Not Getting Job Interviews? Are you doing these things?

It sucks! You have applied for twenty plus jobs and not even got an interview, and worse you don't know why. Well read on and see if the reason might be you are not doing the things written about here.

I have helped a wide variety of people get into work, from school leavers, through new graduates to those in the latter part of their career. The secret? You are selling yourself. The good news is that you know the product very well!

Below are some questions for you to think about. If you get them right the probability of getting an interview just got a lot higher and you will have set yourself up well for that next stage.

Is your cover letter doing its job?

What is the job of a cover letter? Simply it is to get you that interview. Your CV will never be read if your cover letter doesn't present you as a candidate worth interviewing. Here is my pick for the top common mistakes people make that would have Graham Norton pulling the lever on the red chair.

#1 Create a template and use it for all applications just editing the company name - as an employer there is nothing quite as off putting as getting a cover letter that is clearly a template. Actually there is. Getting a cover letter that has the wrong business on it! Easily done when you turn yourself into a mass marketing engine. Take the time to craft a cover let that is bespoke for the business and the job your are applying for.

#2 Making it about you and not the business - yes you are looking to present yourself to this future employer, but that needs to be done in a way that shows you know about the business and can be an asset in the role. It also would help make you standout if you included something about yourself that shows why you want to work for them.

#3 Making it hard for the employer - hopefully the job advert has made it clear what they are looking for in the ideal candidate. Ok, I know that there are times when the advert appears to want a Marvel Superhero, but the core requirements should be there among the hyperbole. Don't make the employer have to hunt through your CV to see if you meet their needs, get some wording into the cover letter that shows that you know what they are and that you meet or exceed them. How do you do that? Well I have to hold something back, it's a blog that hopefully shows you I am worth having a session or two with.

Have you done your research?

“Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted” has been attributed to the German Field Marshal Edwin Rommel, the Duke of Wellington and the sixth-century Chinese strategist Sun Tzu. Now I am not sure that any of those three ever applied for a job, but the aphorism still applies. Getting a cover letter that clearly shows that you have no idea about the business is a quick way to have your application be filed in the bin. Alternatively if you cite something the business has done that excites you about the prospect of being part of the businesses makes you more attractive as a candidate.

Are you using the wait time productively?

Binge watching the latest Netflix series may feel attractive and that it will soothe the pain of rejection, but it will not look good on your cover letter or find pride of place in your CV. So here are some options:

• Volunteer for a charity in a role that has some crossover to the jobs you are applying for. An alternative is to approach businesses you know and see if they will give you some work experience.

• If you have the finances, find a course that will increase your skills.

• Perhaps least attractive is to take a job figuratively "flipping burgers" if you can get one. However, don't underestimate the challenge of getting a job that you are overqualified for as employers suspect that you won't stick around, and they would be right!

• The biggest step would be to decide to become a Sole Trader or start up your own business, but that is a whole different ball of wax and you definitely need to talk with me or another coach/business mentor if you are thinking of going that way.

One last thing to leave you with: how is your network? Many jobs are filled without being advertised and even those that are advertised may have a preferred candidate. The last 6 jobs I have filled were never advertised, in fact 3 of them were filled by volunteers. If you have a network use it, if you haven't got one or the one you have isn't yielding results, look for opportunites to attend events where you can network with people that are working in the sector where you are looking for work.

Are you looking after yourself?

Getting your next job can be draining on the emotions. Rejection is painful and hard not to take personally. So you need to remember to look after yourself. There are things that you can do at low/no cost which can help keep the stress and anxiety about your circumstances manageable. Just simply going for a walk, if you are physically able, can make a huge difference. Reach out to family and friends, and don't let pride stop you from taking advantage of everything that the government and society has to offer. Many find church a place of support and comfort - 'blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall be comforted'.

That was just a brief look at what you might do if you are finding that you aren't even getting an interview. There is a lot more that could have been written, but this is a blog!

If you are doing all the above then I definitely think it is time that we should talk.