Why Your Resume Isn’t Getting You Any Interviews

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Sarah Thompson
Information, Job Search Aug 23, 2018 0

We’ve all been there before, you spend hours and hours perfecting your resume, only to apply to a position and never hear back from anyone. You’re stuck there wondering what went wrong and why your skillset wasn’t enough.

There are usually the same core reasons a recruiter or hiring manager won’t give you a call based on your resume:

  • The position has been filled and the company did not take the posting down (or they closed the posting, and the job board or site has not been refreshed yet)
  • The skills and experience on your resume doesn’t reflect what the position requires
  • Your resume does not include updated contact information, or your voicemail is full

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about the position being filled before you can even apply, the only piece of advice I have for you on this front is to apply as soon as you see a post. Understandably, you don’t always have time to edit your resume for the position or write a cover letter, but set a reminder in your phone to do it the second you have a free moment. The sooner you can get in an application, the better.

If you are qualified for the positions you’re applying for but don’t seem to be getting any communication from recruiters, take a look at your resume. When was the last time you held a position similar to the one you’re trying to get now? Do you have skills that are listed in the job description? Are they on your resume? When you’re applying to jobs, read through the job description thoroughly and put any and all skills that you have that match on your resume. If you haven’t held a position in the field you’re aiming for in a little while, try breaking up your resume by type of experience instead of placing it in chronological order. For example, if you’re in pharmacy, but haven’t worked in pharmacy for a few positions, put all of your pharmacy experience together, and then put the remainder experience under “Additional Experience.” This will ensure that recruiters see your related experience without having to scroll through unrelated positions. If you’re applying to positions on LinkedIn, they have a new feature that shows how you stack up to the skills required based on the skills listed on your profile. If you have skills listed in the job description that aren’t in your profile, add them before applying. This will help boost your resume to the top of the pile.

I cannot stress this enough, make sure your contact information is up to date! A recruiter or hiring manager can only try so hard to get in contact with you if your email bounces or your phone number is out of service, there is not much else that a recruiter can do to get in contact with you, short of stalking you. Always check to make sure your voicemail is empty and functional and that your spam settings on your email aren’t too aggressive that a recruiter’s email goes straight to junk. Again, if you attach your LinkedIn Profile, making sure it’s not super private, you will add another form of communication that a recruiter can reach you at.

I can’t fully say that these tips will help you get a job offer, unfortunately, there is a bit of luck involved in the job hunt, but the harder you work at it, the easier it becomes to get a job. Take the time to customize your resume and cover letter to each position, ensuring that your skillset reflects what the job description entails.

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