7 job application mistakes in your job search

The search for a new job can be brutal. Nothing is more frustrating than being rejected time and time again. Okay, except to be treated to radio silence. What is going on? Why don’t you get invited for a job interview and can’t find a job?

If you’ve lost count of how many letters you’ve sent out, there’s probably something wrong.

Reasons why you can’t find a job

These are seven possible reasons why you are not invited and what you can do in the future to get that job.

You send the same cover letter to everyone

Imagine for a moment: an HR manager gets to read your cover letter, in which you tell what you have done for this and why you are unique. That’s all well and good, but the HR manager wants to know why you’re the best choice for the position and company in question. And why do you find that company so interesting?

You guessed it: if you send the same cover letter to everyone, where you may only change the company’s name, the enthusiasm does not explode. The result? No invitation for a job interview.

You only trust job websites

Vacancy websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn are useful tools to find great vacancies. But this shouldn’t be the only way you apply. If you can easily find a nice vacancy, others can too. And that means a lot of competition.

Do you put a lot of time and effort into job websites and get little in return? Then it may be wise to approach your search in other ways as well: by applying directly and networking, for example. An open application always works well.

You apply too little

When looking for a new job, it makes sense that you first look at dream jobs at dream companies. But don’t be surprised if your search gets stuck. There is a lot of competition, especially among these types of jobs.

Don’t be afraid to apply for a job at a company you’ve never heard of. Or on a position that ultimately helps you land that dream job.

You apply for everything loose and tight

You may also be applying too much. Just because you shouldn’t just respond to dream job vacancies at dream companies doesn’t mean you should just cast a net to see what you’re fishing for. When you apply for loose and tight, you probably do not know exactly what you want, which is expressed in your letter.

You may also run into point 1 here. After all, have you put in the time and effort for your cover letter and resume if you leave twenty a day? Or do you secretly send a copy to anyone who wants to hear it?

Ask yourself: is it better to respond to twenty vacancies and be invited for an interview once? Or to respond to ten vacancies and to be interviewed three times?

You are not applying for the right jobs

You don’t have to meet the requirements for the position 100 percent. It’s good of you to take the plunge and try anyway. But if you don’t get a response time and again, that could be a sign that you’re not applying for the right jobs.

Rule of thumb? Do you meet the requirements for 70 percent? Go for it. Otherwise, you better focus your energy elsewhere.

Your cover letter and resume are not strong enough

If you are (almost) never invited for an interview, it is also possible that your cover letter and CV are not strong enough. Maybe you started with a fancy resume, but your creation now looks more like a work of art than a clear and understandable document. Or maybe your letter is full of spelling mistakes or you don’t know how to sell yourself well.

Whatever it is, you’ve looked at your letter and resume so many times that you’ve become blind to them. So let several people in your area read it. What do they notice? What would they improve?

You haven’t told anyone you’re looking for a job

The more people know that you’re looking for a new job, the more they’ll think of you when they see something coming your way. On LinkedIn, for example, you can customize your headline and add a #OpenToWork profile frame. According to LinkedIn, members with such a cadre are on average 40 percent more approached by recruiters.

Don’t want to throw away your old shoes before you get new ones? You also have a feature on LinkedIn that only recruiters can see that you are looking for a new job.