Unpolished CV a jobseeker’s downfall: Poll Wednesday, 11 January 2012 01:44

DOHA: The recent poll results conducted by a job website company suggest that about 29 percent of employers in the Middle East look for ‘hunger, drive and ambition as the most important factors when making a hiring decision, while salary considerations come in second at about 23 percent, said   a press statement of Bayt.com—a leading job website in the region.

Meanwhile, career track record is the least important. In fact, most employers (67.2 percent) will consider hiring a candidate who has relevant skills but no direct experience in the company’s field; similarly, the majority will hire a subordinate who is older than them (59.6 percent) or who is more skilled, capable, and qualified than themselves (74.6 percent).

The employers surveyed said that the majority of jobseekers are letting themselves down by presenting unpolished resumes and not doing research prior to job interviews.

The results of the survey demonstrate that spelling and grammar does count, as 21.3 percent of respondents claim that poor language on Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the biggest mistake that jobseekers can make.

The second biggest mistake, according to 19.7 percent employers, is submitting a CV that is not customised for the role. Clear exaggerations (16.4 percent) and poor format (14.8 percent) also figure highly on the list, along with lack of focus and key omissions.

When it comes to interviews, 20 percent of employers consider poor preparation to be the biggest turn-off in potential employees; 17.5 percent feel that dishonesty is the worst trait an interviewee can have, followed by the candidate arriving late or asking inappropriate questions/making inappropriate comments, with 13.8 percent of employers citing each as the biggest turn-off.

Insufficient enthusiasm for the role and poor interpersonal skills come joint fourth on the list of biggest turn-offs (12.5 percent), followed by inappropriate attire (7.5 percent) and being overly aggressive (2.5 percent).

“The results of our survey suggest that candidates will be more successful if they take the time to carefully review their resumes before submitting them to any potential employer. It is also worthwhile taking the time to research a company and the position applied for before an interview, as being fully prepared is clearly a key requirement across the region,” said Amer Zureikat, Vice President, Sales at Bayt.com.

Bayt.com provides jobseekers and employers with the tools needed to get ahead in the world of employment, by publishing frequent surveys with information relevant to the region.

“Moreover, the Bayt.com online CV builder has fully resolved the issue of poor CV format and sloppy CV style by ensuring that a style and format of CV that is attractive, state-of-the-art and uniform can be accessed very easily by all the region’s jobseekers,” Zureikat said.

The Peninsula

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