Reader Peter is starting to feel like he’s not getting interviews because there’s just something off-putting about him. Jobs Guru James Innes is here with some advice…
Dear James
I’ve sent out more CVs than I can count and I’m getting nowhere. I’m starting to think the problem might actually be me. How do you know if that’s the case?
Peter, Cornwall
That thought creeps in for a lot of people after enough rejection. And yes, sometimes the issue is the candidate. But usually not in the way people think.
Most of the time, it is not that someone is unemployable. It is that they are being presented badly. If your CV is vague, cluttered or full of duties instead of results, employers may never get as far as seeing the real you. The same goes for applications that are rushed, generic or aimed too widely.
That said, there are times when the problem is broader than the CV. If you are applying for roles above your level, changing direction without showing why, or aiming too widely with no clear target, that can absolutely hurt your chances.
So the question is not really, “Am I the problem?” It is: “Am I aiming clearly, and am I showing my value properly?” That is a much more useful question.
Because if the issue is the message, you can fix it. If the issue is the strategy, you can fix that too. The worst thing you can do is turn a practical problem into a personal verdict.
Top Tip:
If you are getting no response at all, stop sending more applications for a moment. Review your target role, your CV and the quality of your applications before blaming yourself.
Spotlight On: Handling Rejection
Job hunting has a nasty habit of making people take everything personally. A few rejections become ten. Ten become silence.
Before long, people stop thinking, “This approach isn’t working,” and start thinking, “There must be something wrong with me.” That is dangerous.
Hiring is often messy, rushed and inconsistent. A rejection does not always mean “not good enough.” Sometimes it means unclear CV, weak targeting, stronger competition or a recruiter moving quickly. The smarter move is to diagnose the process, not attack yourself.
Self-doubt is understandable. But it is rarely a strategy.
Get a head start in your job hunt with James’ new book, The Job You’ve Always Wanted – out now from Pearson at £16.99.
Our Jobs Guru, James Innes, is a best-selling careers author and founder of the world’s leading group of professional CV and resume writers .