Why Is Getting a Job So Hard? 5 Real Reasons

Why is getting a job so hard? If you've been looking for work for any length of time, you're well aware of how tough it can be to find work these days. You can even begin to doubt if you are as employable as you believed. Take our word for it: you are not alone.

Unfortunately, many job searchers anticipate that finding work this year will be just as tough. Once you understand why employment opportunities are few at the moment, you can take action to increase your chances of success.

Here's what job seekers should know when they're out in the job market.

Why is it so hard to find a job?

It's aggravating to browse job boards and see all those available opportunities, all the more so when your cover letter and resume are disregarded. And it's difficult to ignore all the 'Help Wanted' signs that line the streets of each town's commercial area. After all, if there are that many companies looking for people, why are you having difficulty securing the interviews you require? How is it that your resume is continually overlooked? Why is it so difficult to find work?

To begin, keep in mind that many businesses and recruiting managers have no intention of filling all of those job openings. Numerous individuals are promoted inside. Others merely solicit resumes on a regular basis in order to establish a pool of qualified candidates to draw from when vacancies become available.

As a result, the employment market can not be as expansive as it looks. In summary, do not make the mistake of assuming that your job search will be more difficult than that of any other job seeker. The reality is that you are all vying for a finite number of open positions.

Companies hire internally

Numerous positions advertised by businesses are not entirely available to external applicants. If a company is hiring for a job, that post is typically also open to internal candidates. The hiring company can see an applicant they are familiar with more positively. To be considered on an equal footing with an internal applicant, an external candidate must create a good first impression.

Jobs aren't publicly posted

Many of the available positions can not be advertised on public employment boards. Rather than that, managers of these roles prefer to fill them through recruiters or internal referrals. By diversifying your job search tactics, you might uncover a greater number of positions that interest you. For example, you can call recruiters to inquire about work opportunities in your field.

A job description or job ad has the chances of never getting listed.

Positions are competitive

Hundreds of applications might be received for a single job ad. To be successful, an application must be able to capture the employer's attention. With a huge volume of applications, an employer's time for reviewing application materials can be limited. Employers' attention might be piqued by submitting a unique, powerful resume.

Companies can be selective

Businesses are on the lookout for the fabled "ideal recruit." A cursory examination of several job descriptions reveals an experienced, highly educated specialist with a diverse set of abilities and expertise in a wide number of categories. These candidates, if they exist, are insufficient to fill all of these jobs. Rather than that, companies must seek people who tick the most boxes on the ideal list of qualifications.

Additionally, it is critical to understand that the employment market has shifted. Employers used to recruit people with the goal of keeping them for life decades ago. They considered the hiring to be long-term investments. This allowed them to take a chance on a new worker, train them, and eventually see a return on their investment.

That situation has shifted drastically in recent years. The majority of employees change jobs over their careers. Businesses are not as committed to their employees as they previously were. Employers need a quick return on their recruiting investment as a result of this altered relationship.

As a result, they've grown increasingly picky in their hiring. They need to understand that you can add instant value to the organization.

Applicant Tracking Systems are difficult

Over 90% of companies use an applicant tracking system, or ATS, to filter and categorize resume submissions. As we explain in our piece on how to structure your resume for an ATS, "ATS resume scanning software is meant to scan a resume for relevant job experience, skills, education, and other information."

For many employees, the applicant tracking system (ATS) can be a significant impediment to obtaining work in the digital era. These applicant tracking systems are used to conduct keyword-based screenings of resumes. While this is a dubious method of humans hiring other humans, it is nevertheless a sad reality.

Job searchers who are unaware of how an ATS examines resumes can struggle to overcome this barrier. Later in this article, we'll give some ATS-related suggestions to assist you in overcoming this obstacle, as well as introduce you to a tool for assessing your resume's ATS compatibility.

Outdated resumes don't work

For many job searchers who are having difficulty finding work, the issue is as basic as their resumes. Employers are searching for resumes that stand out from the crowd, which means that old, out-of-date resumes are no longer an option.

When it comes to job hunting, successful applicants will have resumes that represent their worth as workers effectively. Regrettably, many job searchers today have no clue how to write that sort of resume!

For instance, does your resume continue to rely on the objective statement to garner the attention of a hiring manager? If that is the case, that might be a grave error. On a resume, objective statements emphasize what you want from your career rather than how you can help the employer.

Consider it for a moment. Would that strategy appeal to you if you were that employer? You're probably interested in learning more about how that applicant might benefit your team, correct?

How to improve your odds

The good news is that the job hunt does not have to be a torturous ordeal. Indeed, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of obtaining a job. However, the majority of them are concentrated on a few critical areas of concern.

Revamp your resume

There is no getting around it: if you want to optimize your chances, you must have an outstanding resume. While there was a time when resumes were only a formality, they now carry considerable weight. If your resume is, at best, unimpressive, you're unlikely to obtain your ideal job.

Your application is likely to be overlooked repeatedly during the job search process in favor of individuals with stronger resumes–even if you are equally qualified.

Use keywords in your resume

Remember the ATS screeners we discussed previously? Make a favor to yourself and discover how to incorporate keywords into your cover letter and resume. This will increase the likelihood that your resume will make it past the machine and onto the desk of a hiring manager.

Write a resume for an ATS system

Now that you're aware of the competition, you can alter your resume to increase your chances of passing the ATS software.

Apply for targeted jobs

Are you submitting applications for the correct positions? Too frequently, many people do not pick occupations that are a good fit for their skill sets. Occasionally, they fail to appropriately highlight the necessary abilities on their resumes. Bear in mind that the majority of hiring managers spend only a few minutes on an initial review of your resume.

If it does not attract their sight during that time period, it is discarded. Ascertain that your most pertinent talents and experiences align with the requirements of the job opening–and emphasize them in your summary statement.

Network

Do not overlook your network. You've spent years cultivating an industry network of partners and contacts. Utilize such connections to get your foot in the door and in front of prospective employers. Solicit recommendations from them. Request information about new job vacancies that match your credentials on a proactive basis.

In other words, don't wait for a job to present itself; utilize every available option to secure the interview you require.