What Employers Look For (The real answer to “Why can’t I get a job?”)
You’ve got your CV and Cover Letter down to a T and perfected your interview technique, but you still can’t seem to be able to land that job. So what are you getting wrong? Although your CV, cover letter and interview are all vitally important in a job search, they’re not the only things that count.
Every interaction you have with a company is part of the hiring process. (Click to Tweet)
There are countless times when you can be (and probably are being) judged by a potential employer. Employers look for you to ‘wow’ them at every single one of these times. Here’s a list of times you might not think of as part of the hiring process and what you can do to get ahead of the competition.
Meeting them at a meetup
We talk a lot about hustling your way to a job. Part of this means going further than simply submitting a cover letter and CV. We’ve got a list of the best hustles we’ve found, but it could be as simple as meeting employers at a meetup and having a chat. Networking can be a great way of getting your name out there and putting yourself in front of potential employers. This makes first impressions incredibly important no matter where you are. After all, you never know who could turn out to be your next employer!
How you ‘LinkIn’
You don’t necessarily even have to meet people face to face at first to make an impact. Social networking and being digital can be just as effective, as long as you do it right. The one professional network you should certainly be on is LinkedIn. Once you have optimised your profile, you could link in with potential employers or employees of companies you have applied for. This again is a chance to stand out above the rest of your competition. Don’t simply try to connect with the default request message. Send something personalised, something that might make them stop, take note and maybe even look out for your application when you do send it. Guy Kawasaki argues you should personalise every request you make on LinkedIn.
Recruiters
If you choose to use more traditional methods of getting a job, you can use recruiters. However, once again you should know that your interactions with recruiters can be just as important as those direct with employers. Remember who the recruiters are working for. If you make a good impression with them, it makes them believe in you and they’ll sell you better. Who would you try to help: Someone who comes to you and says “get me an interview by the end of the week, I want at least x salary”, or someone who is willing to work with you to work out exactly what it is you’re looking for and what you need to do to get there?
All of the above are things to think about before applying for a specific job, so what about what employers look for during the ‘official’ process? The same applies — every interaction counts.
Contact between stages
Whether this be following up from your initial application, or after an interview, or arranging the interview in the first place, these are all important steps and again ones which could make you stand out above the rest, or blow your chances. If you are contacting them by email (which is recommended) then the correct email etiquette is essential.
Timeliness is also something that shouldn’t be forgotten. You shouldn’t expect them to have made a decision 5 minutes after your interview — in fact at the end of your interview you should ask what the next steps are and what the timeframes are (I’ve suggested some more questions you can ask in an interview in a previous post). Equally, if they contact you first, you should be timely in your response.
We’ve also spoken about how you can use your email signature to your advantage during your job search. This can show your professionalism as well as providing practical benefits like having your phone number in case they don’t have it.
Culture fit tests
There are a few ‘cultural fit tests’ that employers have been known to use to find out if your personality, ambition etc. matches that of the team. There are a range of ways they can get you out of the job application mindset to try to get to know the real you. However, this is also a time where you could be caught out, especially if you’re using the spray and pray approach to your job search (where you show no hustle and simply send generic applications to hundreds of job roles. Hint: Don’t!).
If they like your initial application, some companies will simply ring you out of the blue, with no warning. Don’t be caught off guard with nothing to say. Know the companies you’ve applied for inside out. If a company rings you and you can’t even remember applying for them, what impression does that give off? You’ll be seen straight away as someone not that bothered and your application put straight in the bin.
The stage after your initial job application is often sold as “an informal chat”. Don’t be fooled. Although it might be informal, this is anything but just a chat. Usually this is a chance for employers to find out a bit more about your personality, and whether that fits with the current team. This is where your company research will really help. Find out what the company culture is like. Are you more likely to be having a formal interview in a boardroom or is it going to be a chat over a game of pool? Employers are using all the information they can get, even down to what you wear, to try to make an informed decision as to whether you really fit with the company.
“Drinks with the team” is another tactic some employers use you to find out if you’re the right culture fit. Again, use your common sense. A couple of drinks might give you some Dutch courage, but don’t go overboard!
Bare in mind that you do have to strike a balance here. If you end up having to be someone you’re not, just to fit in, or acting in a way that is uncomfortable, that probably isn’t the right company for you. This is as much a stage for you to see if you think you’re a good fit as it is for them to make their own mind up. Remember; you’re looking for your tribe.
Receptionist test
This basic test that has caught out far too many — more than capable — candidates. Simply put, your interview starts as soon as you walk through the door. This advice may seem obvious but you’d be surprised how easy it is to fall into the trap. Be polite and friendly to everyone in the company that you come into contact with. Chances are, once you’ve left everyone who had even a slight interaction with you will be asked what they thought of you. Don’t give them a reason to say anything negative. From the receptionist, to the CEO, to the person you meet in the toilet, make a good impression and you’ll have nothing to worry about!
Connections = referrals
It is important to note during your job search that it is not just the people connected to companies you’re applying for that you should be thinking about. A large proportion of job roles are filled via referral. Anyone you meet could be the source of your next job. So when you meet someone new, always make sure you act in a way that is worthy of a referral. Think about what vibe you’re giving off. Are you ‘driven and committed’ or ‘any job will do’. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes; are you the kind of person who is worthy of their stamp of approval?
How risky are you?
It is your job as a job seeker to communicate how you provide value to a company. Every hire an employer makes is a risk, and it is down to you to convince them that with you, that risk is reduced as much as possible. Therefore, during every interaction, you should always have clear cut, well defined examples of where and how you have provided ROI in the past; previous employment, freelance work and side projects all help prove your capabilities and value to an employer, especially when you can quantify a result that you were directly responsible for.
So, next time you ask yourself ‘why can’t I get a job?’ remember, every single interaction you have during your job search counts towards your application. Your CV, cover letter and interview are a large part of the job search process, but think about the details in between too — they could be the deciding factor as to whether or not you get the job.
Note: This post was originally published on 18th May 2015.
