Are You Qualified, But Can’t Get Hired?

Not long ago a job-seeker posted this question to a LinkedIn group, “Why is it so hard nowadays to get a job on purchasing I know I’m good but no one gives me an opportunity?” – This exact same question is asked by so many other job-seekers in every industry.

What’s confusing is that the majority of the people who responded blamed the economy and the employers hiring policies, and some started digressing on how employers no longer bother contact applicants to explain why they weren’t chosen.

Yes, it’s true that there aren’t as many jobs in most professions as there were in the past, other than in new industries and technologies, especially as you’re climbing the career ladder and want a higher level position with a higher salary level.

What job seekers tend to forget is it doesn’t matter if there aren’t that many jobs out there for everyone. What their mind-set needs to be is, “How do I find the one job out there that interests me and how do I get that employer to take notice and hire me.”

One answer is to be conscious of how you present yourself all the time, a lesson the person who asked this question clearly never learned.

From this question, we can see a job seeker asking a question to group members who are possible hiring managers, recruiters, and people who are sources to network with.

Considering the audience, look closely at the question; not the context but the grammar and spelling.

No matter what qualifications this person has, in most minds this candidate is an un-hireable turn-off. Why, because they showed a lack of communication skills which are essential to every employer.

The lesson we hope other job seekers take from this is that you have to be careful about everything you put in writing, such as your resume, cover letters and thank you letters, social media and LinkedIn profiles, and especially your comments in group discussions.

When you post intelligent and articulate questions and answers, people will take notice and they won’t be afraid to reach out to you if they’re hiring, or to refer you to someone who is. Why, because you showed them that you are thoughtful and possess some field expertise and these are qualities that make someone hireable.

On the other hand, if a job seeker posts a poorly worded question or answer, or if they vent and ramble rather than offer serious feedback, people will think you are un-hireable no matter what your qualifications are.

Spoken words may be forgotten or explained as being misunderstood, but when people see it in writing this is not really the case.