What I Learned From 500+ Job Application Rejections
500+ Job Applications Ignored or Rejected
Let me start by saying 2016-2017 was a weird year for me. I wasn’t sure what I wanted other than a new job. I also wasn’t aware that I had sent this many applications until I noticed a LinkedIn icon above the jobs section that showed the number. I was appalled. In one year, I had applied for maybe 550 jobs on LinkedIn, and I didn’t hear from anyone. What was the problem?
My CV wasn't good enough…
I never took the time to really sit down and work on my CV. I would update my positions as they changed and add a few lines on new roles and responsibilities, but I never covered where I had made an impact or significant change. It wasn't clear why these employers should hire me or what I could bring to the role. My CV read like a to-do list and I expected the recruiters and hiring managers to read between the lines and figure things out. I also wasn't adjusting my CV to reflect the requirements outlined in the descriptions of the jobs I was applying for. I just expected miracles to happen and assumed if I cast a wide net, I'd catch someone or something.
Key Takeaways:
Read through your cv and make sure you would hire you
Have you checked and doubled checked your CV to ensure it doesn't just read like a list of tasks on a to-do list?
Have you checked for typos?
Has anyone else checked it for you?
2. …neither were my cover letters
Truth be told, I still can't write a great cover letter, but thanks to guidance and and feedback from friends, and some assistance from a very lazy CV and cover letter writer, it has improved. I didn't like what the latter did, but I definitely got pointers on how to approach writing a cover letter and getting a hiring manager or recruiter's attention - my mistake was not applying these lessons and improvements immediately. Most of the time I repeated exactly what was on my CV instead of using my cover letter as an opportunity to tell a story or share more about myself. If I were a recruiter now going through a pile of CV and cover letters, I would put my old one in a shredder.
Once I became a supervisor and had to go through the hiring process myself, I quickly realised what good looked like. I knew it instantly when I saw it, and I knew which candidates left a strong enough impression for me to want to learn more about them in an interview. I short-listed the candidates who told me why they wanted to work in my company/team. I chose people who told me other interesting things about themselves beyond the work they had done - things that would give them an extra edge if they joined the team. Now, as a candidate/job seeker, it can be hard to know what that is, which is why going through the job description and doing research on the company and role you want is critical. Remember that the people reading your cover letter don't know you. Pretend you have 1 minute in a lift with a recruiter and you're introducing yourself. What would you want them to know if they hadn't read your CV? What do you think would make them want to invite you for an interview?
Key Takeaways:
Your cover letter isn't another CV.
Your cover letter is your chance to stand out and tell a company why they want you.
Check for typos and make sure it's clear why you want the job and why you think you're the best person for it.
…going through the job description and doing research on the company and role you want is critical.
3. I didn't want the jobs I applied for and the recruiters knew it
The number 500 (it was actually more than this) may seem like an outrageous number of applications- it is. But it's much easier than you might think with job board websites and LinkedIn jobs.
Imagine wanting a job but being unwilling to do the work to find one.
Part of the problem was that I didn't have a clear view of what I was going for. Sometimes I wasn't even reading the job descriptions all the way through before I clicked ‘upload CV’ and sent the instant applications. I avoided any LinkedIn job ads that didn't include the instant apply option - I actually filtered jobs using this criteria, because anything more was too much work. Imagine wanting a job but being unwilling to do the work to find one. On a few occasions, I realised after hitting submit, that I had attached the wrong cover letter or CV to the job application. Recruiters were receiving my applications for other companies and completely different jobs! This was probably one of the most reckless and careless periods of my life/career, and I cringe to think now what impression strangers I may never meet will have of me as a professional. It's possible I've created permanent entry barriers with some companies. Thankfully, that's not something to worry about today, but it's a potential obstacle I'll have to face in future if I'm not deliberate in my personal branding and how I choose to navigate my career going forward.
In one year, I had applied for maybe 550 jobs on LinkedIn, and I didn’t hear back from anyone…
At the time, I was really miserable at work so getting out of that job was more important than finding a job and company that would actually be a genuinely good fit. I made minimal effort, and paid very little attention to detail on my applications. I remember working with a recruitment firm at one point, and one day a recruiter asked me to describe what kind of job I wanted. I did not know. I had no answer. How could they help me look if I wasn’t even clear what I wanted? It is insanity to go on an intense job hunt with absolutely no idea what you're looking for. Especially in a day and age when you could well be competing with people who have years of experience, professional certifications or qualifications, and specialist degrees in that area or field.
Key Takeaways:
Be intentional and deliberate when applying for jobs
Choose quality over quantity: fewer high quality applications are better than lots of low quality applications
Be clear on the kind of work you want to do and apply for jobs you actually want to do
4. I forgot about networking
I have spoken before about the importance of networking, and our early members will remember our very first virtual session touched on the importance of networking when looking for a job. I probably didn't even need to expand my network very much - I just needed to start using the network I already had. I didn't send my CV to my friend who works as a recruiter until the very end. I never got in touch with people who might have an overview of up and coming roles in their organisations. I refused for a long time to go to networking or career events. I wasn't talking to many people about this job search and in hindsight, that was a big part of the problem. You don't need to ask people for work, but you can let them know you're looking and you can ask for introductions or set up time for coffees.
Key Takeaway: The whole point of building and having a network is that you use it.
5. I hadn't considered all the factors in a job change
You must know what the main drivers are for you. You must understand yourself enough to know what you are and are not willing to do for work.
The jobs I was interested in paid less, but I wanted more money. Consulting was an option since I have experience and skills that would fit well in a consulting firm, but I didn't want to work consulting hours. Getting the jobs I wanted might require some personal development and some financial investments in myself such as some additional certifications, volunteering and pro-bono work to get more relevant experience, or, a potential move to another field, industry, city or country. The change might have meant making a lateral move rather than an upwards move to a more senior position, but progression was important to me. Can you see all the contradictions? I hadn't been clear what the most important factors or deal-breakers were. The risk with this mindset is that you either open yourself up too much to virtually every job out there (and end up with 500+ ignored applications), or your view may be too narrow and you miss out on the stepping stone opportunities that are bound to move you closer to your end goals. You must know what the main drivers are for you. You must understand yourself enough to know what you are and are not willing to do for work be it a pay cut, relocation, a more junior role, getting more experience, or getting more qualified. This is not to say that it's not possible to go out and find exactly the job you want, but you should educate yourself on what is required to get it.
Key Takeaways:
Know what is important to you; salary, progression, location, work-life balance, etc.
Be willing to make sacrifices, investments and compromises to get the desired outcome (finding the right job)
Consider lateral moves that get you more experience at your current level, if progression is not yet possible
A happy ending regardless (of my 500+ terrible job application rejections)
I took a job last year that took me to Aberdeen in Scotland, somewhere I said I would never go, and also included a pay cut. It was an 18-month assignment that ended up being about 9 months, because halfway through my Aberdeen role, my new/current job, an opportunity that just hadn't worked out a year or so before, came up again unexpectedly. I remember being really disappointed at the time when things hadn’t worked out with that job, but I stayed in touch with everyone who had been involved in that process and nurtured those relationships. I kept the hiring manager up to date on what I was doing, even my move to Aberdeen, and asked her for updates too. I remembered that sometimes your network can be more valuable in the long run than a missed opportunity.
I took a risk
Aberdeen was a risky move, but it was also the right move. It gave me time to develop my communion skills. I learned about a new part of the business. I became a supervisor. I learned how to survive alone in a new city. I worked with a great team, and I really enjoyed my job. It turns out a temporary pay cut was fine if I was doing a job I liked, and the cost of living wasn’t so high (Aberdeen was cheaper than London).
This all paid off, and my new job came with the promotion and progression I so desperately wanted. The work I did both prior to and whilst in Aberdeen made me more competitive for my current job. I learned more about building new relationships, working with leaders, and stakeholder management. In Aberdeen I got involved in global projects and worked virtually in teams with people I never met. I got to visit Albania to learn more about CSR (corporate social responsibility) in action. I was ready for the next job when it came, because I fully committed to learning and developing myself as much as possible in the job I was doing. There were very few requests I said no to in that time because I saw this short assignment in Aberdeen as a developmental role, and that's exactly what it was. I actually stopped job-hunting and it was such a relief. I didn't realise how much pressure I had put on myself. I travelled, picked up an old hobby, spent time working on relationships outside of work, and peer mentored friends. Funnily enough, towards the end, my applications had improved and there were a few emails or calls. But I had relocated to Nigeria and started my current role by then.
Key Takeaways:
Focus on getting as much relevant experience as you can while you chase the thing you want
Some risk may be involved in your actions
Sometimes you may need to go left, right and even backwards to move forwards
My final reflections on job-hunting
I want to make a final point: job searches are hard. They take a lot out of you, and the stakes may be much higher if you’re unemployed rather than simply looking for a job change. You need to to resilient enough to persevere in the face of multiple rejections, but you also need to be smart and strategic in how and when you look and apply for jobs. If you’re not getting the results you want, it may be time to ask for help or change tactics. Could your CV and cover letter be better? Are you using your network? Are you looking at the right jobs? Are you over or under qualified for the jobs you want? How might you bridge the gap in your experience? Or, are your job applications as bad as mine were?
I'm 6 months into my new job. It's a lot of work, extremely challenging, very demanding, but I'm enjoying it, I was ready for it, and it came through my network, an initial disappointment, and a year long wait, not from 500 (very bad) job applications on LinkedIn.