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By Lilian Wamaitha
Have you ever applied for a job that you were sure you were qualified for but then weeks down the line you never hear from the recruiter?
It’s a tough job market in Kenya, so you will need to literally be on top of your game if you are looking to get hired at all. With so much competition for the limited job vacancies today, you will need to stand out.
Recruiters will evaluate everything besides your experience to see if you will be a good fit. And for that reason, everything you do from the way you communicate, send your application, to your interview skills can make a difference between you getting hired or not.
I interviewed Ms. Muthoni Ndwegwa, a top recruiter in Nairobi to shed light on some of the mistakes that Kenyan job seekers make that end up costing them a good job opportunity.
1. Not proofreading your application
How often do you go through your application to see if everything is in order before standing out? I am guessing your answer is NO.
Grammar and spelling mistakes in a CV or cover letter are bad. Sending that out only spells out why you are a great fit for another company and not that one you are applying to.
With so much competition out there, the least you can do is ensure that your application if free of any errors and mistakes.
Must Read >>> How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job Application
2. Your contact information is inappropriate or incorrect
“I can tell you for sure that there are times when as a recruiter, you shortlist candidate but cannot contact them for an interview simply because the contact information they gave is incorrect or not updated,” says Ms. Ndwegwa.
Before you begin your job search, ensure that your contact information is correct and that means having a working phone number and email address.
Also, make sure that the email address you give is professional as well as your voice mail message.
3. You never research the company prior to the interview
The recruiter is not asking you to know very little detail about the company, but having a general knowledge of what they do is a must. One of the interview questions you will be asked is “What do you know about us?”
Before your big interview, ensure that you have an idea about the company as this demonstrates your passion to work for them. Naturally, nobody wants to hire someone who is not passionate about the place they want to work at.
4. You don’t keep time
So you applied for the job ad got shortlisted for the interview. However, on the d-day you are not able to make it in time Arriving late for an interview without prior communication is a red flag.
“If you are running late, call the person interviewing you and let them know,” says Ms. Ndegwa. And when you do show up, let them know why you are late and apologise for that.
5. Asking for too much or too little
Salary negotiation is probably the hardest thing that job seekers go through. How do you negotiate for salary without appearing too desperate or worse greedy?
Asking for too little only shows that you don’t care much about the job you want or haven’t done your industry research. Asking for too much that doesn’t fit within the company budget will serve as grounds to disqualify you.
Until you know more about the role and the company, leave salary out of it, unless it comes up during your interview.
6. Not tailoring your application to fit the job or company
This is one of the mistakes that most Kenyan job seekers make. Both your cover letter and CV should be tailored to fit the job you are applying for. Nothing screams lazy than a candidate who uses the same CV and cover letter to apply for all positions.
Use the key words in the job description to write a CV and cover letter that will get you hired. This way you can relate your experience and skills to the role you are applying for.
The recruiter will find it easy connecting why you are the most qualified candidate for that particular position.
Read more here on what it really means to tailor your CV.
7. Lying
This is a no brainer. Funny thing about lies is that they always have a way of coming back to us.
“I can’t tell you how many candidates I see lie on their applications just to get the job.”
Never be tempted to lie on your CV or during the interview because recruiters can always see right through your lies.
There is always a way of verifying every detail you give on your CV. Employers nowadays contact your referees to determine if you are telling the truth.
By lying you are not only sabotaging your chances for that particular job but other jobs in future.
You would rather tell the truth if you don’t have all the qualifications than pimp your CV with these imaginary qualifications.
8 Not following up
Following up is very critical. However, there is a thin line between following up and appearing too desperate. Always follow up after making an application to let the recruiter know that you applied for that job and ask them to look at your CV.
Recruiters get thousands of applications and yours is just one in all these. Just the same, after an interview make a follow up.
In today’s competitive job market, it is very critical that you pay attention to these kinds of mistakes that may be derailing your job search. Any of these could be the factor that determines whether you get a job or are passed over. So take your precious time to be perfect in your job search avoiding all these mistakes.
Further Reading >>> Understanding The Hidden Job Market
The writer is a Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Got any comments about the article? Leave the in the comment section below or email lilian@careerpointkenya.co.ke
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