Lack of skills, badly formatted applications: survey reveals why job candidates are rejected

Irish Times

5 days ago

More than two-thirds of
job
applications are rejected by employers because they lack the relevant skills for the role, new research has found, with others binned because applications are badly formatted or due to unexplained gaps in employment.
The survey, which was carried out for hiring platform IrishJobs, found that 78 per cent of employers are dissatisfied with the quality of job applications received, making it slower and more resource-intensive for employers.
Meanwhile, 77 per cent of jobseekers say job adverts do not clearly outline expectations for roles.
The IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey spoke to 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland.
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It found only 25 per cent of candidates make it to the interview stage, with the risk of strong candidates being missed due to the manual screening process.
'Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, we can expect a slower pace of employment growth in Ireland over the coming months. Despite this evolving environment, the rate of unemployment in Ireland remains close to historic lows, with many employers still struggling to navigate a highly competitive market for talent and attract the high-calibre talent needed to unlock future growth,' said Sam Dooley, country director of the Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs.
'It's clear from the findings of the IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey that the quality of job applications received by employers in Ireland is having a direct impact on recruitment. A high volume of applications from candidates without the relevant skills for roles is creating challenges for many employers, resulting in a slower pace of hiring and the need for additional resources to manage the hiring process.'
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From a jobseeker perspective, their last jobs search revealed a lack of certainty from adverts, with expectations and responsibilities of open roles not clearly outlined. Twenty per cent said they would decline a job offer after an interview if expectations differed significantly.
Half of candidates said they were less likely to apply for jobs that failed to include a salary range, while 44 per cent were deterred by unclear job titles.
A rising number of jobseekers are using AI to improve their applications, with 35 per cent using it to polish the formatting and language quality of their documents. That means employers should adjust their hiring processes to ensure a more holistic approach.
'Developing clearer and more detailed job advertisements is one of the steps employers should consider in addressing these challenges and enhancing the quality of job applications,' said Mr Dooley.
'From salary and benefits to flexible working arrangements, jobseeker expectations are evolving at pace and leading to a growing disconnect between employers and candidates. Addressing these shifting preferences and providing a clear breakdown around the requirements and responsibilities of open roles can help to enhance the efficiency of the recruitment process and support employers to better secure the high-calibre talent that meets their future needs.'