Why Your CV Was Rejected – Must Read

By Perminus Wainaina
It is the hope of every jobseeker that when they apply for a job, the response will be an invite for an interview.

However, as many of you will attest, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hear from employers and recruiters. I know of a case where an individual has applied for more than 900 jobs in a year and only got called for one interview. That’s an average of 75 jobs applications rejected in a month.

Now, if you consider the time spent and money, from buying internet bundles and sending hard copies, this is a substantial investment. On average a jobseeker will use K’sh 2,000 in a month for their job search.

So, how come you are making applications without hearing from employers?

Even though I work as a recruiter, where my job description is to ensure that employers get the right staff and candidates get jobs that fit their qualifications and skills, I won’t pretend that I know all the answers.

However, these are the top reasons why your CV got rejected.

The number one reason is that you applied for a job where you didn’t meet the criteria. A lot of jobseekers don’t put the time to understand what an employer is looking for and gauge whether it’s a role they can perform. The easiest way to do this is to look at the JD critically and if you can be able to perform 70% of the tasks outlined, then apply.

However, if it’s clear from the JD that this will be a tall order, then it’s not worth wasting your time and the employer. Other considerations that are in line with criteria include years of experience and specialization.

When it comes to job application and job search in general, aim for quality and not quantity.

The other reason why many CV’s are rejected is how you present your information. By presentation, I don’t mean CV formatting although it’s equally important. By presentation, I mean talking the language of the employer. A simple trick here is to mimic the language and style of the job advert.

Study the JD and look at the choice of words, for example if the advert is asking for a self motivated, aggressive sales person, then have the same words or similar words on your CV. Have a look at the way you’ve indicated your current job in your CV and compare it with the employers advert. The next step is to edit your CV, having it rhyme with the JD. This way, whoever is screening applications will find your CV fitting what they are looking for.

Always remember that employers have thousands of applications to go through. Time being a constraint, employers rarely spends a minute looking at a CV and deciding whether it’s worth an interview. Make the task easier for the employer by making sure you have a presentable CV.

Last but not least, the time you decide to make an application makes a huge difference. In the internet era, as soon as an advert goes out, candidates start to make applications. If you are the type that waits for the closing day, then you are doing it wrong. Always apply as soon as you see the advert.

Don’t procrastinate. It has become the norm that job applications are processed as soon as they are received. With this, it means that an employer is likely to have shortlisted candidates and maybe called them for an interview before the closing date. The early bird gets the worm.

If you work on fixing the top reasons why CV’s are rejected, I guarantee you that you will see an improvement in your job search rate. So, whenever you see a job advert ask yourself whether you meet 70 % of the requirements, if you do, then edit your CV and incorporate as many keywords used in the job advert as possible. Finally, don’t take a lot of time between when you see the advert and applying.

Perminus has over ten years experience in human resource management working with employers from different sectors. His major goal is to build relationships with employers in order to gain a better understanding of their recruitment needs and meet the requirements in a cost effective and timely manner.