Why Employer's Will Not Hire You

[Resume Writer]

Hi Everyone,

Here is a short list of what some employer's have said why they will not hire candidates. These may not all apply to aviation, but thought it might be some good information.

Kathy

Reasons Why The Employer Will Not Offer You The Job

1. Poor attitude. Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot.

2. Appearance. Many candidates do not consider their appearance as much as they should. First impressions are quickly made in the first three to five minutes.


3. Lack of research. It's obvious when candidates haven't learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Visit the library or use the internet to research the company, then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before each meeting.

4. Not having questions to ask. Asking questions shows your interest in the company and the position. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance.

5. Not readily knowing the answers to interviewer's questions. Anticipate and rehearse answers to tough questions about your background, such as a recent termination or an employment gap. Practicing with your spouse or a friend before the interview will help you to frame intelligent responses.

6. Too much humility. Being conditioned not to brag, candidates are sometime reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reach difficult or impressive goals helps employers understand what you can do for them.

7. Not relating skills to the employer's needs. A list of startling accomplishments mean little if you can't relate them to a company's requirements. Reiterate your skills, convince the employers and make them understand what you can do for them.

8. Handling salary issues ineptly. Candidates often ask about salary and benefits too early. If they believe an employer is interested, they may demand inappropriate amounts and price themselves out of the jobs. Candidates who ask for too little undervalue themselves or appear desperate.

9. Lack of career direction. Job hunters who aren't clear about their career goals can't spot or commit to appropriate opportunities. Not knowing what you want wastes everyone's time.

10. Job shopping. Some applicants, particularly those in certain high-tech, sales and marketing fields, will admit they're just "shopping" for opportunities and have little intention of changing jobs. This wastes time and leaves a bad impression with employers they may need to contact in the future

 

[chperplt]

Don't forget #11.... The dreaded Zachary disease.

 

[mmmdonut]

I think it's because I'm black..

 

[minitour]

"It's because I'm a Panda, isn't it?"
-Sexual Harassment Panda

 

[KPTPK]

Why is it that when you send out a resume to an employer you dont hear back form 95% of them. At least they can send you an email saying no. How hard is that???

 

[Vik]

I put out an ad not too long ago for software programmers.

I received 675 emails with resumes, and received 3,000 via snail mail.

If I want to hire any of them, they will hear from me and I will make an effort to contact them. The rest can assume that I'm not interested.

It would probably take my secretary 12-14 hours to copy and paste all the email addresses, and then spend another 3-4 days typing all the email addresses from the mailed in resumes into the computer.

I basically don't contact people that I don't want to hire. Why should I spend my money to tell people not qualified for the job that I have rejected their application? My silence should be enough.

Of course, I can understand that not hearing back causes anxiety, but trust me, if I want to hire someone, even if their telephone gets disconnected, I'll make every effort to get in touch with them before giving up.

Now of course, those that email us get an auto-response that we've received their email, so at least they know we have it. To the snail mailers, its too much work and expense.

Why is it that when you send out a resume to an employer you dont hear back form 95% of them. At least they can send you an email saying no. How hard is that???

 

[Uncle Sparky]

Thanks for taking the time Kathy. Interesting and valuable info.

 

[FN FAL]

3. Lack of research. It's obvious when candidates haven't learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Visit the library or use the internet to research the company, then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before each meeting.

I got lucky on this one once. I was interviewing for a labor position at the James River paper plant in Green Bay, where they make "Brawny" and "Northern" brand bathroom tissue. This was one of those 35K a year to start(1980's) semi-skilled manufacturing jobs, that job service had 7,000 applicants on file for.

I'm at the interview and one of the interviewers asks me if I know the history behind the James River name...being from Richmond Virginia, that answer was easy. The James River runs through Richmond. You should have seen the mouths drop. Most of the locals that worked there as hourly employees called their employer "James Rivers"...used to drive me freaking nuts.

 

[Daveman]

Thanks for taking the time Kathy. Interesting and valuable info.

My thoughts as well, thanks!
Edit: God knows I need the help!

 

[Goose Egg]

1. Poor attitude. Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot.

Hmm. Does anyone around here resemble that remark?

-Goose

 

[Resume Writer]

I put out an ad not too long ago for software programmers.

I received 675 emails with resumes, and received 3,000 via snail mail.

If I want to hire any of them, they will hear from me and I will make an effort to contact them. The rest can assume that I'm not interested.
.

Vik is dead on with what he/she has written. I covered this a few months ago about employers not having the manpower to send out rejection letters to those not qualified.

I am sure that Vik can also tell you that many of the resume received were not even QUALIFIED for the position that was posted. These are the people that feel it they throw enough "food" at the wall, eventually something will stick.

Tell me Vik, how many people did you select for an initial telephone screen? (if you did one) My guess would be about 15-20. From that did you narrow it down to 5-10 for a face-to-face? From there was it about 2-3 for a final interview? I am just curious if my numbers are still pretty accurate.

Vik, I also would like to know, along with everyone else I am sure, what made you select the people that you did? Was it a combination of things, i.e., resume, qualifications, cover letter, certifications, etc?

NOW, if you want to stand out with the "Viks" of the world, you send a follow-up email about 1 week after and reiterate your interest in the position saying that you really want to work for them. You may not have been in the initial pull, but most times, that will at least get you a phone screen.

This does not always work, but, an employer likes to see initiative. If you do not get a response within a week, you need to go on to the next job. (You should try not to put all your eggs in one basket)

Thanks Vik for providing a hiring perspective on this post!

Kathy

 

[Resume Writer]

Your welcome Uncle Sparky and Daveman. Whenever I see things that can help everyone on here, I will post them!

Kathy

 

[Heyya]

I think it's because I'm black..

It might also be the horn growing out of your head…



Great post Kathy, Thanks.

 

[Styles]

I think it's because I'm black..

"CoughBullSh%&*Cough"

or if that was sarcastic "CoughBullSh%*Cough"

 

[rumpletumbler]

How do you get past the stupidity of the interviewer? I'm fairly transparent and its hard not to look at someone like they are an idiot or laugh when they ask those ridiculous questions.

 

[pilotyip]

Response is a two way street

Why is it that when you send out a resume to an employer you dont hear back form 95% of them. At least they can send you an email saying no. How hard is that???
The comment about companies not informing pilot candidates that they will not be interviewed has an opposite side. Pilots who fail to show up for their interviews and never let their prospective employer know they are not coming. This does probably not happen at the upper end of the hiring scale, but I have sure seen it with our small operation. It is a fair amount of work to set up an interview, letters, hotel reservations, co-ordination with HR for interviewers, simulator scheduling, cab vouchers, and phone calls. It is most likely a good thing these pilots did not interview, because anyone with that casual of an attitude about a personal obligation would probably be a problem employee. Of course not all do this more than half will call and give a good reason for not coming, another job, family problem, etc.

 

[PaulThomas]

I've screened a fair amount of resume.
I look at your last position, how long you stayed there and maybe a little about your education. If I like what I see, then I'll actually read it.

Follow up letter? I works if only a handful of resume are there, otherwise, they go directly to the trash. The task of finding that resume again and what not it too much. However, if when I read your resume you stated that you'd follow up, you will not get a call until I get a follow up.

 

[Smitty]

I have heard this reason before from one or more people why they have not been hired by a major.............

"Because I am a foreigner with a green card and work for a foreign airline."

I sure hope this is not true, as being the American, I tell them it is not and to not give up, but when I know some of their hours, I do wonder a bit.
I do know they won't get on at FedEx, however.

 

[Resume Writer]

How do you get past the stupidity of the interviewer? I'm fairly transparent and its hard not to look at someone like they are an idiot or laugh when they ask those ridiculous questions.

Give examples of the kind of questions you are talking about.

When a person interviews, they need to have on their best "game face" and be very cautious of their body language.

For instance, I heard from a police detective once that if someone asks you a question and you cross your leg "away" from them, you are not telling the truth. Now, I do not know how accurate that is, but it is a "body language interpretation" his police force uses.

 

[Resume Writer]

I have heard this reason before from one or more people why they have not been hired by a major.............

"Because I am a foreigner with a green card and work for a foreign airline."

I sure hope this is not true, as being the American, I tell them it is not and to not give up, but when I know some of their hours, I do wonder a bit.
I do know they won't get on at FedEx, however.

My question back to you Smitty are these:

1. Are they putting that straight on their resume, i.e., Green Card?
2. Are they using a foreign address when they apply?

Now, if they are applying at a carrier that uses an online application, there is not much they can do about that if asked if they have the legal right to work in the U.S., followed by the "status" questions.

I would suggest these folks get a U.S. address, even if it is a friend.

The problem is that there are so many pilots that are U.S. citizens that are furloughed. The carriers may want to try to hire them first. I believe there is quite the paperwork and followup that needs to be done by hiring someone with a green card. This is just a guess on my part, as I have not been in a hiring capacity in the last few years.

 

[Resume Writer]

I've screened a fair amount of resume.
I look at your last position, how long you stayed there and maybe a little about your education. If I like what I see, then I'll actually read it.

Follow up letter? I works if only a handful of resume are there, otherwise, they go directly to the trash. The task of finding that resume again and what not it too much. However, if when I read your resume you stated that you'd follow up, you will not get a call until I get a follow up.

Paul,

I am surprised that you only look at the last position. When I hired people for six years, I scanned their dates of employment first at ALL positions. I find myself doing this now when I conduct a consultation with my clients. I will honestly tell someone if their dates of employment are going to hurt them. I will get creative and combine positions and bridge the dates if they are the same types of positions.

Now, with pilots, I look at the dates, and look to see if when they moved to another company, they started flying bigger or more advanced equipment. If not, I have some serious doubts in my mind.

Example would be this: If someone is a flight instructor, and they have been at three flight schools, flying the same equipment in the last year, then a question immediately pops into my mind - what's wrong with this scenario?? Can they not work well with others?

Now, there could be a logical explanation. Either: A) they moved, B) the school may have shut down, or C) there was not enough work at any of them to feed their family.

This is when I combine the dates and employers and make it one length of time as a flight instructor.

Most pilots have very short spans of employment, so it is not always a problem. I am using the above scenario as an example of an extreme.

I was most interested in your "I will follow up with you" placed in the cover letter example. I do not put that in any of my cover letters, unless they are sales people. The reason is that sales people "better" follow up or an employer will usually not even consider them.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Give examples of the kind of questions you are talking about.

How much did you make at your last job?

What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?

What is your favorite television show?

Give me an example of a problem and tell me how you fixed it.

Can you guarantee that you will be on time for the next 30 days?

Just a few........

 

[PaulThomas]

Kathy,

It all depends on what position you're hiring for. When I look for a manager and your last job was being a waiter for 8 years, you're not going to make it.

You may have been the person with the most qualification, but I'll have to wonder why you were a waiter for 8 years?
You could be fresh out of school, not fit for the position... I need someone that can be interviewed and get to work right away.

Here are the main reason people have not been hired:
-Not qualified, lack of experience
-Presentation (clothe, hair, being late, bringing a pet or kid...)
-Lies, I'd rather hire someone who tell me they lack experience than someone who says they know this and that and don't. It's really easy to tell
-No show (believe it or not this is popular, I love it when I receive their resume again)
-Personality (it happens, but not often)

When your interviewing, most of the time the job is already yours. Don't screw it up.

Always bring a notebook and a pen. You can have some questions already writting out, you look more professional. It's also a good ressource during the interview.

 

[Smitty]

resume writer:

Yes, they do use an American address, but when you see workplace, it is clear it is a foreign airline.
I don't believe they have actually ever been asked if they were American, but asked if they have the right to work or travel freely and of course they can, so this would not give any clues.

However, they all agree that they will most likely never be called due to the fact that there are so many Americans on furlough.
I, instead, don't think this is right unless the majors were only hiring people on furlough and I don't believe this is the case from what I see here.
I do believe however, the airlines don't want to do the extra paper work they would have to do to hire these people. I have heard from some guys that got on with some regionals that it takes a while for the TSA to come back with their checks. This is probably the real reason the majors don't want to be bothered.

In any case, the only thing I have been able to tell them is to network, network, but I don't know how to tell them to do it as being overseas they don't run into any Americans willing to come to dinner or go have a beer with.
Usually all are on layovers and don't have the time.
I have tried over and over to help one of my best friends over in Italy to meet up with someone, but with no luck.
All the pilots stay so busy.

 

[Smitty]

oh geez, there is my point, just saw in the majors forum the post about..

UPS new class breakdown.

go look where they came from, not all furloughs, so I guess these guys are right about being foreign.

 

[flyifrvfr]

I was asked to include a picture of myself with the resume. Imagine my disappointment when I wasn't called for the job. I would say that I must be ugly!!!

 

[bafanguy]

flyi,


Well, I have the opposite problem: I can't get hired because they're afraid I'll be mistaken for Brad Pitt and large, unruly crowds will form around me trying to touch the hem of my garments.

 

[Resume Writer]

flyi,


Well, I have the opposite problem: I can't get hired because they're afraid I'll be mistaken for Brad Pitt and large, unruly crowds will form around me trying to touch the hem of my garments.

I know that was my initial reaction, but Dreamdate keeps all of us at bay!

Kathy

 

[blingair]

Resume Writer,
thanks for the sage advice. You only get a few moments to rise to the top in a interview and having your tools sharp is the key to getting the job. You've done right by everyone here with your posts- gracias.

 

[bafanguy]

I know that was my initial reaction, but Dreamdate keeps all of us at bay!

Kathy

How True !!!