{"id":774,"date":"2019-11-10T20:13:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-10T18:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmugdev.wpengine.com\/?p=774"},"modified":"2022-01-27T18:24:05","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T16:24:05","slug":"how-employers-shortlist-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates","title":{"rendered":"What Do Employers Use to Shortlist Candidates?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is easy for a single job post to attract as many as 1000 applications, thanks to the dwindling economy and competitive job market. Most employers are finding it harder to shortlist candidates from the long list of applications. Technically, it takes approximately <\/span><a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/cv-formats\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7 seconds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a recruiter to sweep through your CV for the information they need. Question is, are you making your first seven seconds count?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When shortlisting, recruiters or employers sift through CV for major sections, which if you lack, you drastically reduce your chances of ever getting into the list of shortlisted candidates. Here are some ways to make sure you stand out for your next job.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1a9f10af11d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1a9f10af11d\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates\/#1_Achievements\" >1. Achievements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates\/#2_Relevant_work_experience\" >2. Relevant work experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates\/#3_Employment_Status\" >3. Employment Status<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates\/#4_Referees\" >4. Referees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/how-employers-shortlist-candidates\/#5_Gaps\" >5. Gaps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Achievements\"><\/span>1. Achievements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this ever growing job market, the demand for jobs is becoming increasingly high with no provision of adequate opportunities. To thrive in such an environment you need to demonstrate your uniqueness. Marketers call this USP (unique selling point), to do this, don\u2019t just indicate your duties in the CV but rather, go a step further and list some of your achievements. For instance, aim to make your achievements quantifiable enough for the recruiter to see that you can deliver if given an opportunity. If you are an accountant, explain how you reduced the company costs by 17% through innovative cost reduction strategies and use of accounting systems like Navision or SAP. The point is to demonstrate that you can deliver and <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/blog\/interview-tips\/\">employers want<\/a> someone who can do just that.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630-378x198.jpg 378w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630-770x404.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630-600x315.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Financial-Management-Training_1200by630-390x205.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Relevant_work_experience\"><\/span>2. Relevant work experience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevant experience touches on industry, location, experience level, specific skills e.g. knowledge of an ERP etc. Unless an employer is willing to train or is open to other industries and sectors, relevant work experience is crucial. If, for example, an employer is hiring for an NGO sector and makes it clear that nonprofit experience is crucial, then it is not advisable for you to apply if you don\u2019t come from such a background. The keywords are \u2018relevant work experience\u2019. Apply with the right qualification set, not just because you need a job and one has been advertised. You are part of hundreds of applicants, strive to be part of the shortlisted candidates too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630-378x198.png 378w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630-770x404.png 770w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630-600x315.png 600w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/You-Get-to-Take-Stock-of-What-Your-Have-Been-Doing_1200by630-390x205.png 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Employment_Status\"><\/span>3. Employment Status<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you currently engaged or not working? This could work for \/or against you. Some positions require immediate placement while others are willing to wait for candidates to serve notice. It is, therefore, prudent that you pay close attention to the details of the advert to avoid missing such important information. If you\u2019ve been out of a job for a long time, this raises serious questions as to why you left your previous job and the reason why you\u2019ve not been absorbed elsewhere yet.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers are generally suspicious of candidates who are not working. Some employers will actually be hesitant to shortlist candidates with no jobs. If you\u2019ve been searching for a job for long with no success, maybe it\u2019s time to consider <\/span><a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/why-you-are-not-getting-a-job\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">volunteering or interning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to close this gap.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Referees\"><\/span>4. Referees<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Who wants to employ someone who is not credible enough for them? Do you have relevant referees, who you could jot down in minutes if asked in an interview? If you have worked for 3 employers and none is listed as your referees section, you raise doubts on how you left previous employments.&nbsp; Always indicate some of your previous employers or colleagues as referees. This shows that you have nothing to hide. Unless you are fresh from college, remove your former lecturer and anyone who is not work-related from your list of referees.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Gaps\"><\/span>5. Gaps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Are there gaps in your CV? If they are too many, you might be labeled a job hopper. To avoid this, always explain in your CV why you left each employment and what you were doing in that period. The danger with gaps is if they are too many and especially if preceded or followed by short stints in employment. Such a CV communicates that you don\u2019t stay long in employment and employers don\u2019t want instability since recruitment costs a lot in terms of time and money.&nbsp;If you were hired in August this year and you are already applying for other jobs know that few or no employer(s) will take you seriously. While it\u2019s expected that candidates will seek greener pastures, employers look down upon those who look unsettled by changing jobs within a short period. In such a case, you could embark on networking so as to get a chance to explain yourself even before you share your CV with a potential employer.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-776\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630-378x198.png 378w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630-770x404.png 770w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630-600x315.png 600w, https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Understand-that-not-everything-is-urgent_1200by630-390x205.png 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All said and done, how appealing is your CV to the eye? From how you\u2019ve <\/span><a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/cv-formats\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">formatted your CV<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, spelling, presentation etc. Just like any other formal document, you will be judged on presentation. It even becomes more critical as you advance in your career. Employers will easily shortlist candidates who can package their CVs in such a way that they will get as much information as possible at a glance, and without any struggle. Make sure the CV you have sells you as much as it should. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While most employers use the CV as the most important tool for application shortlists, most jobseekers underestimate the value of having a detailed CV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"tags":[136,135,137],"content_author":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-774","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-employers","8":"tag-active-entry-level","9":"tag-active-qualified-candidates","10":"tag-passive-qualified-candidates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=774"},{"taxonomy":"content_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ug\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_author?post=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}