10 probable reasons I don't get shortlisted for job interviews

Three times I have been privileged to go through hundreds of application letters and shortlist prospective candidates for different jobs and on a couple of times I have been part of an interview panel, I have learnt a lot on how candidates write cover letters, resumes, CVs and how they tackle interview questions. 

The lessons I have are more than the ones I got from the seven times I have ever been professionally interviewed in my life. I would like to share ten most common mistakes I found from this experience especially on the applications. I hope someone will benefit a thing or two.

Disclaimer!! These are solely my opinions and this is not an exhaustive list. 

1. Over qualification - An employer is looking for someone with an MSCE and you happen to have a Bachelors Degree, it may be better just to talk about your MSCE too unless you are sure your Bachelors will give you some score or unless it was mentioned in the vacancy that those with a Bachelors degree will have an added advantage, otherwise it is a worst of time, there is a reason why employers specify what qualification they want. 

2. Right experience on a wrong post - I don’t think it matters having a ten years’ worth of experience as an Accountant and I want to use that as a case on an application where they are looking for an experienced nurse, unless I prove/link how my experience is necessary to this new post. Make sure your experience relates/is relevant to the post you are applying for.

3. Different font types and sizes – At this stage, one has to be serious with writing (4 pages for a cover letter? Maybe if you are a professor or someone on that level, otherwise most of us young people who are just new in our respective industries and careers a page is OK). One lady used font size 16 and line spacing of 2, her cover letter went to 3.5 pages the CV was 7 pages and yet she only had 1 work experience on her CV. People don’t have all the time on Earth to read such.

4. Telling the whole of your life story in a single cover letter (there is a reason why it’s called a cover letter). Some 2 guys literary had to explain where they did their primary and secondary schools. How they were selected to college, this is not your biography, it is an application/cover letter, save that for later if requested, unless you have enough space and time. Remember you are competing with someone who has just gone straight to the point.

5. One letter/CV fits all - My first impression was like “Probably this guy doesn’t know what he wants”. Within 5 minutes he sent 3 emails, same cover letter and CV just with different subject lines of the posts he was applying for. As they say, always tailor your CV/Cover letter to the post you are applying for. The CV you used to apply for the job as a teacher may not be exactly the same you should use on the post of a guard. 

6. A million beautiful adjectives in a paragraph describing oneself. I think it is the easiest thing to do and anybody can do that. The only challenge is how you prove to be the adjectives you have used to describe yourself. For example, if I say I am passionate about human rights and yet I have never done anything tangible on human rights except for the lessons I had in class on human rights, then somehow it doesn’t add up, I need to prove and show what I have done on the ground towards the passion I claim to possess. 

7. Typos, grammar and spelling errors – These are an automatic turn off to employers, avoid them at all cost, if you are not sure of what you have written, let another eye get a look at your application before you send. For example, “am brian chumbi and aplying at ur company as a ners”. Thus why I personally hate short forms even on text messages. People forget they are applying for a job; their brain is still on texting mode. It's like shooting yourself on the leg.

8. Sending multiple applications for the same post. 2 guys were sending the same application every day till the deadline. Personally I found it unprofessional, childish and irritating. For me, I read each and every application sent, so sending multiple times with the hope of increasing your chances and visibility is trash, grow up and be professional. 

9. No, unnecessary or wrong attachments. Found this mistake a million times. Crosscheck if you have not only attached but also the relevant documents must be attached for what you are applying for. I think it is good to attach only what you have been requested to, I really find it irrelevant to attach an MSCE where it has not been requested, just attach the relevant documents and save some embarrassment. 

10. Email addresses with funny names and characters eg la chocolate, Xmen, mindblowing. I don’t know how hard it is to let your email address carry your name, for example your name is Mbatata Chinangwa, mbatatachinangwa@gmail.com , how hard is that?