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January is working out to be a good month for us.  Highest number of permanent vacancies placed with us by employers for 5 years. Great! I hear you cry! Well, not always.  We have two problems.

1. People applying for everything

2. People deciding half way through the process this isn’t for them, pulling out of the interview and not advising us or the employer why.

Our service to Clients is based on the ethos of saving their time.  By covering the advertising, searching, profiling and shortlisting of candidates, employers can jump straight to the interview stage, knowing that applicants are pre-qualified and interested in working for them.

Our service to Work Seekers is to genuinely help them find a career/job that will pay the mortgage, fund a lifestyle and make them a more successful human being.

The perception of our industry is that this is money for old rope.  I disagree.  The majority of people who are out of work in the UK are eager to find that next job.  Therefore applying for every job, hoping that the next no is one answer closer to a yes and hence making shortlisting laborious. The danger then is that employers and recruiters don’t look at everyone; they become CV weary. You wouldn’t want to lose out on your ideal job just because there were too many applicants.  So – Stop. Think of finding a job in a similar way to finding a life partner.  You wouldn’t date everyone just in case, would you?  No, you have a “type”, people who share the same interests, or someone you’re attracted to for whatever reason.

Our advice is to look carefully at the jobs you apply for.  Show interest in it.  All too often we contact people regarding a job application only to be told, “which one is it, I’ve applied for so many”.  It’s a bit like being told on a date, ” were you the one I asked out last night or last week?”.  The more targeted your search is, the less rejections you will have.  We’re not saying don’t have ambition, but if you’re looking to change direction – show how your experience can be relevant and DO re-write your CV. You will need to prove how you think your skills are relevant.  It may not be obvious to the employer or recruiter.  Isn’t a couple of hours’ investment in re-writing the CV or getting the application form right, worth the end result?  A job you enjoy and pays the bills. Remember, you may end up spending more daylight hours with your new work colleagues than you do your family.

So, think quality applications over quantity of applications.  Then show that you WANT that job. The competition is high.  No-one is going to give you a job just because this is the 999th job you’ve applied for.  They don’t know and less sensitively don’t care how many you’ve already applied for.

Wote St’s tips for securing that job?

1. Show an interest from the start

2. Prepare – that’s Pre-pare -do it before you send your CV and again before you go to the interview.  Look at the website, talk to people who already work there, check out the press releases.  This preparation may well tell you that you don’t want to work there.  Now, that IS a reason to cancel the interview and tell your recruiter why. This will help them find a better fit next time.

3. Turn up for the interview – believe it or not this happens from entry level jobs to management level.  There may be a whole range of reasons why this happens, but isn’t it just good manners to let people know?  Even if the reason is ” I’ve decided I don’t want this job”.  Be honest.

4. When you’re in the interview – look like you want to be there.  Interviews are hard, not everyone has the gift of the gab.  But you’re there because you want the job aren’t you?  So show some interest.

5. Follow up – whether it’s the agency or the employer direct.  Ask how you’ve done.  If they’ve offered it to someone else ask why and when that person starts.  Really miffed you didn’t get it?  Don’t give up yet.  Call a month after they have started – how are they doing?  Someone is more likely to leave a new job within 3 months of starting than at any other time. Would you only ask the man/woman of your dreams out once?

I could rant about this all day, but you get the gist.  Quality over quantity – research, prepare, show interest, turn up and follow up.

Good luck!