Why Are Employer’s Rejecting Job Seekers at Interview Stage?

I’ve dedicated my last couple of blogs to discussing the serious subject of the recent spending review; and therefore thought it was about time to lighten the mood again!

This week one of our recruitment consultants sent me an article that I wanted to share with you all - thanks Rob Finch! It highlights a recent study that HR consultancy Reabur undertook on what are employers top reasons for rejecting job seekers that they interview.

If  I were to conduct a Family Fortunes survey of 100 people I would guess the top answer given would be a lack of ability/key skills to complete the job. However the reality is in today’s competitive market there are few professions that suffer from a true skills shortage.  The days of 4 job seekers turning up with varying abilities are gone. Whilst there may not be active job seekers who wish to make direct applications to employers, or post their CV online, there are skilled professions in employment with a competitor that a good recruitment agency will be able to source for an employer.

Therefore should we be surprised that poor personal hygiene and bad dress sense were the top reasons that employers rejected job seekers? Some would argue that these are superficial factors, and elements that can be changed. However the point is that standards are higher than ever, employers are not looking to compromise; and that means that wearing a loud shirt and tie combination or green cord suit to an interview could cost a job seeker the job!

I am confident that our recruitment consultants do everything in their power to ensure the job seekers that register with Project Resource know exactly how they should present themselves at an interview. Because we work in partnership with our employers we know what their individual requirements and likes and dislikes are. By going the extra mile and knowing that a hiring manager is an Arsenal fan we can spare an interviewer the embarrassment of spending 5 minutes discussing how Spurs are the best team in London! Our consultants will always speak to a job seeker 24 hours before the interview to check that they not only know where to go and at what time, but that they have also got correct clothing that suits the environment that they will be interviewed in (on site or office based).  This makes sure no-one's time is wasted by a job seeker not making the correct first impression.

As always its your thoughts and feedback that matter. Have you been rejected for a job for surprising reasons? Are you an employer that despairs of how job seekers present themselves? I know Bill has spoken of exactly this frustration in his blog 'What annoys me most about interviewees".

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!!