We all know how important it is for job applicants to tailor their CV or online application to the specific sales job, rather than send generic details about themselves. But increasingly – as more and more people apply for each advertised vacancy – those who apply for sales jobs they are fully qualified for, are finding that even this isn’t working in their favour.
One frustrated jobseeker complained recently in an online careers forum that 16 job applications in the space of two months had got her exactly nowhere – no invites to job interviews had been forthcoming: “Every application I submit includes a specifically tailored CV or application form. I very carefully stick to the requirements of the job description and highlight successes to demonstrate my abilities and experience. But I’ve yet to be offered an interview.”
Not getting to the interview stage – when all that effort has been put into an application – can be soul destroying. So what should be done, to increase your chances of getting invited to an interview?
Why is this happening?
The most likely reason for this lack of interviews, particularly in the sales and marketing sector is that a string of unsuccessful applications is not a sign of failure, merely the norm in the current job market. Independent careers advisor Martin Edwards says: “There is incredible competition for jobs in media, sales and marketing. Every job advert in these sectors will attract huge numbers of well-qualified applicants and it’s actually incredibly difficult to stand out from the crowd. The reality is that you have to apply to a great many jobs to stand a chance of progress.”
He suggests in the first instance – if you are sure you’ve tailored the application, explained achievements and used the language of the sales job advert – to carry on as you were, assuming it will take a long time to land the right job. “Hold your nerve, and don’t try any drastically different application techniques which might ruin your chances,” says Edwards. “You’re probably not doing anything ‘wrong’. It’s could just be a slow process.”
Tiny errors could be your downfall
Another explanation for not making it into the interview pile by selectors, could be that there are minor mistakes in your application that are letting you down. A spelling error, bad grammar and punctuation, a slightly untidy layout could all be giving HR staff a good enough reason to reject your application. Remember they have hundreds of applications to plough through – those not up to scratch will quickly be put aside, so don’t give them the slightest reason to do so. Classic mistakes include misspelling the company name and address, getting the job title slightly wrong, sloppy punctuation. Ask someone at home to proof-read for you before hitting the send button!
Is your Facebook profile working against you?
Remember that your application is not the only thing a sales employer can look at to find out what kind of person you are. Your LinkedIn page and your Facebook profile might also be scrutinized, so make sure everything on there will show you in a positive, employable light! Having appropriate endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn can be particularly helpful to your cause.
Do you sound over-qualified?
There is an outside chance you are deemed over-qualified for the roles you are applying for. It’s natural to want to make the most of your qualifications and experience but have you overdone it, and made yourself sound difficult to work with, too advanced for the role in question? Before you send your application, read it through to check what tone comes across. Would the individual reading it think you sounded boastful, too confident, over-bearing, rather daunting? Chose a select few examples of your sales career achievements and you don’t need to go into too much detail – you can always expand on these when you are in the interview, after all.
Other ways to approach employers
Another piece of advice is to make strategic use of your contacts as well as send out job applications. You might be wiser to contact old colleagues to tell them you’re on the lookout for a new opportunity, than spending days hammering out applications to companies you know little about. ‘Putting out the feelers’ might have a higher hit rate than the applications route –doing both would certainly make sense.
Finally, make yourself available to employers by uploading your CV to jobs boards such as www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk. You can’t tailor specifically for every firm this way, but you can certainly get noticed and increase your chances of being considered by employers who have genuine vacancies to fill.
Browse our sales jobs today on Simply Sales Jobs
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