The truth is that during these turbulent times, jobs are scarce and candidates are plentiful. This supply and demand issue can be daunting for job hunters who are trying to get a foot in the door amongst the masses.

The most important thing you can do is to be optimistic. Rejection today is not rejection forever. Further, rejection is endemic to you. 99.99% of the time, being passed over by a hiring manager is not your fault. You cannot control the company’s needs, the other candidates’ abilities, or the preference of that manager on that day. Down the track, you’ll find a position that suits you and the fact that you were rejected from that other company will have absolutely no bearing on getting the job. If you can remember that rejection during the hiring process is temporary, external, and limited, you will be unflappable and able to stay on track to your dream job.

The second most important thing you can do when you face rejection or failure is to be persistent. Get back up when they knock you down and keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on the past and focus on your future and eventually, you will find your way.

Uplift Recruitment sees hundreds of resumes a day and deals with more than a fewer rejected candidates. Whenever someone falls down, we help them get back up.

The following are a few tips we share with our candidates after a rejection:

Uplift’s Application Tips:

DO’s

• DO Submit a clear & concise format of your CV, ensure it is easy to read with clear headings, job titles, position descriptions and dates.
• DO Check for spelling or grammatical errors in your CV before submitting. Be sure to have someone read over your CV.
• DO Read the job advertisement carefully, check the location of the role, duties listed and candidate requirements. Assess if your skillset matches the requirements listed prior to applying.
• DO Update your LinkedIn and Seek profiles regularly.

DONT’S

• DON’T Bulk apply for roles – take your time and only apply for jobs you are really interested in that match your background and experience. Handy hint: bulk applying for roles that are unsuitable often decreases your credibility.
• DON’T Get disillusioned if you receive a rejection email – it is an extremely competitive market and just because your experience wasn’t right for one role, this doesn’t mean you won’t be right for another position. If you can, work with a mentor to support you throughout your job search period.
• DON’T Be unprofessional or impolite when rejected for a role and requesting further feedback. One impolite email could jeopardise your success with future applications as every email is recorded by recruitment software and stored on your profile.
• DON’T Use the same cover letter for every job. Make sure you have changed the title of the job to the one you are applying for. This is a BIG mistake we see all too often.

UPSKILLING

If you are struggling with finding a job and have been actively sending out your resume and interviewing according to the tips above, ask yourself if it’s time to upskill.

If you answered “yes,” to any of the questions below, you should look into a short course or certificate.

1. Have you been out of the workforce for 6 months?
2. Are you looking to step up or sideways in your career?
3. Are you lacking specific systems experience?

Completing a short course can give you the knowledge and skills to set you apart when applying for new roles. Look out for education options relevant to your career, these can be found on the Seek website under “Seek Learning.” You can also find “Linkedin Learning” on the Linkedin website. You can add your completed courses to your resume and LinkedIn profile to show off your new expertise to employers.