changing Jobs Even Though You Were Qualified
Job hopping is always a turnoff to most recruiters because it does not depicts you as a candidate who is not willing to be corrected hence too much of changing jobs. Worse still it can give a picture of a job seeker who goes where the money is more.
For instance if you have changed 2 jobs for a period of 3 months, the recruiter will start to ask questions and wonder whether you will do the same once hired.
If you are keen on growing and developing your career, job hopping should be the last thing on your mind.
6. Your Attitude Said It All
Regardless of how qualified you might be for a position, your attitude tells a lot about you. You might be the smartest and best qualified candidate but if you start being rude in an interview, the interviewer will not be impressed.
While it is important to be confident in a job interview, be careful not to come out as arrogant because no employer would to hire a want a rude person. Instead, be humble and talk about how you fit for the job by showcasing your skills and qualifications.
The job search is tricky and if you can control some mistakes in the application process and get yourself ahead in being shortlisted the better.
