Why can't I get a job?

Question

I have 2 IT quallifications, an accounts qualification, an office management qualification, RSA Stage 1 and the relevent experience to back them up but no one will employ me, any ideas why?

Answer 1

strategy

do you network?

every job ad attracts dozens or hundreds of applications. If you don't network, you will come in from nowhere and your CV will not stand out. If you are a face that has been met and spoken to, you may at least get the chance to put your case. Networking can be as simple as going to an open day at the company you're applying for, or a training seminar organised by your local Chamber of Commerce.

when a recruiter has a pile of 100 CVs on the desk, the first task is to shorten the pile. The first sift is about looking for reasons to rule people OUT. Often this means discarding CVs from perfectly good candidates for relatively trivial reasons.

The key, apart from networking, is in the letter. For example, the ad says:

"...must have XYZ qualifications and be a good team player..."

Your letter has to briefly state that you have EVERY single attribute stated in the ad, and give micro examples. With qualifications that's easy, but there's no qualification for teamwork. So:

"I relish teamwork; in fact my previous manager once described me as the glue that held his team together in difficult situations"

or whatever, as long as it is TRUE.

Don't be put off: if you break this problem down into little chunks for each job, and wrack your brains, and realise that non-work stuff can score even for work attributes, you can solve this for every point that's requested.

I think Nelson Mandela said "there's only one way to eat an elephant - bit by bit". Good luck...

I'm a bit nosy - you could e me your CV if you felt like it - delete names and addresses to protect the guilty of course

Answer 2

This is a very good question! There may be subtle reasons why you are not getting the job. Please be aware that for your first "real" job, it may take 10 interviews or more. Don't stress out about being rejected at two, three, or four places before you finally hit the right combination to land the job.

Make sure you make a really good impression at the interview. So look really sharp. Also, every time you don't have an answer at an interview, that's an "X" against you, so learn from the questions for the next time.

Competition is VERY high for many jobs. Try to find creative ways to find out how to be the best interviewee. Also, if you're new in IT, you might try an Internship. You won't make much money, but you'll have something even more valuable -- experience.

DON'T give up! It will come.

Answer 3

Do you live in the newport area in south wales?
I have found that its very difficult to find a job in that area that is more than unskilled.
Its complex and I have some ideas on why it might be.
one of the difficullties is being well qualified in an area where most people are not-.they may be intimidated or threatened by your ablities,the person interviewing you may have only a fraction of your qualifications,for example.
my husband has had no problem getting jobs with under grad or unproffessional qualifications.
He says its 70% how you look ,20% how you sound,and 10 % what you say,and you have 30 seconds,thats all it takes for the interviewer to make a decision about you.
What jobs are you applying for?
Do you change the emphasis of your cv for each application?
WHAT IMAGE ARE YOU PRESENTING?
Do you look the part for the job ?
Do you look business -like ,could you enhance a companys corporate image?
Are you tatooed pierced?it scares people,shouldnt but does.
Do you have shoes and bag in good clean,repaired condition?
Are you dressing too sexy/trendy?
Be honest with yourself.also ask a friend what job you look like you could do (based only on image)Its insightful.
People have said to me -channel x performer! ,hairdresser,receptionist and I'm a graduate with a teaching degree and had my own business and taught tertiary ed.
Had to tone down the look. lol
HOW DO YOU SOUND?
do you sound confident and intelligent? If not ,practise.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Have you thoroughly prepared questions beforehand? and possible answers,read yr cv again and again ,does it sound good?
Have you tried an agency?
Have you tried asking friends/ family ?
Any job is better than no job for lots of reasons.

A good book to get is "what colour is your parachute?"
Lots of ideas in there ,it states that most jobs are gained before theyve been advertised .I have found this to be totally accurate.
Good luck ,more jobs you apply for the better the chance you'll get one.
gadriel

Answer 4

A friend of mine had a similar problem - skills, great interviews, never got hired. Finally he pressed one potential employer who said the background check came back bad - he had paid a speeding ticket, but it never got into the computer, and thus he had a warrant for his arrest. Once that got cleared up, he got snatched right up.

Hire someone to run a background check on you - see what happens.

Answer 5

Perhaps plain bad luck. Also I have heard that it is of vital importance to develop good interviewing skills. Chances are the council near you, or a school could direct you to free resources if you have any doubt of your various interviewing skills.
Best of luck. I think most of us have been through these situations at one time or the other in our modern times.

Answer 6

Maybe you're over qualified in the fields you're trying,Offer your services for the minimum wage and every Tom Dick and Harry will want to employ you, Only Joking

Answer 7

Because you're a witch? The name kind of gives it away. Perhaps they're all scared you'll turn them into a frog.

Maybe if you changed your name to "Dead good IT & Accounts girl" you'd have more luck.

Answer 8

I suppose it depends on what sort of job you have been applying for. Bear in mind that many jobs on organisations are 'stiched up' by someone 'in the know'. Unfortunately, today, it is more a case of who you know not what you know. Keep trying though.

Answer 9

it's either your c.v. your application form, or the way you come over in interview
however, you have every right to contact employeers to ask what criteria they use and what you didnt' meet, it's the only way forward

Answer 10

I don't know.
Are you covered with tattoos or piercings?
Do you smell bad?
Do you dress sloppy or use improper language when interviewed?
All of these can be deterrents.