Jobseekers: 4 reasons you keep getting

rejected

DON’T CRY, IT’S NOT A DISASTER (WE PROMISE!)

Applying for lots of jobs – but not even getting any interviews? Don’t take it personally, just find out what’s going wrong – and change your approach. Here are plotr’s top four reasons why you’re getting rejected at job interviews – and what you can do to turn your luck around!

You’re being too specific

It’s great to know what you want – but it is possible to be too focused. This is a real danger if you’re interested in a pool that’s very small. For example, are you looking for an editorial assistant job at a well-known women’s magazine. Or a runner job at one of the main TV channels? Cast your net wider.

You’re not being specific enough

We know how it happens. You get desperate, you panic – and you start firing off applications to everything and anything you see. This is a rookie error for young jobseekers. More applications does not mean a greater chance of getting a job. Why? Because the quality of your applications will suffer. Instead, send better applications to fewer jobs. Trust us, less is more.

You’re using the wrong tactics

Different industries require different job hunting strategies. Sending countless CVs out for jobs in media or fashion is unlikely to get results – and schmoozing will get you nowhere if you want to work in the civil service or NHS, were recruitment is very structured. If you’re not sure you’ve got the right strategy, do some research online. How did successful people in this industry manage to break in? Don’t be afraid to drop any techniques that aren’t getting results. Your time could be better spent trying new techniques that might be more productive.

You’re begging for experience

This is another classic mistake that young jobseekers make – telling an employer you’d love to come and work for them because it would be “such good experience” for you. Stop. They’re not going to give you a job because you need experience. They’ll give you the job if they think you can help them. So lose the begging, and start showing them what you can do for them. This simple but crucial change will get much better results.

This feature was brought to you by plotr, a revolutionary new website that gives careers advice for young people to help them build the careers they want.