FOUNDATION OF THIS POST:
You would agree with me that several times you have applied for a position you are certain you are qualified for yet wasn't shortlisted. Now put yourself in the HR personnel position for once.

You work as an HR Officer and you have just rolled out some new vacancies for your company in the newspapers, with the current unemployment state in Nigeria, how many applications do you think you would get? And how do you think you are able to drive through the thousands of CVs popping in every second.

SOLUTION FOR HR PERSONNELS:
There is an application that HR personnel uses to make this job somewhat easy.

It's called HR softwares.
This softwares seives CVs and discards useless ones such that the HR administrator would not even see them.
It can be developed in-house by a company's IT department and it can be subscribed too. Eg; Human Manager, People HR, I think SAP but not sure and many others.

HOW IT WORKS:
In very simple steps:

1) I enter key word commands in the software.
2) It is set up to reject CVs without those keywords.
3) It is set up to discard or store those CVs that don't meet up.
4) Then it's attached to the company's recruitment email.

Quite simple. Works like SEO for those who are aware of search engine optimization. Eg; When you search for something on Google, it brings our related articles, images or websites as per your command. Simple.

VICTIMS:
It is not surprising that majority of graduates make this mistake.

A) Those applying for a job that they are not qualified for. Why waste your time (Of course there are exceptions).
B) Those that are actually qualified but did not follow the basic instructions/ requirements stated in the application process.
C) Those qualified but have failed to follow the basic rule of SEO when applying for these jobs.

SOLUTION FOR THE VICTIMS:
Very simple steps.
NB: Most complex things in life usually have simple solutions.

1) When applying, the first step is to ensure that the subject of your email contains the open position.
2) Ensure that your applications state and mention the number of years as experience in the requirements.
3) If there was a mention of the class of degree, make sure it is in your application, in the body of your mail or contained in your CV.
4) If the requirement says Lagos residents only, make sure it is stated in your CV, a Lagos address.
5) Like in Nigeria, where they ask for a certain age grade, kindly mention your date of birth in the application or body of mail but not necessarily the CV.
6) More importantly, ask for someone to take a second look at your CV and application for you.
One of the ways to be error free at work for example is a law that encourages you to ask colleagues to take a second look.
7) Lastly, be smart about it. Doesn't necessarily mean you begin to lie because it becomes a shame and embarassment when this is discovered.
Doesn't also mean you make your applications to lack sincerity, simplicity, to convey passion and explain your interest.

DISCLAIMER:
This does not represent how all HR personnel or very respectable organization conduct their recruitment exercises so do not make this a law. Kindly stay smart and open.

Source for posts like this can always be found on:
www.jobprocessblog..com
All posts written by me.

For example;

A typical requirement is

Three years experience on the job.
An engineering graduate.
Must be HSE qualified.
A 2:1 from a Nigerian university.
Should not be more than 21. Though absurd.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE.

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is Olabisi Omoge and I am applying for the position of an assistant production manager in your organization.

This is a typical role for me because I have had the opportunity to work as a production assistant with the XYZ company for three years before I resigned to focus on my HSE certification.

I have a BSC in Mechanical engineering, a HSE certification from XYZ institute and a three years experience providing quality support for the production department in my former company.
During my time in this capacity, I was awarded the most innovative staff of the year because of my passion and creativity on the job.

I will welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss my passion and how my values can be a great contribution to your organization.

Please find attached my CV.

Regards,
Olabisi Omoge.

Does this cover all the requirements? No! But it does capture all except the age.
Age can then be fixed on the CV since it was a requirement.
If it wasn't, please no need for age on your CV.

Cheers guys.
Always here to help... AND LEARN.

Source for posts like this can always be found on:
www.HRtechnique.com
All posts written by me.

Nice

Niceone

The best way is to make sure that you know one big man in the company or related to it.

I sent over 600 (not exaggerating) applications when I was looking for work last year using this above template and was called maybe like 3 times..

Following.

Fanks for d info

I blame it on the increasing unemployment rate. Not every job one is meant to apply but when you just wanna try your luck instead of making no attempt...

Nice one.

Wow Interesting

Nice info bro... Keep it up

Ah ! C.v palava again. ...God gimme that grace beyond comprehension ,c.v bam or not

Thanks OP

It Make Sense

thanks op, I just apply 4 a job and d CV supposed to b in pdf form but I did on my fone and format jpg...or..Hw can do it in pdf ..

I work in HR and I go through lots of CVs. One common mistake people make is not allowing the key info specified in the vacancy advert to stand out. I spend an average of 30 secs to 1 min on each CV. If I don't see what I'm looking for, I move on.

For instance, some people are talking job experience and start with their first job 10 years ago. Or they put lots of unnecessary details about a job or educational qualification that has nothing to do with the vacancy. You are disqualifying yourself

Thanks bro. Nice info.

Good! Very good.

But could always be better if we knew the type of words HRs punch into the app to sieve them. Maybe then, we can know what to include and what not to...

may God help you all brothers and sisters in Nigeria to rise above the level of sending 100 cv per month like it is some lottery.

Nice One. Somehow u still need to know someone at the top.

Nice write up, but most times recommendation do the magic faster in Nigeria , that is man know man.

Mentorkaryhm:
thanks op, I just apply 4 a job and d CV supposed to b in pdf form but I did on my fone and format jpg...or..Hw can do it in pdf ..

Google jpg to PDF converter online. There's a site that can take care of that. All you just need to do is upload the file you wish to convert and once it's done, A link will be created for you to download the converted file.

Nice one op..

Learning..


Vera031, Ibidun07 come see

following

you are wrong! people like u around only discourages the guys that believe and workhard..
I work for a multinational company and I never knew anybody...if mine was a coincidence i'v a lot other frends in d same shoes...

3keys to gettin job in Nigeria
-surround urslf with people with same ambition and never say die spirit
-widen ur scope and stay informed
-apply relentlessly and study diligently when opportunity for any test arises and do not underrate coz u never know how good people you are competing with.

instinct57vm:
you are wrong! people like u around only discourages the guys that believe and workhard..
I work for a multinational company and I never knew anybody...if mine was a coincidence i'v a lot other frends in d same shoes...

3keys to gettin job in Nigeria
-surround urslf with people with same ambition and never say die spirit
-widen ur scope and stay informed
-apply relentlessly and study diligently when opportunity for any test arises and do not underrate coz u never know how good people you are competing with.

Very good summation.

Just dey watch.

camp my tent here; will be back in a 1/4 of a minute

Nice one op. But as it stands now am even tired of writing and updating my CV every now and then.