Why your Job Applications are getting ignored. | Jean-Michel Gauthier | TEDxBITSPilaniDubai

Too familiar with sending resumes and getting no response? Check this video out to see why your job applications are getting ignored and what you can do about it.
Revolutionising job opportunities across the UAE, our next speaker is Jean-Michel Gauthier, the CEO of InternsME.com. He founded his first startup in 2007 and is definitely the only pharmacist ever to successfully launch the world’s fastest PC in the UAE. Jean also manages Eternal Venture’s fund which has made 3 portfolio investments within its first year of operation.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@AuthorJanaeMarie]

They want you to have 10 years experience for an entry level job.

[@presidentevil9951]

They want you to have 45 years of experience and be 16 years old to work at Mcdonalds

[@richgentry5918]

I agree!!!

[@jaycool9480]

No, when they mean experience, It could be experience like either volunteering with your school and internships. That's real world experience. Employers just look at degrees as a piece of paper that says you graduated from college. But what have you been doing in your major that makes me want to hire you? But else saying that means they want to hire somebody on the cheap. But you gotta get yourself out there as well. Go to events, panels, networking events. Etc. not what you know it's who you know.

[@presidentevil9951]

"It could be experience like either volunteering with your school and internships." It is too late since I already got my master's degree 10 years ago. I could not get internships since they told I was overqualified but other places want "work" experience.

[@jaycool9480]

presidentevil overqualified aka too expensive. Looks like you have to network more then. Not what you know but who you know. Cuz no HR recruiter is going to go through 500-1000 applicants for a single position they'll maybe look at the top 10 people in that group which is less than 1%. But for fresh grads, they need to get experience outside the classroom that makes their resume stand out as well.

[@SunnyHomeVideos]

The dating scene and jobs are very similar. The players who can talk and network with not much talent get the best jobs and the guys with genuine talent but no game get the crumbs.

[@gerrald5272]

But you need a job. You do not need a date.

[@clarkkent4565]

True that

[@irfan87548754]

🤣🤣👍👍

[@RajdeepDas2302]

Too real man. Bro Fist.

[@James-mk7pv]

YESS,YESS BRO EXactly

[@KarlHao]

I can save you 12 minutes of your life and tell you that he recommends creating video CVs/Cover Letters. You're welcome.

[@petelee2477]

The 4 minute story was completely unnecessary. It could have been summed up in less than 20 seconds as "I found out the email address of a hiring manager and sent them a message that claimed the president of the company recommended me. Initially they believed the story but unfortunately I still did not get hired"

[@elizabethnygard4644]

Thanks

[@vishnureddys4801]

Thanks so much.

[@justusalmondwilliams9102]

Karl Hao appreciate that.

[@oramahura7238]

I was wondering where this was going.. Thanks

[@incubus_the_man]

I think he's got a good point but he never really acknowledged that many companies just hire candidates that were referred to them as opposed to reading resumes.

[@Left.Lane.Loiterer]

That's kind of his entire point. Find a way to refer yourself. Do your research and find the HR manager/ hiring manager. Contact them through LinkedIn or reference them by name on your cover letter. If you don't differentiate yourself by working harder than everyone else in the pile why should they acknowledge you over personnel they have personal endorsements for?

[@incubus_the_man]

I've done that too... A lot of companies make it hard or even impossible to find anyone and I know that some managers don't want to be pestered by job seekers.

[@Left.Lane.Loiterer]

Usually if you call their front desk at the location you're applying and tell them you need the name of their HR rep/ hiring manager and stress that it's solely to correctly address your cover letter, they tend to be pretty compliant with that. I've only ran into one instance where they said no so i just called the next day and got someone different on the phone and they gave me the name. People tend to wanna be helpful because everyone knows how crappy it is to be immersed in the job search and they'd rather work next to a polite sounding dedicated person they are talking to on the phone than the plethora of garbage applicants in the resume stack.

[@Bobby.B619]

many? more like most

[@haza123b4]

@@Left.Lane.Loiterer *They just say "address to the hiring manager" without name.*

[@jessstuart7495]

Increase your chances of getting an interview by 150%. Goes from 0.1% to 0.25%.

[@FuegoNegro463]

My mother always told me "Its not what you know Its who you know."

[@nikkifrancis8566]

Damon Figures and the older I got the more I realize it to be true!

[@blacklyfe5543]

That's why college doesn't guarantee u a job

[@lonnellwashere]

It's not who you know, it's who knows you.

[@skj9163]

Yep witnessed that first hand. Person was totally incompetent for the position, failed to produce any results for nearly half a year in an organization that needed weekly results, got rid of all direct reports who actually knew what was going on and their first "success" was on the back of another. Why? They hobnobbed with the VP.

[@DobBylan_]

ok so your mom is good a repeating sayings, nice

[@yp5387]

Whenever I apply for job I always get responses “Unfortunately ” 😂

[@classicartfoundation639]

Unfortunately we cannot offer you this job as it didn't even exist in the first place because the post was already filled. We just have to advertise because of legality

[@hilmabxb1442]

hallo, i'm indonesian. I can't hear his speaking accent well. Could you tell me what his occupation and what his responsibilty in company?

[@caronfernandes4625]

Mostly I get no response 😂

[@CaptainTrips]

Yepp, it's seems kinda condescending when they do that tbh. It would be much more straight forward and less pitiful if they skipped that word. We should all be honest witch each other, right?

[@Byeleavemealone2]

Right

[@OCDTraci]

Wow, I got absolutely nothing out of this TED talk

[@kabukisyneri296]

If I wrote honestly about myself in resume, I would never get a job anywhere, and die poor on the street. Thank you, but no thanks. I rather avoid 'negative' stuff.

[@greeeneyes91]

Companies expect the ultimate application and then you hear about these methods that are used there. I spent hours on my applications and all I get (if i get something) is an automated e-mail. My highlight was when my name was misspelled. So I am working half a day on the application, and the recruiter doesn't even have 2 seconds to check how to spell my name properly. Great system, really great.

[@skj9163]

"My highlight was when my name was misspelled." Bust out laughing at that, and I'm betting it was one of those detail oriented jobs too. Hope you're doing well and thanks for the laugh. :)

[@greeeneyes91]

@@skj9163 haha sure, at least something good out of that experience :D I was so frustrated at the time that I wrote back and complained that they should at least have the decency to write the applicants' names correctly and actually got an apology from the company :)

[@thomasy.1696]

A few takeaways that I want to quickly share: 1)It's not about what you know, but who you know. 2)Sometimes qualification may NOT matter as much as you thought. Timing, luck, network and interviews are the other few factors that affect your chances. 3)Cover letter should be tailored and customized for each company, not conventionally one fits all.

[@Olivia-W]

Know people, know people, know people. Not exactly network, but make _friends._ Aquaintances won't help you, but _friends_ will probably give a hand. Know. People.

[@jet5995]

How you doing btw its been 4 mf yrs is it the same?

[@MrMartellSincere]

I don't know people and people here where I'm at aren't open nor keen to than who are different and stand out

[@Olivia-W]

@@jet5995 Hey. Bit late to answer, but yup. Most of my best offers come from people I develop a good rapport with.

[@Olivia-W]

@@MrMartellSincere Observe, learn, and branch out to other places you fit in better. The first one- watch and emulate. How people speak. Look. Interact. Their mannerisms and values. Integrate into it. The second one- I'd be a terrible sales person, but I'm not too bad as a chemist and hobbyist computer repair person.

[@joenapoli8959]

The majority of job postings are absolutely ridiculous and exaggerated, I think that recruiting agencies should start to get realistic and not exaggerate the requirements of a job. A good example is a job posting I responded to required excellent communications skills, when I located who the organisation was I called them and I could not understand a word the person was saying. This particular organisation advertised they are an equal opportunity employer no doubt they don’t employ on merit. Organisations and recruitment agencies should stop wasting peoples time that are genuinely looking for employment and that are going through tough times.

[@lordblazer]

recently saw a job posting that wanted a Tableau Developer with 14 years of experience using Tableau.. The software has only been around for 9 years.. And honestly only 5 years since 1.0 launched (meaning since it left Beta)... Essentially, they're not filling that role. They may want to fill that role, but are scratching their heads as to why they can't find anyone.. Trust that it actually hurts employers more than it hurts job seekers that roles aren't being filled.

[@lisaco563]

most job adverts are fake news

[@savvyrobinson]

My mother always tell me, “It only takes one yes.” That has been my mentality ever since.

[@piyushverma745]

I do get a response, but an auto-response 😅

[@saqibmuneer3577]

Piyush Verma hhhhhhh

[@oldgit4260]

Ugh, the dreaded auto- response, I'd rather be ignored...

[@vivianeb90]

Sometimes I find totally ridiculous job descriptions that sound super fancy and then I read in between the lines and see "oh, it's a do it all job where you get blamed for everything" or they just want a janitor. It's ridiculous how normal jobs get fancy terminology to sound elevated and of course for this elevated job you'll need lots of experience. Guys, just apply. Even if you don't have all the experience. You might as well be the best candidate they can get or just get rejected and what's so terrible about that? Just try somewhere else.

[@nikkifrancis8566]

Viv Wallace RIGHT?!?? Ahahahaaaa same sentiments exactly!

[@johnr3696]

Recruiters are not experts they are stupid and complain about how busy they are. I've followed all the "tricks of the trade" my university taught me, and no recruiter is the same. Some are so blind they should never be on the team. None I've met honestly cares about culture or all that catchy stuff. They are so dumb they have no idea what they are doing. Honestly, the whole "experience" thing is discrimination. Everyone tells applicants what they "need to change" but the truth is the system needs changed.

[@GoogleAccount00]

John R facts, just idiots

[@antoniomartin5417]

HELLO

[@DJKhal21]

Yes, most recruiters are useless. They submit you for contract jobs and you never hear from them again.

[@SOLO-ed6tm]

@John R : My bro-in-law is a Director of HR, and it is not a demanding job. I agree with you, fully. It is filled with, mostly, of what I see as the lowest common denominator of "personalities". They seem to lack discernment and perception; mostly from their lack of experience, but also because those who choose this field, generally, don't want to work hard, much like teachers, models and actors.

[@vanessasophia6019]

I honestly wonder how some recruiters .... 1) got their job 2) how are they still there?

[@Miamiflow885]

they want a 26 year old with 30 years experience

[@irmakalember9403]

True I hear u

[@tashawilliams8093]

Right.

[@Strider9655]

I'm 40+ and can't get a job because I have too much experience. It's either assumed that i'm going to leave quickly OR the hiring manager sees me as a threat.

[@irmakalember9403]

@@Strider9655 u totally understand. It all sucks.

[@thomasy.1696]

Speed it up by 1.5x and you're welcome

[@drjonte101]

Thanks!!!

[@MC-ql4er]

When you dont have patience 😂 thanks man.

[@CXHXIXNO528]

LOL

[@rekemisrael4775]

Your a g.o.a.t lol

[@urwrstntmre]

Good stuff, but a lot of recruiters couldn't recognize talent if it slapped them in the face. Nepotism is how most jobs are filled

[@aoeu256]

Want to chat later dude?

[@tercial]

It makes me desire to become a recruiter to show them how it's done

[@irmakalember9403]

I been applying for jobs for 1.5 yes’s since I graduated and I didn’t find or ma get anywhere. I am feeling down depressed and lost. No one wants to give an opportunity. They all need employers but can give an opportunity. It’s so ridiculous in the States

[@worldwidehappiness]

For a low level job, personnel agencies want candidates that make them look good. That's why they say, "Vibrant, sparkly, go-getter with a can do attitude and stellar people skills who thrives on hard work in a fast paced environment," etc. It doesn't matter if you are qualified or not. Just look good, jump into the work at hand, and get on well with everyone. If that's clear in your letter and resume, then you'll get a job quickly.

[@AuthorJanaeMarie]

Sometimes I wish I was another race (you know which one) it'd be so much easier for me to get a job. I'm soon going to have 2 college degrees. And I still have a hard time finding a job. I quit.

[@presidentevil9951]

getting college degrees MIGHT make it worse. I've been rejected by a few jobs because I had a masters degreee and countless others because they want more experience

[@blacklyfe5543]

Why tf would you wanna be another race for

[@SuperTurtlebee]

@@presidentevil9951 damn, i am about to take my masters and currently am unemployed. I thought it would help me

[@lisaschuster9305]

Quit what? You're making me nervous.

[@8270361507]

Don't forget the gender too, that counts as well.

[@Azriel261]

Little to no experience, you do not get the contract. To much experience, you do not get the contract and may have to explore other options.

[@tyronegreen1961]

It's not what you know it's who you know and what you can do for them qui pro quo and all of that💯

[@luthrayatin]

Wonderfully explained and I truly agree, I receive responses for each personalized cover letter.

[@MartellThaCool]

I hate online applications and they need to be banned

[@CHRISTChrysalisInManhaim]

gooker I've gotten maybe 1-2 online, but I agree... the old fashioned face to face is more effective, and shows initative, but I would suggest making sure they're actually positions open because many jobs refer you back to the online application otherwise. At least with that initial "visit" you are showing drive, to employers actually seeking to hire

[@christinabonnell7953]

Martell Tha Cool i agreed i live in kansas and i have no idea how to apply n3ver called me are anything how do u make a resume do i add my face on the resume confusing lol

[@carinaoliveira5850]

I agree, but unfortunately, I feel the times have changed, where you can't just walk into the HQ and ask to see a hiring manager. They don't always have the time or the patience. I had done this for a position I was more than qualified to handle, and the HR manager commended me for showing up and rising to the occasion, but at the end of the day, they went with someone who was already working internally. It's just who you know...

[@oldgit4260]

Totally agree

[@robertkemp185]

Couldn't agree more!

[@josephroseelan8927]

Sometimes we do the best for everythings, but the very best thing they give us is "Unfortunately" with an auto response mail.

[@katwarrington9183]

This was an excellent TED Talk thank you for sharing this with us! I am currently in the process of applying for a new job role and I am glad I stumbled across this video before I sent my application in.

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Personalised cover letters are usually NOT scanned by the ATS so are not as valuable as keyword match in the first instance. If you get through that, then try the cover letter. The cover letter is for the hiring manager and not the recruiter. You have to get through the recruiter scan and reject process first.

[@skripkaable]

Very informative! I also appreciate that you take the time to respond to comments.

[@DarthVadent2]

Here's why your resumes are being ignored, it's because you aren't embellishing them enough. Unfortunately, when you're in the position of having no experience or limited experience, exaggerating your skills and expertise in order to appear more marketable is necessary. It works for me, recruiters contact me every single day and I have interviews scheduled regularly. In fact, I was hired for a one year contract because of this. Now you don't want to assert outright falsehoods about a skill you possess, but you want to lie about something you may have done once or twice while on the job. Even if you aren't that familiar with it.

[@Olivia-W]

DarthVadent Yeah. My glorified coffie making and copying job was reframed as "administrative assistant." Doing mission critical stuff, obviously. Well, the boss without his coffie was super-cranky, so I guess it was?

[@AS-fn3qk]

Olivia esddms 😄😂

[@Nereus00]

and when they ask u to actually do it what are u gonna answer mr communism? ahahah telll meee all your secretsss, is that how you got power in russia and china? ahah embellishing your principles? ahah

[@kkylie15]

DarthVadent ń

[@jaycool9480]

DarthVadent unfortunately at the big companies where everybody wants to work at, it's not what you know it's who you know. You think HR wants to sift through 500-1000 applicants for a position? NO. They'll most likely look at the top 1% of those even less than 1% after the ATS puts them in a ranking and maybe the top 15 candidates get a look. But ultimately it goes to the person who reached out directly through a cold email. Or a referral from a guy who knows a guy. Or from within. All people need to do is have an In. Once you have an in at a company a whole world of opportunities come at you. Go to networking events, panels, etc. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

[@SelfMadeMillennial]

Very true, personalized cover letters make a world of difference (at smaller companies). Great insight.

[@PriestessHephzibah]

Interesting.... i see this catching on in the near future, we just need progressively minded HR personnel

[@zachary007]

Good cover letters take time to create. What are the chances the hiring manager will read it? Honestly, if a job asks me for a cover letter, I move on to another. I can spend my whole day writing a perfect cover letter for one job, or quick apply to 500 other jobs that aren't asking for one. With one click apply options, you could send out a thousand applications in a single day, if you skip the cover letter.

[@newtonocharimenyenya2458]

A very Great Piece. Thanks so much.

[@dapursukabeda]

Thank you so much for.sharing thia..i need this🙏

[@BRBallin1]

An overwhelming number of people at my last summer internship got their application submitted through a referral. The 3 other interns I befriended and had lunches with had also gotten a referral. The reason for this is that companies generally prefer trusting people that are connected to employees in some way especially when it is for confidential projects

[@shaunmc013]

All you have to do is look at the job requirements or qualifications and put it on your resume. The Algorithms will pick it up and forward your resume to the hiring manager..

[@amyyaku5022]

Video CL is out for me. I’m not only uncomfortable making a video for a complete stranger, but some recruiters and hiring managers don’t even read the written cover letters. To be honest, job hunting is way too confusing. Not every recruiter or hiring manager is the same (some want cover letters, some don’t, some even throw away cover letters if they aren’t addressed to a specific person, etc.), they ask you questions that either have nothing to do with the job or are questions that could be easily answered if they looked at your resume. Even when you try networking, it doesn’t really help. I’ve had people just tell me to apply online even when I send them my resume and tell them I’m looking for a job and they look at my LinkedIn profile.

[@nspirerecruitment2995]

Thanks for explaining on what all factors does the candidate need to work on.

[@sareychim1655]

Great tips! Glad I came across this vid because I have to write a persuasive paper on why obtaining a college degree allows for greater career opportunities for my assignment. However, I am reading of why college degrees aren't guarantee finding a great job. Furthermore, most are stating that it is a waste of time and are reasons for why most people are deep in student-loan debt. Idling sitting in frustration, in part, because I agree with the ones arguing against getting a college degree. I like how you suggested changing methodology of conventional cover-letter to providing a video-cover-letter which is different concept to catch a hiring manager attention. Thanks for that tip.

[@scarletstark2201]

I generally don't write a cover letter because I doubt they would even read it. Would they even bother looking at it when there is a list of 100 other CVs they have to go through

[@incubus_the_man]

Especially when they'd rather hire somebody that comes referred. It's easier to choose a candidate that has been presented to you than it is to find one by reading hundreds of resumes.

[@lindseyelizabeth2281]

Yourtube User this isnt english class so stop trying to play teacher lol....correct that

[@scarletstark2201]

Try capitalizing your sentences when appropriate.

[@0oBlahBlah0o]

They don't always read them but their computer does. For your they can be a very good way on how to stand out: 1- As mentioned in this video, key words are important. 1000 resume put together is a data base. Keywords and query is how you get what you want from a database. Something as small as including both New-York and NY increase your chances to get seen. Use their language. 2- If you manage to get through, they actually might read it. It can help you stand out when compared to another candidate.

[@zuverlassig2jl]

I do written cover letters, oh..but wait, now we are supposed to take the time to do video cover letters as well, on top of the resumes and applications over and over again...videos, where you'll need to fuss over your hair, makeup, outfit and nail colour and hope the lighting is nice and catches you at your natural and true best and maybe do a few takes if you get any of the words wrong and then make a new one for each employer you're considering and then have them watch it and critique it personally to themselves before they bother to consider whether you're even work calling in for a face to face in their opinion...ok...job seekers have nothing else to do but add more work and attention seeking antics in to their currently already pretty time consuming job search process🙄💄👠👩‍💻⌛⏳....💀⌛⏳

[@AsakuraAvan]

Hiring manager wants you to be unique and different yet rather hire workers that are the same and predictable once they start working

[@Apples2apples871]

They also now use software that scans your resume and if there’s no words that match the original job posting they toss the resume...

[@ss4vegeta1]

I appreciate the video and will try to implement his idea BUT most companies now these days are VERY impersonal. They are cutthroat, there is nepotism, who you know, they want not just a CV/resume but licenses, recommendations, certifications, weekend obligations, a minor legal business background understanding, critical thinking for every task you do, a commitment to attend meetings whenever, time management, efficiency( I hate that word) and just suffering as much as you can. Welcome to the work-field.

[@AaliyahHolt]

Or your application gets ignored because there are hundreds of other people applying for the same job. And someone was more qualified than you

[@jusayenso8186]

Aaliyah Holt ......True. Now notice that the media is lying again. In just the past two weeks, I've seen major media news reports that employers are having a hard time filling positions! It's 100% total lies once again. The media is owned by huge corporations and reports what lies they are told to 'report'. It's amazing that so many people can't figure out the real games going on! Big business wins by getting 150 million clueless household parents or single people to think the economy is not tanking for the working class.....this keeps these 150+ million people spending!! This is the last thing they should be doing. I've got 30 years experience at learning how to learn the real truth. The working class is never going to see the collapse going on because it's being easily hidden by politicians and the media's constant lies.

[@StevenSanchezWelding]

jusayen so 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@ammaribrahim5756]

special guy...wish I can meet him one day

[@sgaines4]

Thanks for this video

[@desetmedia]

Unfortunately he is right " Its not what you know, its who you know! Another unfortunate thing is that today`s Job market is monopolised by Recruitment agencies and majority of applications are not even processed at all. Yes, young people with no experience have hard time to get a position. However, even more, fascinating fact is that people over 40 years of age with a huge arsenal of skills and experience can't even get an interview after sending 300 applications. For people with over 20 Years experience as Business Development Manager, Customer Service Manager, Positions held in Government agencies can't get an interview, for a simple, commission based sales position. That's very sad and truly disturbing.

[@radlyn7234]

Brillant idea !!! I should maybe use it to find a job

[@James-nv1wf]

I find employers judge appearance too much. If I'm fit and work out they assume because I'm applying for a computer job I'm not that good. I should be over weight etc.... So many misconceptions with appearance.

[@ShermanBMason]

Thank you

[@MsDiuguid]

I disagree with the video CV, working ​in HR, we do not have time for that type of application. I will recommend the same thing that I have always recommended to every person who asked me how to get a job. Tailor your resume for each application! What I mean by that, is that you will pull the language from the job description and put it in your resume, not lying, just choosing to use the same types of statements and phrases so that your resume jumped out at them. And of course a very brief but succinct cover letter is also I catching an important.

[@amyfoss2492]

Yeah done this. Got interviews and still looking. Besides HR is subjective. What you may LOVE another may HATE!

[@pablolostum]

What good is that if you don't have any experience? I am very upset lately because have passed a year since I left University and still nothing....

[@javierjaime9386]

Paul Berg what's your major?

[@pablolostum]

Javier Jaime estudié Geografía y gestión del territorio especializadome en GIS y urbanismo

[@Viper4ever05]

as a job seeker, it's almost impossible to personalize cover letters and resumes to every job, we apply to. It's a numbers game, we cant sit around rewriting for every job we apply to. We're applying to multiple jobs a week just to increase the chances of getting one damn response. If I applied to 30 different jobs within the same industry but in different roles, it would be extremely burdensome and unrealistic to personalize every one of them. I'm not even factoring all the research I would have to do and adjustments I would have to make if the cover letter wasn't getting me any responses. It's a complete guessing game because on top of everything else you have no idea what they didn't like or what turned them off. These HR applications need to get smarter and at least give an automated response as to why someone wasn't chosen.

[@envitech02]

I run an engineering business and sometimes I do get people who call in and walk in for job application. Provided the applicants talk in a matured manner, that normally gets my attention and I normally admit and listen to them.

[@evolutionsimplified]

When I click on a TedX video, I no longer watch the video. I go straight to the comments for the Sparknotes

[@riturao6565]

I applied for Cargill. They wanted someone with 3 years of quality management in dairy....I have 4 years experience as Sr. quality officer. They still rejected me.. sometimes....they just post it online

[@jet5995]

Ritu how are you now?

[@Grace-up5em]

There was this HR professional (at local professional network event) who didn't recommend submitting cover letters, because the recruiters typically don't read them. In my recent online intern applications, the companies did not require cover letters at all, only the resumes, but I was asked a set of questions near the end. I received responses from recruiters afterwards.

[@rayva1]

The “It’s not what you know but who you know” strategy is SO biased and discriminating. Before you know it, ppl are gonna start being in business for themselves and all these corporate bosses, CEOs and HR personnel will be the ones finding themselves begging for employment. Honestly - tables DO turn and do do the wheels!!

[@nunyabeeswax303]

rayva1 thats the way it should be! Why should they get the lions share when we do the work.

[@mlbf4700]

I do all these suggestions and yes, even with that you don't hear back because 200 plus applicants is overwhelming for HR. It is different in the USA I guess.

[@musicsimply9197]

Bigups 2020 Job Seekers and conquerors, ...

[@philtabest]

I used to write "Dear sir/madam" on my covering letter until I learned that people can sometimes be offended by "sir" and "madam". Both of these terms can leave people feeling old. Now I either use "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Hiring Commitee". It's surprising how much difference such a small change actually makes.

[@christineheredero1477]

This is so true. Btw I'd like to recommend a tool to anyone who wants to customize a portfolio depending on the job you are applying for. It allows anyone to send a custom job pitch like video presentations to employers, anyone you want to present to. It's the digital portfolio platform of Sizigi. It's super easy to manage :)

[@dijonnestricklen7840]

awesome video thanks again rescare acamdy program thanks a lot

[@mahmoudmarei3117]

why is everybody so angry at the recruiters in the comment section? Don`t blame anyone if you can not get an interview. Take a look at yourself and change your methodology, which is the core message of this Ted talk.

[@ridgoro]

when you have 10 years of experience, then they say you're too old.

[@vincentcherry5466]

Networking is the most effective process in securing a position. "....who you know.."

[@LilVinOfficial]

Can anyone answer this: some application forms have an equal opportunities section, for example, marital status, gender, age, religious beliefs etc, so there's no discrimination. When I read that, I'm assuming they don't need that information, BUT then they ask THOSE QUESTIONS, WHY??? Unless the job legally requires certain information for a specific job, what's the benefit of knowing that information?

[@PJ-hi1gz]

So they can have diversity in the workplace. In this case, being a minority can help with the job application process.

[@LilVinOfficial]

+Pe M seems stupid, so they're people who look at the applicants answers and have a tally chart showing all the current employees answers, sitting there saying "oh, don't employ that white Christian male, that percentage is too many, we don't want to appear racist and only want white people working for us", how the hell is that important? An individuals gender, marital status, race etc, is completely irrelevant, because an employee should be determined by the capability of the individual for the job. If there are predominantly more males than females, that's just the way it is, or the other way around with any other irrelevant "equal opportunities". E.g. A company has roughly an equal amount of different races of people, but there're no Chinese: is the company discriminating against Chinese people? Obviously not! The world's gone crazy!

[@PJ-hi1gz]

Yes, I see what you mean. Have in mind that this measures are not new, and come from a time when the US was (is?) a more racially charged place. I mean, MLK walked in DC in the 60's, and that's relatively recent. It's hard to strike a balance when creating public policy. White males will have more opportunities than women or non-white males, so they're just trying to level the field for others who may be equally qualified but couldn't take advantages of resources or opportunities because of their race/economic background. It's not perfect, and it may be outdated, but for many, it's the best chance they have. Hope this helps.

[@amyfoss2492]

OR they say they want diversity but this can also work against minorities, as in they can just not hire minorities. This also depends on the definition of "minority". In my part of America a minority is someone NOT BORN in the country as opposed to a racial minority that IS an American citizen. This way said company can say they "value diversity".

[@imadn4147]

what's the benefit of knowing that information? the benefit of knowing that information is to discriminate against you of course

[@abdullahmsa7027]

This is very true about " who you know", few months ago I was a trainee at a company and as I was a recent graduate, so I was very excited to get in the business and start new challenge, for my first two weeks of a 2 months tanning program I was only copying and verifying data but I was finishing so many tasks that they promoted me to work closer to the senior members of the company, by my first month every one needed me on the floor to do something for them, I was working with 3 departments at once and I never left a task hanging for the next day, one day they opened a position for an entry level, I applied but they didn't accept me but one of my friends where his father knew the director of the the company branch was hired, the irony that I was teaching that guy how to handle the company data base and systems. I was furious so I deiced to leave the company after 6 weeks, they were calling me to make me complete the left two weeks but I never returned.

[@kamalsamadzade9089]

thank u very much.this is very useful .thank u a lot.I just realised that why I cant get a job

[@mwhitton2011]

starting with HR: these HR people looking at Job applications these days are completely biased and robotic, just to find the perfect 4.0 student with xyz credentials. yes, why shouldnt they be, BUT adversity does build character and just because someone doesnt have the perfect scores, background etc, whos to say someone of less accomplishments isnt the fit, or at least be given consideration. secondly, HR people and hiring managers lie. They want to make you feel like youre of priority, at the very least a call or email back, but stories constantly come out about how people dont get calls back, notified etc when told they would be. No one is obligated for these, but It says alot about the individual who didnt walk their own talk and maybe moreso, the company culture. whats even more sad are the job titles and descriptions these days. Its all fluffed to sound like something its not, which frankly makes HR jobs more hard for them (LOL because majority of them seem to really not put effort into their job). what used to be a analyst is now a cold caller representative. they use attractive terms, persuading you into something that turns into nothing and even worse, a commission based job and they attack recent grads with these tactics all the time. its a shame how many people cant get experience (who truly are driven and hard working people) because people dont wanna look more outside the box (not just a gpa) and give someone a chance (someone who shows they are willing to be the guy!)

[@usoda6974]

Couldnt agree more!

[@jenniferahgren]

The sound isn't great but the speech is

[@manishasen234]

He's actually right, except that he is not placing as much emphasis on networking. I learned throughout Co-operative Education that networking is very important. Structured mentorship programs rule!

[@manishasen234]

He's also forgetting the fact that employers have to meet quotas that Provincial or Federal governments set. For example, Canada's Employment Equity Act states that employers must meet certain quotas on hiring people who fit into at least one of the following groups: women, disabled people, visible minorities, and Aboriginal (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) peoples. This leads to reverse discrimination.

[@thetawaves48]

no one reads cover letters.

[@Strider9655]

Cover letters are pointless, you're CV goes to an ATS and gets torn apart for keywords, your cover letter disappears never to be seen again, in fact when you apply for a job, nobody sees your CV in relation to that job, it just comes through the ATS as a match or mismatch for any jobs they have.

[@Sigmalennycareers]

Save you 3 minutes. It’s based on industry and demand. I’ve seen the worst people get hired and some without a resume! But were hired based on need and fulfillment. White collar jobs are the worst with lengthy hiring processes and at most referrals are needed. Blue collar jobs will give you higher chances of becoming employed and higher employee retention.

[@uncapabrew]

My last round of applicants. Pretty scary !! Keep it cranked Core academics-!!! Home school

[@SudhirKumar-ly1zb]

no surprise yet ! though i have been dropping in customized cover letter no response since five months

[@Sacterheld]

I saw a job yesterday that said "Candidate must have good understanding of the Emglish language" not even kidding.

[@saratn7414]

I know about the bad situation for job seekers, but we should know if we want to gain something we should be patient and calm down. We can not get the first job with a high salary. What is different between a person who has 3 years experience at least with a person who has not and is a fresh graduate? The difference is the way they can solve problems in the critical situation in the best way without referring to their manager. So how they got this skill? Does anybody learn it in school or college or university? No! People discover it during their work. When they get into any situation, they learn something, and after some time they automatically know how to act. But what I suggest to fresh grads is to do tricks not by lying but with your offers to that company. Ask them you wanna work there for free to learn and get experience. At least you started somewhere! Who doesn't like to have a free employee? Then after some time they will pay you, or you can apply somewhere else, but this time you have work experience! And you are not a fresh grad.!!!

[@MissT813]

This really was not that informative.

[@jaycool9480]

MissTee TL it was. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

[@matthewcooper4248]

Julius jeaN baptiste You missed the entire point of the video then. Or you just didn't watch the whole thing. I'm guessing the latter.

[@webstime1]

I did find it helpful because many times I've assumed the recruiter will connect the dots with my resume to the position, not understanding that because of how busy they are, they don't have the time to see how you'd provide value. One has to explicitly spell out how they'll drive value in the company/organization. Another thing I learned is on the psychology of a personalized message/letter and how it can make one more inclined to communicate back. This may seem apparent, but you'd not believe how easy it is to forget and use the same generic cover letter as a time saver.

[@webstime1]

@Michael P Okay, so what is your point?

[@yowalker5956]

nice man

[@lameiraangelo]

Machine Learning algorithms are being utilized for grading/rating CV's.

[@carinaoliveira5850]

Cover letters are literally the debate of the century now as there is WAY more competition than before. Some employers highly value them, but some never need it and will just search you up on social media. We've moved from a more traditional way such as the old "walk into the HQ and ask to see the hiring manager with a resume in hand". My mother got a job as an office receptionist as a high school graduate with no other experience, just from doing this. Now you might have to have at least 2/3 years experience and a college certificate or degree in business administration just for recruiters to take a look at your resume. Truth is, you should probably write one either way since it's the formal way to submit a full application. However, don't think they won't search you up on Facebook or LinkedIn and find out a lot more about you.

[@Kermondale]

Been there...

[@assamaafzal3516]

He seems very excited :p

[@chuckennuggett]

One thing I noticed at McDonald's is there all friends who higher other friends. Not one interview or call from a damn fast food place after checking in for 7 months. Gave up after that

[@petelee2477]

pretty much, I started working at my current job because my uncle happen to be friends with the hiring manager's husband.

[@petelee2477]

Good news it can be done but instead of leaving an application online and forgetting about it you call back frequently. Be assertive but friendly and they will eventually hire you. Trust me those fast food jobs are revolving doors and they will be short on people soon enough.

[@SakuraaaHarmony]

J OneLife so true. Almost every fast food restaurant in my city is all Indians.

[@sumtingwong8768]

Just watch out for shady businesses that are liars and rip offs. Your prospecting a company JUST AS MUCH as they are prospecting you, remember that, there are a million companies out there and only one of you with your skill set

[@kellysevilleja01]

you are so handsome, that really caught my attention. Anyway thank you for your lesson Iearned a lot.

[@TTBurgerThePlayStationGamer]

there are no jobs out there no careers no nothing we are screwed no matter what

[@SongBirdJesusFreak]

seems to me you just have an unreasonably negative attitude that is completely unwarranted.

[@kaywalls8790]

You sound like my son.

[@techcowgirl5393]

If you're that negative, no one will want to hire you!

[@navysteel]

We need universal basic income!

[@vee6988]

I disagree. It's about you. And what you emit.

[@lisaco563]

in my 44 year career in recruitment I have rarely heard a better story that job hunters should take note of . But its not for everyone.

[@VitruvianVision]

Typical. 'LIE BETTER' really is the bottom line here. It disgusts me in ways I donT even want to think about.

[@rjtheripper931]

Well it's either be poor and honest or lie and get the job. Which one are you going to choose

[@bryanbridges2987]

@@rjtheripper931 I've done both. Still no job. Even been referred, several times.

[@eyemnew2991]

I filled out 3 job applications at the same place one month ago. Since then, they have hired 4 more people. I never once heard from any of them.

[@JacquiWashington]

Video cover letter, good idea. What do you think about a link to your blog, podcast or KZbin showing your knowledge and interest?

[@ItsViolaRose]

POV: you googled “jobs at gaultier” and got this informative video. 😅💙

[@merc340sr]

If I had to write a cover letter for every job application, I'd be swamped! All that effort for a very high rate of rejection!

[@ayushman_sr]

tight

[@mothman84]

As if appearances didn't matter too much already, as if knowledge, skill, talent, and courage didn't already take a backseat to presentation, now we face a shift from CVs to Video-CVs. Any handicaps you have they want to see, and all within the first 7 seconds: they just don't want to miss any chance to factor it all into their first impression of you.

[@Jluvs4life]

I am not good at remembering dates of employment on resume. I am not good at talking about myself.

[@terribletanner805]

How many people are? These things are totally irrelevant if you just happen to be related to the CEO of a large and rich company (or if you're friends with someone who is). I'm sure someone will be 'fairly dismissed' for "under-performance", in order to accommodate your employment needs.

[@dtr9816]

Or Congress.

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

That's why you need to start a file on your computer or just write down on a piece of paper (and keep in a safe place) every job you've had and your start and end dates. Every time you start a new job or quit one, you need to update that file/paper. I suggest you use a file over paper and backup that file to a thumb or cloud drive. It's really not hard and it kind of essential.

[@ProTroll69]

"I recognize my deficiencies. I now have the CHOICE of whether or not to begin addressing them." You're welcome.

[@MartinSlow]

Then learn :) You can do that, everyone can do that.

[@user-we9pt4xg4j]

What's the point of applying online if your application just gets ignored?

[@blacklyfe5543]

It's the definition of insanity