When it comes to recruitment, Catherine & Vivienne, the directors of Hall Recruitment, have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they are always willing to impart on their candidates. Here are their…

Best Practice Tips When Applying For A Job

There are several common misconceptions,

that circulate amongst the public when it comes to job applications. I’m sure you have heard people say:

1.       Sure, you’ve nothing to lose by throwing your hat into the ring.
2.       Just use the CV template on Indeed/LinkedIn/Facebook, you don’t need to do it yourself.
3.       Chance your arm in the interview, it’s no harm to ask!

While our friends and family who give this advice have only our best intentions at heart, unfortunately in a survey amongst 100 businesses and jobseekers we have found these misconceptions are an underlying cause why most candidate applications have either not progressed or have been disregarded. And here is why…

Misconception #1:

Sure, you’ve nothing to lose by throwing your hat into the ring.

Many of us have fallen prey to the pitfalls that surround this common FOMO misconception. In our survey, 80% of active jobseekers confirmed they applied for more than 10 jobs a day and 60% admitted to not looking at the job spec before they applied. This is in line with the businesses surveyed, where 90% of applications they receive are rejected as being unqualified or unsuitable for the position advertised.

However, when we asked them about their hiring process, more than 95% of employers confirmed that they use recruitment software which allows them to follow up with applicants, score them, write notes, and keep a record of each applicant for future reference.

So, What Does This Mean?

This means that a poor application or follow-up phone screening interview, may affect your future applications, as companies keep records of all applicants.

Advice?

Read the job specification and self-evaluate before you throw your hat into the ring.
Ask yourself:

1. Can I handle the responsibilities advertised in this position?
2. Do I have enough of the skills, education or experience required for this role?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then apply

Pro Tip:
Keep a list of all the jobs you apply for: The Job Title, The Name of the Employer, Location for the Job. Keep that list somewhere you have easy access to it. Unfortunately, when you apply for multiple jobs daily it can be hard to remember each one, and if they make a screening phone call to you the last thing you want is a potential employer to think, “Do they even know they applied for this job?”
Another reason to keep track of your applications is so you can follow up with them. Best practice recommends doing this one week after your initial application and has been proven to impress potential employers.

Misconception #2:

Just use the CV template on Indeed/LinkedIn/Facebook you don’t need to do it yourself.

100% of jobseekers confirmed that they have used autogenerated CVs from platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn in the past. When employers were asked “What do you think of autogenerated CVs from platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc?” 85% confirmed that they don’t like them for multiple reasons.

It does not show any knowledge of Microsoft Office, CAD or general PC skills, which are usually mentioned as skills required in the job specification that they are applying for.
The CVs are unedited. It contains reams of unnecessary information for the position they are applying to. What should be 1-2 pages max, can instead be 6-7 pages long.
It restricts how we can contact them. When we like an applicant and want to call them for interview, we are restricted to using a specific platform.
Indeed CVs value work experience over education.
It appears lazy.

So, What Does This Mean?

This means that if you want your application to be taken seriously, its best to submit a tailored CV for the position you are applying to.

Advice?

All these platforms allow you to upload your own tailored CVs instead of using the auto generated ones. By doing this you are getting the best of both worlds.

Pro Tip:
READ OUR gUIDE ON cv tIPS HERE

Misconception #3:

Chance your arm in the interview, it’s no harm to ask!

55% of jobseekers believe there is no harm in asking for more money or more benefits in a job interview. While almost all employers expect this, 50% would dismiss the candidate if they asked for more than the job advertised. This increased to 90% if they have other applicants waiting to be interviewed.

So, What Does This Mean?

Don’t chance your arm in an interview! Salary and benefits are advertised in the job specification before you apply. Asking for more is a risky game, that will most likely not pay off.

Advice?

In the last few years most businesses have faced the reality of permanent closure. The effects of numerous lockdowns caused by the pandemic and higher costs for importing and exporting due to Brexit and sanctions as the result of the war on Ukraine, mean that businesses aren’t as flush with cash as they once were. Asking for more than they can offer could be taken as a personal insult and the reason for your dismissal.

Read our other #CVTips below…