I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and still can’t get a start.....the brutal facts

We hear this complaint regularly from job seekers.  The job search process can be a time consuming, often frustrating and at times, soul destroying process, particularly for those seeking a start in the industry. 

Let us share the common mistakes we still see people making:

• Applying to everything and anything.  For example, if you are a tradesperson who has never worked in the sector before and may have a trade that is not entirely industry-specific, eg domestic plumbing or pipe drainer, it is not appropriate that you apply for roles such as ‘Mining Engineer’ or ‘Community Relations Advisor’.  We still see this happening. 
• If you continue to apply to roles that are completely non-related to your experience and qualifications – and with the same companies – your application history is listed every time the recruiter logs into their applicant database.  The assumptions they quickly make are a) you have absolutely no idea what you want to do, b) you’ve applied for jobs so varied in their experience and qualification requirements that there is no possible way you have them to cover every role you’ve applied for and c) you actually have absolutely no idea what the roles you have applied for require.  This places a significant seed of doubt in the mind of the recruiter – and may mean that your subsequent applications are not even opened for the above reasons.....you can be seen as a ‘time waster’.
• If you are applying for an entry level opportunity, eg Operator in Western Australia but you live in Sydney, your chances just diminished significantly.  Even if you do have some level of experience, you are competing against others who live locally and can be more immediately accessed by both the recruiter and the company wanting a quick start.
• Willing to do anything?  Don’t say it!  You may be willing – and this is a great quality – but it does nothing to assist the recruiter.  It’s not the recruiter’s job to work out your ideal first or next career move – it is yours.  Be clear about what you are seeking, build a resume that reflects this and target the right jobs for application.
• Tailor your resume.  Your resume is actually more about the recruiter, not YOU.  This means you need to accept that your resume may only be viewed for 30 or so seconds and if you don’t cut to the chase quickly, you’ll be overlooked.  In other words, no fluff and no stuff in the resume that does not align with the requirements of the role.  If you are trying to break into the industry, you need to identify the transferable skills and market these in line with industry requirements.  This can take a bit of time, research and effort, but will pay off in the end.
• DO NOT ring a recruitment agency or company recruiter and ask ‘how do I get a job in mining?’  There is no one easy answer and is dependent on so many factors.  You need to research the types of roles available (see our Inside Guide: http://www.theresourcechannel.com.au/the-inside-guide) and determine how your previous experience and skills align.  You need to be able to articulate this to a company or recruiter.  Also note that recruitment agencies typically do not hire those with no experience - a company will not engage a recruitment agency to hire for those with no experience, they will do this themselves. 

Some Operator/Driving level roles can attract upwards of 300 applications.  This is your level of competition.  Often the vast majority of applicants do not have industry experience, but may have related experience in like-type roles or sectors, like construction.  It then pays to spend extra time and care on your resume to sell your transferrable skills.  One size often does not fit all. 

And please remember, truck driving is NOT the only entry-level type role; we still see the majority of those seeking a start, target this very role, significantly increasing the competition.