Why Employers Are Ignoring You

Searching for a new health care job is difficult under the best of circumstances. You can feel as though you've done everything right. Spruced up a resume? Check. Customized cover letter? Check. You might have even bought a new suit. Still, you're not getting any interviews. Not even a sniff.

What gives?

There could be reasons - unbeknownst to you - that are turning off potential employers before getting to the interview process. We at Concorde want all of our graduates and former students to have the best possible chance at landing that health care job. Money & Career CheatSheet recently posted an article detailing "10 Reasons Why Employers Are Ignoring You."

Check out these things NOT to do and find out what you can do to score that interview and land that health care job.

10 reasons why employers are ignoring you for that health care job

The first five reasons:

1. Your cover letter is weak. A generic cover letter isn't going to wow a potential employer. Nor is one that's too long, has typos, or simply repeats the information on your resume. Make sure your customized introductory note explains why you're the right fit for this particular health care job.
2. Your resume looks sloppy. A lot of hiring managers might look at your resume before reading the cover letter. An effective resume needs to be visually and verbally compelling and not cluttered and/or confusing. Recruiters typically spend about three seconds on average first look.
3. You're not selling your past experience. You need to present yourself in the best possible light. While you never should lie, don't be afraid to tweak descriptions of past experience to highlight skills that will most help the employer.
4. Your keywords are all wrong. Applicant tracking systems will scan your resume for words the employer has decided are important. Often, these are the same words in the job ad or description. Use those words to describe your experience.
5. Your application materials have typos. Review any health care job application for typos before hitting send. Fifty-eight percent of HR professionals said they'll pass on candidates who make spelling errors or grammatical mistakes in their resume or cover letter.

The second five reasons:

6. You didn't follow directions. Every employer has its quirks. It's best to get to know those before filling out an application and then following them closely. Ignore an employer's instructions on how to apply, and chances are your resume will go straight to trash.
7. You're not networking. In today's job market, effective professional networking is critical to securing interviews. If you don't have an extensive professional network, leverage existing connections such as family, friends, professors and internship supervisors.
8. Your personal brand is weak. Sloppy social media profiles - or not having an online presence at all - could turn off potential employers. Create a strong personal brand that shows employers why you're a star they'd want to hire.
9. You didn't move fast enough. Thousands of people might reply to a single job post. Overwhelmed hiring managers might prioritize applications that come in first over the stragglers.
10. There is no good reason. Sometimes the reason employers are ignoring you is just bad luck. With thousands of applicants, sometimes good candidates get lost in the shuffle. So, keep your head up when searching for that coveted health care job. Sometimes, it doesn't have anything to do with you. But that one health care job hiring manager that is interested could be right around the corner.

THE INS AND OUTS OF HEALTH CARE CAREER FAIRS

Career fairs can be a great place to look when trying to get started in your health care career. You know the companies present are looking to hire or, at the very least, spread the word about themselves.

There are steps anyone seeking a health care career can take to enhance their profile at a career fair, and we want our Concorde graduates and students to be fully prepared. In talking with a few of our Graduate Employment Specialists, we learned the ins and outs of career fairs.

Lets, read and learn what they had to share:

Making a Good Impression

Danielle Van der Knaap, Graduate Employment Specialist at Concordes campus in San Antonio, Texas, said it's important to remember, when attending a career fair, first impressions are everything.

"Be prepared in making sure you brought enough copies of your portfolio," she said. "Cover letter, resume, references, and copies of certifications."
"Also, make sure that you are dressed in professional attire. Scrubs will be sufficient, but absolutely no jeans."

Standing Out Among the Masses

Van der Knaap said you need to keep in mind that you are in competition with a lot of other applicants this day, so you need to ensure that you are being direct and standing out.
"Make sure you don't just walk up to the table and take their information," she said, "but introduce yourself and provide a firm handshake. Ask a few questions, see what positions they have available and engage yourself. Make sure you make eye contact and are not wandering around."

"Before you finish the conversation, ask for a business card. That way, when you apply, you can use them as a point in contact on the application, and you can also follow up. Then, onto the next table."

Sandra Williams, Graduate Employment Specialist at Concordes campus in Memphis, Tenn., said it's easy to become "cookie-cutter" in your approach. She encourages being creative in presenting yourself. One way to do this, she said, is to offer to do volunteer work, job shadowing or some kind of internship/externship.

"I know the idea is to seek employment, but until they actually call or schedule you for an interview, one should be prepared to give some community time to that organization," she said. "If you are willing to come and work or shadow for self-aspiration, then chances are you will impress employers."

Remember, Concorde has a full-service Graduate Employment Services department waiting and willing to help you with searching for that coveted health care job. Perhaps they've had some tips not listed here and put you on the path toward a rewarding career in health care.