Searching and applying for jobs can be a terrifying and frustrating experience. Whether you’re currently out of a job or desperately want to leave your current company, a few months looking for work without success can lead anyone to want to bang their head against a wall and shout with desperation: No one will hire me!
It’s understandable to get frustrated, and quite common to want to give up. But someone will hire you. You just need to find them, and then you need to present yourself in the right way so that you can get hired and move your career forward.
To help you do this, here are eight answers to the question: Why will no one hire me?
#1 The Market is Too Competitive
Before we get into the specifics of your resume, cover letter, skills, etc., one of the first things you should do when you start looking for work is research the market. Like all aspects of the economy, the labor market works in cycles. There are times when there is a shortage of workers and a surplus of jobs, but there are also times when the opposite is true.
Of course, just because it’s a tight market doesn’t mean you can’t get hired. It just means it might be a bit more difficult. Getting an employer’s attention might take extra effort or a unique approach. Or, more commonly, it might just take patience.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a good resource to use when trying to figure out where you should go with your job search.
#2 Your Cover Letter and Resume Aren’t Doing Their Jobs
Although there are all sorts of new ways to apply for jobs, such as LinkedIn, job boards, social media, and more, the fact remains that your cover letter and resume are still two of the most important aspects of a successful application.
Candidates that go on to get offers are able to leverage these materials to call attention to their skills and abilities, and to get them in for an interview, where the job is finally won.
Writing the Perfect Cover Letter
Do one quick search for “how to write a cover letter” and you will find all sorts of resources claiming to know the perfect formula. In reality, though, writing this letter is not an exact science. What’s more important is the information you include and how you present it.
Remember: the purpose of this introductory letter is to show the hiring manager or recruiter how you would be a good fit for the job, and to give them a reason to look more closely at your resume.
To do this, start by examining the job description and identifying some of the key traits they’ve indicated the ideal candidate will have. For example, are they looking for a person who is “detail oriented?” a “team player?” “creative?” “good a communicating?”
Stick to these points, and provide specific examples. You don’t need to give your whole life story.
Typically, bad cover letters aren’t actually bad. They just don’t tell employers what they really want to hear, which is why you would be a good fit for the position.
Designing the Ideal Resume
Yes, you want to make your resume easy-to-read and neat looking, but it’s the substance that really matters.
Your letter proved you were a good fit. Now it’s time to list our how your unique combination of education, qualifications, and experience make you the right person for the job.
When you do this, try to be as specific as possible. Demonstrate, with numbers wherever possible, the specific impact of your work, making sure to include examples related to the job you’re applying for and that make it crystal clear you have the skills they desire.
A great many resumes are tossed out because they paint in too broad of strokes. Speak directly to your achievements and you will likely get more responses.
#3 Your Interviews Aren’t Giving the Hiring Manager the Right Impression
Are you making it past the first round of the hiring process and into the interview stage but still unable to find a job?
This is not an uncommon problem: the job interview is arguably the most important part of the hiring process, but it can also be the most difficult for candidates.
What do they want you to say? What is the right answer? Should you say you have a weakness, or turn it into a strength?
While there are right and wrong answers to some questions, this isn’t always what employers are looking for, and focusing too much on them could make it hard for you to find a job.
It’s of course important to have prepared answers to some generic questions, such as those standard ones related to your strengths or experiences, or your most challenging growth experience.
But beyond that, the most important thing you can do is relax and be yourself. More so than adding employees, employers are hiring and interviewing because they are looking to add team members.
They want to see your personality, know what you bring to the table, and get a clearer sense of what it would be like to add you to the business and have you in the office. You want to leave them with the impression that you would be a real addition, not just an effective employee.
#4 You’re Not Effectively Showcasing Your Skills and Accomplishments
We touched on this with the resume, but it’s imperative that you be specific when talking about your past experiences, skills, and education. Use numbers and visual aids, and dig out examples of past work.
The more specific you can be, the more clearly you will be able to communicate your skills. Recruiters won’t have to spend a lot of time wondering if you can do the job. Instead, they will be able to see what you can do, which turns the focus to the hiring process towards the interview.
This is where having a personal blog or website can be really useful, or where LinkedIn can play a role in your application. Your resume should include short summaries of what you’ve done, but being able to direct people somewhere where they can see the work online can sometimes be just whats needed to prove you’re the right one for the job.
#5 You’re Not Making Realistic Demands
When applying for a job, it’s important to remember that you have leverage: they need you just as much as you need them.
This comes in handy once you do receive an offer, as it will encourage you to negotiate for a better salary, better conditions, benefits, and so on.
However, it’s important you’re in touch with the rest of the world as you do this. Don’t sell yourself short, but also don’t make ridiculous demands that are not in line with the overall market. Do your research to find out what people in similar positions are getting, and then make your demands accordingly.
It’s unlikely this is the only reason why you feel no one will hire you, but having unrealistic expectations and making excessive demands is a good way to disqualify yourself from a job before you even gave yourself a chance.
#6 You Weren’t a Good Fit
At some point, you might need to admit that maybe the reason you’re struggling to find a job is that you simply haven’t found the right fit yet.
Employers typically interview multiple candidates for each position because finding someone who can do the job is often a lot easier than finding someone who will mesh with their team and fit well with company culture.
Therefore, not getting the job might have nothing to do with you at all. This is still frustrating, but it should serve as a reminder that sometimes the most important aspect of a job search is patience. Keep presenting yourself in the right light, showcasing your accomplishments, and being yourself. Someday, the right job will come along.
#7 You’re Applying for the Wrong Jobs: Hire A Career Coach!
One reason why your job search may not be bearing fruit is that perhaps you are applying for the wrong jobs.
This could mean a number of things. First, you could simply be applying for jobs that don’t align with your skills and qualifications. This is especially true when applying for positions in a new or different field than the one in which you currently work. No matter how much you think you can do that job, recruiters may not be convinced.
Here’s where working with a career coach can really help: they will not only coach you on the entire process, they will also help you identify positions you can actually get.
This block also pops up when people become overly concerned with the job title. Perhaps you are currently a supervisor and want a promotion so you only apply for director jobs. But maybe the company with which you’re applying defines director differently, and puts a step between it and the manager level. Applying for these positions will hardly ever work out.
#8 You Don’t Have the Right Skills or Qualifications
Your job search may be struggling because you’re going for jobs for which you simply aren’t qualified. Maybe you know you can do it, but often you need some way to prove it to convince someone to take a chance and call you in for an interview.
Some people read this and think, “Oh no! I’ve got to go back to school to find a new job.”
This may be the case sometimes, especially when you’re making a dramatic career shift. But it’s often not needed. However, you might still need to show that you have some knowledge of the job you’re about to do. There are plenty of courses you can take and certifications you can get that will teach you the basics of the field you’re trying to enter, giving much more weight to your existing experience.
Often these types of programs require an investment on your part, but if it will set you apart from the competition and make it easier for you to stand out, then this is going to be money very well spent.
Stop Saying “No One Will Hire Me” and Switch to a Career in Digital Marketing Today
If you are having a hard time finding a job, you now have eight different possible explanations. But one that we haven’t yet discussed is that you might be looking for the wrong type of job. In other words, you’re not looking for a digital marketing job.
Digital marketing is exactly what it sounds like: marketing in the online world.
Your job would be to assist in the many different activities a company or organization engages in to connect with its target audience. This could mean marketing through social media, blogs, search engines, paid advertisements, and much, much more.
It’s an exciting, rewarding, and in-demand field that anyone currently looking for a job should seriously consider entering.
Benefits of Getting a Digital Marketing Job
There are many reasons why you should consider looking for a job in digital marketing, such as:
- There is a lot of demand – Everyone is trying to boost their online presence, and this means there are a lot of jobs to be had. And many of these jobs are well paying, with room for growth. This isn’t some upstart field but rather a major player in today’s economy.
- It’s extremely versatile – The skills you need to be a successful digital marketer can be applied to pretty much any industry, allowing you to work in pretty much whichever field or discipline you want.
- Much of the work is online – Want to work from home and set your own hours? Many digital marketing jobs, by nature, can be done from anywhere. This is not a guarantee, but you will often find flexible work arrangements that will make it easier for to strike a good work-life balance.
- Job security – Unless something drastic happens, it’s unlikely that the world will be less digital anytime soon. This is just another reason to expect more growth in the digital marketing field, meaning great job security for those who choose to take this path.
Get Started with Your Digital Marketing Career Today
If digital marketing sounds like a job title you might want to have but you’re feeling like you’re not qualified for such a position, don’t worry. You’re a lot closer than you might think.
First, there is no such thing as a “digital marketing” degree. Or, if there is, it’s usually mostly focused on marketing with a small emphasis on the digital side of things. All in all, it’s not worth your money.
In fact, many of the skills required to be successful in digital marketing can be transferred from other experiences. All you need to get started, then, is a basic understanding of some of the key concepts in digital marketing, which you can learn rather quickly.
Sound interesting? Then sign up for our free masterclass to learn more about how quickly and easily you can get a career in digital marketing started. Once you realize all the opportunities that await you, consider doing our full training program. Your next job is just around the corner!
Supercharge Your Job Search
The job search process can be exhausting. Editing letters and resumes for each position, going on interviews, often with multiple people, negotiating salary and benefits, and going a long time without hearing a word all adds up and can produce extreme frustration.
Patience and perseverance are key, but it’s also important you showcase your skills and do everything you can to improve your candidacy. And it’s also important to apply for jobs in a field where there are lots of opportunities, such as digital marketing.
Check out our free training module to see if a career in digital marketing might be right for you. If so, then get ready to supercharge your job search, your career, and your life.
