To wonder why they won't give me a job?

[Runny]

Just that really.

There is a large company based in my town. I won't say what they do because it would be outing, but they are one of the towns largest employers and known to be excellent to work for and have won awards for it. You don't need to have an specific skills to work for them because they will train you up, so it doesn't matter what jobs you've done before or what qualifications you've got.

So basically ive applied to work for them numerous times over the years. First time I was rejected without interview. The second time I actually took my CV and covering letter to their offices and gave it in by hand, that time I passed a phone interview was invited to an assessment centre. I was really nervous though and completley messed up so knew I was uncsucessful. Realising where I'd gone wrong. I reapplied about six months later, got another phone interview, apparently passed it but heard nothing else after that.

So ever since ive been applying every few months, as they recruit pretty much constantly and every single time I get rejected. You'd think my perseverance would pay off, but no. I write really gushing things in the box when they ask why I want to work for them as well. The most frustrating thing is I know I could do that job, if given a chance Id prove that.

What else can I do, or should I just give up? Ive asked them for feedback but they ignore all my requests.

I think they have to pick certain numbers from a certain criteria to keep staff balance and maybe you just haven't ticked the correct box required as yet!!

Maybe you need to take a look at your cv and interview skills. Are you tailoring your cv to their criteria? Have you gone over the interview questions you've had to see where you could improve on?

Could it be the case that they don't think you're a good fit based on your previous interviews etc, and when they see your name come up so frequently they remember you? Lots of places say things like "previous applicants need not apply".
Is your work history patchy or steady?
You say they train you, but do you highlight any transferable skills etc?

Use linkedin to connect with the recruiters for that company. I had the same experience with a certain local employer & discovered that since the Brexit announcement managers were only interviewing people recommended by staff/recruiters.

My work history is steady. Ive tried altering my CV, but nothing seems to work.

Really the only transferable skill you need is a cheerful disposition and a good telephone voice.

Did you have any succes Astoria?

If possible, I would ring them - and ask outright.

Applying each month will probably just get rejected each time, and could come across as a bit odd behaviour.

Try not, however much it is true, to say stuff along the lines of "but you take anyone".

Maybe stop gushing and tell them why you would be a suitable fit for their company? Explain the skills and experience you can offer them.

That said you have got through some of the process. Why don't you ask them for feedback?

You may know why you would be great, but have you actually said why? Not just "I would be really good at the role" or "I am the hardest worker" stuff but "I think I would be a good fit for the role because you need XYZ and I have demonstrated my capability to do X when... Y when... and Z by... I recognise the importance you place on your culture and values and they resonate with me. In particular I feel thay I have shown an affinity with when I did ABC."

If they are one of two big employers you must have friends or acquaintances who work there - can you speak to them about their work and see if any would refer you?

Can you effectively answer a competency based question (it's a skill) and do you know what to do in an assessment centre having been unsuccessful before?

Do you have much previous work experience?

Really the only transferable skill you need is a cheerful disposition and a good telephone voice.

So it's a call centre? Ok, you need more than that then. Excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to quickly build rapport with customers and manage difficult customers, problem solving ability, resilience etc etc. I would also expect you will need to work to targets too.

Have a look at the job description, the person spec and the company's values and mission. I expect there's more to the role than good telephone voice and cheerful disposition. Even a switchboard operator needs to be able to manage multiple demands on their time, prioritise and be accurate and fast.

I asked for feedback after I messed up the assessment centre, but heard nothing back. I knew where I went wrong though, I was nervous, got tongue tied and ended up stuttering.

I don't find those kind of group interviews easy, I admit. But I can and have winged them in the past and been succesful.

So do you know anyone who works there?

Are you in Swindon or Northampton by any chance? If so you may want work for the company I work for (although I am based on the south coast) If you let me know I'll see if I can help.

I know of people who work there, but I wouldn't call them friends.

I think you need to see if one of them will help you.

People are often flattered to be asked and if it's a call centre there is bound to be a bounty available for referrals so it's a win win!

I think the issue is they are looking for good communication and interpersonal skills and if uou messed up the assessment centre they may think uou are too nervous and don't have those skills, they need to pick the best candidate when hiring and probably get a lot of candidates.

They probably keep feedback on file on previous applicants to say they were rejected, Sorry op. Jobs are given based on best applicant basis. I'm not sure what you can do really, other than not apply for a year and hope they don't hold data for longer than that or the recruiting team changes.

I think you need to reconsider your approach entirely. If you repeatedly send application after application then the people who evaluate CVs will begin to recognise your name. They will remember that they turned you down before, for whatever reason, and their instinct will be to reject you again without actually considering your new application.

Recruiters aren't usually attracted to people who seem desperate to work for them. Repeated applications, especially within a short space of time where the applicant is unlikely to have made huge strides in their development (simply because personal improvement takes a concerted effort over a long period to produce dramatic results), give the impression that you are "desperate" to work for them. They will look at this and assume that you are unable to get a job you are satisfied with elsewhere.

It is fine to apply for a new job because you want a new challenge or you need to move in order to develop your career. But your repeated applications will give the impression (rightly or wrongly) that you are applying to lots of other companies repeatedly and having no success with them either.

My only advice is to avoid applying to this company again until you've developed your career elsewhere. Next time you apply you need to be able to demonstrate that between your applications you have made big changes, developed new skills, taken on new responsibilities. It needs to be clear that the "you" of a year or two ago is not the "you" now.

Sometimes you need to take a step sideways before you take a step forward.

I'd speak to someone who works there and ask if you can see their CV to address any gaps you pick up. But unfortunately it's just as likely to be your poor performance in the assessment centre.

If it's a good workplace that offers training and doesn't require particular experience, I suspect that they will be able to pick and choose from a very large pool of applicants.

It may well be that you passed the second telephone interview, got put on the list for assessments and someone said 'ah - we've already had her in, and she's not suitable' which is why you've been rejected since then - unfortunately, they do not need to give you a second chance if they can pick from a pool of people who perform on the day.

Have you referred to what went wrong on your assessment day in your subsequent applications? Was it a total disaster or just not at your best?

Maybe half the town is doing the same as you, and they are swamped with applications. Phone them and, without referring to all of your previous applications, just ask what exactly they are looking for and what would give you the edge over other applicants. If they are advertising different jobs, make sure your applications are tailored to each different job. Recruiters hate the 'all purpose' job application - they are very easy to spot!

after being turned down numerous times i dont get why you keep applying- something is preventing you getting that job.

apply elsewhere

Take the hint and find something else.

If you find group interviews difficult, messed up on a phone interview because of nerves, the you just aren't what they are looking for.

And I highly doubt it's because they have a heap of criteria boxes to fill a quota 🙄 The number of times you've applied, if they wanted you, they'd have hired you.

You say you could do the job well. They've interviewed you twice and disagree. I'd suggest they know what they are doing.

I've got an idea of which company it is, but not the location. If it's who I think, my husband has applied there periodically and been rejected every time. A friend of mine applied the same day as he did the first time and got taken on. She's now been working there for years.

She said there is literally no rhyme or reason to their recruitment system!

I'd take the hint and apply elsewhere.

barinatxe - good point about developing before applying again. My DD experienced something similar. Everybody said she had a great CV, but she wasn't getting interviews. She took any jobs she could get (starting as a volunteer). Two years on, bingo - lots of interviews and a job offer.

I wouldn't apply again. There will be something you did or didn't do, or something you have or don't have, that stopped you getting this job. If they don't tell you honestly what that is, you may not wish to know!