{"id":8054,"date":"2020-11-19T08:15:12","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T08:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=8054"},"modified":"2020-11-19T08:15:14","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T08:15:14","slug":"5-reasons-why-your-applications-are-being-rejected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/5-reasons-why-your-applications-are-being-rejected\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons Why Your Applications Are Being Rejected"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Sometimes you see a post pop up on LinkedIn and think \u2018YES!\u2019. I did a few weeks ago, so I messaged Dan, and he agreed to write a guest blogpost for us based on that LinkedIn post. (You can learn more about him at the end too!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>2020 has been a year hasn\u2019t it? One unprecedented event after the other changing the way things work the world over. For students and graduates across the country it is natural to have feelings of uncertainty about the future and the prospects of a career in the face of what comes after. The process of applications is daunting enough without the news reports of rising unemployment rates and a saturated job market. More so than ever before, prior planning and preparation is paramount to success in an increasingly competitive world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve got to put the work in to get the job you want.<\/strong> There are many reasons why your application might not make the cut but don\u2019t worry, there are people like myself who have already made all of the mistakes and errors and are here to help. I have spoken to hundreds of young people, lots of HR Managers and Recruiters and combining their thoughts and my own experiences, I have compiled the five reasons your applications are being rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li><strong><u>Your CV isn&#8217;t ATS compliant<\/u><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>ATS stands for <strong>Applicant Tracking System<\/strong>. This is an AI software used by many companies to scan, sort and rank CV\u2019s. It is looking for keywords from the job description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ATS has the potential to scan 2 million CV\u2019s per second (crazy I know!) and due to the volume of applications, graduate and entry-level roles are vulnerable to the system. Unfortunately, around 85% of applications are unsuccessful at the first stage and the ATS sends them to the \u2018digital black hole\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s highly likely that your CV will need to \u2018beat the bot\u2019 before impressing a human &#8211; here\u2019s how you do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Use keywords from the job description.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t just plug them in randomly. Make sure they are woven into your experiences and surrounded by your achievements. In the job description you will find a set of required\/desirable skills known as core competencies. Soft skills such as \u201cCommunication\u201d and hard skills like \u201cFinance\u201d are good examples of keywords you should be inputting into your CV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Use clear and functional subheadings and job titles.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep it professional and clear \u2013 this will help with your keywords but it\u2019ll also make your education and experience really clear to recruiters and HR managers. Use \u201cExperience\u201d not \u201cPrevious Roles\u201d and \u201cSales Assistant\u201d not \u201cShop Floor Assistant\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Use simple formatting. No extravagant graphs or charts.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>KISS \u2013 Keep It Simple Stupid.<\/strong> Graphs and charts will cause issues when it comes to the ATS. Not only that but it\u2019s difficult to understand what\u2019s going on in a pie chart or line graph.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use white spacing to separate sections, use a clear sans serif font like Times New Roman, and limit yourself to no more than 2 pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Submit your application using MS Word not PDF<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>ATS can\u2019t read PDF\u2019s and will have to translate the content to a text-based app (like MS Word). This translation may not be 100% accurate, so to be on the safe side use MS Word. Every little helps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(talking of Artificial Intelligence, and automatic CV checks, have you put your CV through the ATS on the Careers &amp; Enterprise Hub? It\u2019s called CV360, and it\u2019s in the Resources tab. It gives you instant, tailored feedback. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/eEQxd5XPmhQ\">Watch this video<\/a> to find out more)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>2. You haven&#8217;t shown passion for the company<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Know why you&#8217;re applying &#8211; research company values and culture.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important reasons applications fail is people don\u2019t spend enough time researching the company. Ask yourself \u2013 \u2018Do I really know why I\u2019m applying? Why am I passionate about this company? Will I be a good cultural fit?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Company values drive culture, and the right cultural fit will bring you<strong> job fulfilment <\/strong>and <strong>happiness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See how the values are positioned on their website \u2013 do you connect to them?<br>If so why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take it one step further \u2013 look for evidence of those values existing (hint: you can use this evidence to reference in your cover letter and interview)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Find things the company does that are close to your heart (projects or charity work).<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This links back to finding evidence as I mentioned earlier. Take a look at what partners and charities the company supports \u2013 perhaps there is one close to your heart? Research what projects the company has launched recently and Google recent news articles. You may find some interesting projects to reference (e.g. a new product launch or acquisition\/merger).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anecdote: I was on the bus on <em>my way to the BT Graduate Scheme Assessment Center and I Googled \u201cBT\u201d. That morning, there was an announcement that BT and EE had merged. I referenced this in the interview and talked about how it was such a powerful move, showing real ambition and innovation &#8211; the hiring manager hadn\u2019t even seen the announcement and he was so impressed!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Get up to speed with the latest industry trends.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Stalk them on social &#8211; you&#8217;ll find out what hot topics they&#8217;re talking about.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Infuse your application process with a unique perspective showing your passion for the company and the role.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>3. You were late to the party<\/u><\/strong> ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Keep your applications in one place like an excel spreadsheet.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Being organised is key. I once had 2 interviews in 2 days but didn\u2019t have a place to store all of my applications. Long story short, I prepared for the wrong interview!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Note down the opening dates and deadlines and be first to apply.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Speed, speed, speed. Job spaces fill up quick! It\u2019s important to be on the ball and apply straight away. Set up alerts, sign up to companies email subscriber lists, enlist recruiters and even email or LinkedIn message HR managers asking when roles become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>4. You didn&#8217;t show the right competencies<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Job descriptions have required and desirable skills &#8211; tailor your CV to express them.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Every job role is different. Don\u2019t send a blanket\/standard CV to all of them \u2013 thoroughly analyse the job descriptions and tailor your CV. Refer back to point 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>5. You didn&#8217;t sell yourself<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Shout about your achievements as opposed to listing your responsibilities.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your CV should be focussed on what impact you have had in your experiences, not just a list of your responsibilities. The best way to show impact is to use quantifiable and measurable results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you\u2019re in retail as a sales assistant, talk about how many customers you interact with per day and how many times you recommend products which people buy. Work out the average value of those products and now you have a revenue number you can say you are putting into the business. That\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Tell your unique story in your CV and cover letter &#8211; make them remember you<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Take them on a journey<\/strong>. Include a compelling personal summary at the top of your CV to hook the reader in, make them want to read on. Show your personality, add an interest\u2019s section and show them who you are \u2013 remember people hire people. In your cover letter, show passion for the industry, role and company and tell them why you are best by referencing some of your key achievements from your CV.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>Why should you listen to me?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My name is Dan Mian and I am the founder of <strong>Gradvance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-833x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8078\" width=\"291\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-833x1024.jpg 833w, https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-768x945.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-1249x1536.jpg 1249w, https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1-680x836.jpg 680w, https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/11\/dan-1.jpg 1665w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At Gradvance, I\u2019m creating a community of like-minded students, graduates and young professionals who all want to better their lives and excel in the right career for them. It was born organically out of my own experiences of the graduate application process. I bumbled my way through it once. And in 2015, I was rejected over 30 times when I graduated &#8211; I couldn\u2019t get a job and I was pretty miserable. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually I just took the first job that I was offered but quickly realised that it wasn\u2019t for me. I was unhappy and unfulfilled. The following year, I decided to take the risk and give it all another go. However, I knew I had to make some changes and develop the skills involved in the application process if I had any hope of getting my dream job. I completely changed my approach to applications, focusing on the quality over the quantity and spent many hours on my CV, cover letter and interviewing techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sent a handful of applications and was invited to assessment centres to all of them including Sky, BT, Virgin Media and Vodafone. BT was my top choice and I successfully secured a place on the BT Business Management Graduate Scheme in September 2017. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve had a brilliant and varied experience over the last 3 years, from managing complex warehouse operations to running a call centre with 30 customer service agents. Today, I\u2019m in marketing and I oversee the strategy and campaign execution for 4 of BT\u2019s specialist business (a cool one is Drones!). I\u2019m also Comms Lead for BT\u2019s Ethnic Diversity Network (EDN) and a trained Assessor on the Graduate Scheme Assessment Centre\u2019s, which allows me extra insight into the recruiting and interviewing process on top of the knowledge I have acquired for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EDN is a network made up of a committee of 16 people and our vision is to empower and amplify the voices of our racially diverse communities. For Black History Month (October), we were super busy running lots of great events across BT with our flagship event featuring George The Poet. It was truly a celebration of Black history and culture! Our events covered serious topics such as microaggressions and anti-racism; we also had a lot of fun with Quizzes, Yoga and a party with DJ Ace! It\u2019s an amazing feeling to be a key influencer in breaking down barriers around Diversity &amp; Inclusion and it\u2019s something that I am really passionate about and privileged to be part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was a time in my life when I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d make anything of my career but I kept working hard, learning from every experience (good and bad) and never gave up. If I can make it, so can you. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Gradvance, we share real career advice through daily content on Instagram and LinkedIn and I\u2019m working on some really exciting projects which will add so much value! I\u2019d love for you to be part of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as this, I\u2019m also offering free 30-minute career consultation&nbsp;through our website (www.gradvance.co.uk). It\u2019s a one to one video chat with me and I\u2019ll answer any questions you have, help you to understand your strengths and motivations, map a career plan and give a few hints\/tips on job searching and your CV. Reach out to us and we can help with some guidance to get the ball rolling on what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a super exciting time so come and join us on this journey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gradvance\/\">Join the community on Instagram<\/a> (DM me when you get here!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gradvance\/\">Find us on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/danmian\/\">And connect with me on LinkedIn<\/a> (DM me and say hi) &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Also, if you\u2019re a CCCU current student or alumni within 3 years of graduation, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/faPnbRX-TQg\">book a 1-1 with our internal Careers Advisor <\/a>for support.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting further support from The Careers and Enterprise Team at CCCU<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get ongoing careers support via the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Email&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:careers@canterbury.ac.uk\">careers@canterbury.ac.uk<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canterbury.ac.uk\/students\/current-students\/careers-and-volunteering\/careers-and-jobs\/The-Career-and-Enterprise-Hub.aspx\">Log onto the Careers and Enterprise Online Hub to access resources such as CV360, Interview Simulator and more. Our Live Chat function is also available for you to speak to us 10-12 and 2-4 Monday to Friday<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes you see a post pop up on LinkedIn and think \u2018YES!\u2019. I did a few weeks ago, so I messaged Dan, and he agreed to write a guest blogpost [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122230,"featured_media":6702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"authorName":"Susannah Gilbert","featuredImage":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2020\/04\/unprecedented-blog-banner.png","postExcerpt":"Sometimes you see a post pop up on LinkedIn and think \u2018YES!\u2019. 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