KEY questions answered by the experts.

Q: I AM applying for lots of jobs but not getting invited for interviews. What should I do?

A: THERE are two possible reasons why things are going wrong. Either you are applying for the wrong jobs, or your applications are not communicating your strengths effectively.

Look at the personal specification. This will either appear in the job advertisement or application pack. Can you meet every criterion that the employer is looking for? If so, make sure you address each required area in your covering letter and provide evidence of your relevant experience in your CV.

If there are criteria you cannot fully meet, admit this but explain how you propose to overcome this hurdle. If you are finding it difficult to match the personal specification, then you are applying for the wrong jobs. Go back to basics. Look at your current job and the various routes open to you from there.

Have you chosen the right route? If so you will need to work on your CV, line by line, to make sure that it is presenting you in the best light.

Harry Freedman
Chief executive, Career Energy