You don’t even have to tell me. I already know the way your eyes light up when you see a position you know would be perfect for you. I know how anxious you get when you finally send the application you’re hoping gets you through the door.
And, I know how frustrated you feel when you check your email 103 times only to later discover that the company decided to go with another candidate.
“But why?” That’s the question that roams your mind.
“Why am I not good enough?”
“Why does this keep happening?”
These mistakes are holding you back from getting the job interviews you truly want
The problem isn’t that you’re not good enough, you’re just doing a couple of things wrong:
You’re Still Focused on What You Used to Do
Your resume still focuses on your current position and it doesn’t highlight what you’re looking to do next in your career.
For instance, if you’re ready to finally secure your first management position, but your resume only talks about the projects you’ve worked on and doesn’t mention one word about your leadership skills, and your ability to manage or develop a team, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
If you’re a PR professional working at an oil and gas company, and you’re trying to snag a communications position at a tech company, you’re holding yourself back if your resume is ridden with oil and gas jargon.
Instead, start focusing on how your experience and accomplishments align with the role you want next, and use keywords that clearly indicate the value you’ll bring to the next organization.
You’re Still Submitting Your Applications Online
If you’re still submitting your applications through online portals, you’re subjecting yourself to The Black Hole of Rejection, as I like to call it. Solely applying to positions online is a sure way to limit yourself, and to get overlooked. Why put yourself through the pain when you can connect with real humans?
Instead, reach out to hiring managers directly through email. Connect with mutual friends who have contacts at the companies you’ve been eyeing. Get out of your comfort zone and reach out to strangers who work at companies you love. The best way to stand out from the pack of applicants is to get out of the pack and get ahead.
You’re Applying to Companies You Don’t Truly Love
If you’re still applying to 20 positions a week, I’m giving you serious side-eye right now. It’s impossible to find 20 companies you love in one week, every week. I get it. You’re desperate to take your career to the next level as soon as possible, but your desperation shows. It’s trailing right behind every job application.
Slow down and do your research. Discover if you truly do love each company and why you love the company before you apply for the position. When you fall in love with the company, your resume, and everything else will radiate your love and admiration, and you’ll have hiring managers wanting to speak with you because you understand their needs.
You Don’t Know What Makes You Great
Do you truly know what you bring to the table? Do you know what makes you an asset and why you’re the obvious best choice for the position you want? If you can’t answer those questions, then you’re most likely not communicating that in your resume or anywhere else.
Rather than having the “Pick me! Pick me!” mindset, consider the strengths that make you a perfect match for each position you desire. Then, determine which accomplishments perfectly demonstrate the value you bring to the company. Once you know what makes you great, you’ll have no trouble articulating that, and no trouble getting interviews.
Getting interviews, and ultimately landing the position you want, is about knowing your value, getting in front of the right people, and knowing how to communicate the key elements about you that make you an asset to the role and companies you’re chasing.
Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level and secure the positions they’ve been chasing. She’s also the founder of the career site, employeeREDEFINED.com.
Originally published at Forbes