The job of a recruiter is not an easy one. They have to meet all kinds of people, bear with the most annoying candidates during the initial interview rounds, and then explain to them, in a sugar-coated way, why they are not the one on their search list.
Each individual is different but there are some common characteristics in a jobseeker than can make them highly unlikable. And if you are one of them, there are good chances that recruiters will not call you back once you are done with the first round of interview.
#1 The know-it-all guy
We all need to learn each day and grow as an individual and a professional. However, there are some jobseekers who claim, or at least give the impression, that their brain can accommodate all the knowledge in the world and there is no scope for them to improve or learn.
These kinds of jobseekers are perhaps the first ones who will never again hear from recruiters. Those who are looking to hire you expect you to be human, and it’s perfectly fine to admit shortcomings and mistakes.
For those who believe they are a 100 per cent fit are either considered too full of themselves or just plain liars.
#2 Lost in the woods
Diametrically opposite to the first kind of candidates that we just talked about, there is another category – jobseekers who are absolutely clueless about everything. They aren’t liked by recruiters either. They are not sure about what they have applied for, what the job would entail, whether they have the right skillset for the job or even understand the business model of the company they want to work with.
Just as in the first category, these candidates are highly unlikely to be called back by the recruiter.
#3 The generic candidates
Jobseekers reduce their own chances of being hired by being too generic. It is the onus on the candidate to convince the recruiter why s/he should be hired for a particular job advertised. Mass distributing their CVs is not the right approach. Researching a job that best suits you and then applying for it by tweaking your CV and covering letter is just the beginning.
And once you have been shortlisted for the interview, you have to convince the recruiter why you are the best possible match they can find. You can do this by highlighting your accomplishments and skills that demonstrate how you can positively add value to the company’s business.
Recruiters like such candidates. On the other hand, those who use one approach for different kinds of jobs will only lose out in their job search.
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