So, make sure that your CV has a very good sprinkling of keywords related to the job description.

When applying on job boards for roles posted by recruitment agencies, there is a chance that it’s a bogus role i.e. no role exists and the motivation of the recruiter is just to get your details so they can add it to their database.

We know that sounds pretty sad but that is how it is unfortunately, so better you are aware than ignorant to the practice.

In both of these cases, the chances of you never hearing back from anyone are pretty high, which can be very soul destroying especially if you have applied for a lot of roles.

In such scenarios, it’s really important that you don’t let it get you down, as honestly, it’s not about you, it’s the system.

So how do you get it right?

Find a contact within the firm

Whenever possible, get your CV into the hands of someone in the company where you are applying.

We hear you saying “yeah but I don’t know anyone in the company”, but frankly that’s no excuse.

LinkedIn is your friend here.

Spend some time researching people in the company, and most probably you will be able to track down people in the specific team.

When you find them, just reach out and ask them to help you, no need to be shy.

You will be surprised how helpful people can be when they see you have applied some initiative and enthusiasm.

Work with a decent recuiter

Another option is to find a decent recruiter who can help you.

Easier said than done, but it is possible.

Find someone who is credible and really knows the industry in which you want to work, someone who is willing to give you some time and can help make some introductions for you.

Don’t deal with multiple recruiters, that’s the worst thing you can do.

Think of a good recruiter as your personal agent.

You don’t see sports people or actors having multiple agents so why should you be any different.

If you find a skilled recruiter and develop a good rapport with them, they can end up being a lifetime and extremely useful contact for you.

So, it’s worth the effort.

Think outside the box

Be creative

We’ve all seen or heard stories of a person standing outside a subway station with a billboard asking people for a job in whatever field interests them.

Doing that takes some serious guts and resilience. But we bet you those brave souls end up getting a job as someone always passes by who is seriously impressed by their ingenuity.

The perfect role is not going to find you – you need to find it, so start thinking outside the box and develop some creativity.

You may be surprised by where it gets you.

Be focused

One of the worst things you can do is not have a clear sense of purpose for what you are looking for and end up applying for roles all over the place.

FOCUS is your priority

The same applies for dealing with recruiters.

Don’t go talking to a bunch
of them, and worst still, send your CV to all of them, as you will lose control.

What happens in this case is you will get multiple recruiters sending your CV for the same role, which is a big NO NO as then you totally lose your brand credibility with the potential employer.

So many people fall into this trap. Don’t be one of those people.