Are You A Risky Investment?

As a job seeker, have you ever wondered why you were not hired when you believed from the bottom of your heart that you are the right guy for the job? You looked at the list of responsibilities and you fulfill all the criteria. So, what’s wrong?

Believe it or not, Hiring Managers fear making a bad hire so much so if a candidate has an equal number of good reasons to be hired and not to hire, the final decision is that the candidate will never get hired. Why? Because the Hiring Manager would rather be safe – he would rather choose a candidate that might not be the most excellent one but has fewer risks.

“Risk? I can be a risk to an employer?”

Most job seekers are not aware about this “risky business”. Sometimes, the very thing that you think make you excellent are actually your biggest liabilities.

Check the list below. These are some common “risk factors” that hiring managers are wary about:

1. Running your own business (and you think your diverse experience is your asset)

2. Being out of job for a long period of time – say six months and longer (ability to start work immediately is not always a huge plus after all)

3. Holding too many jobs or holding different positions in a short period of time. (are you sure you were versatile? Or was it pure fickle-mindedness?)

4. Women who joined back the workforce after a long time being home-makers (they probably not sure whether or not you are ready to adjust to their high-pressure environment immediately)

5. Worked in a large company and interviewing in a small company (something doesn’t connect here. What is the real motivation?)

6. Being in a job or a company for a long time but did not get a good increment or promotion (they are not seeing loyalty in me? Probably not)

7. Reason for leaving cited as “personal” and you refuse to elaborate (it’s a minor thing, they should not pay too much attention to it. That’s where you are wrong!)

8. Citing management problem as reason for leaving in your past two employments (the fact you can see through some huge problems in the management might not seat well with them either)

9. Saying things like, “I’m not really looking for a change but if better opportunity comes along, why not?” (trying to project hard to get? They probably think you are not entirely excited about the job)

10. Going through a divorce (they see an unhappy employee)