Looking for a job can be very difficult. Rejection is a real but unfortunate aspect of the job search that job seekers have to deal with since there are always competitions for good jobs. It is more difficult when you send in tons of applications without hearing back from employers. It can be depressing sometimes but you always have to try again. It is also important that you double check to ensure that you are not your own problem.
There are common mistakes that may be presenting you as the wrong candidate to recruiters and it is important that you correct right now. Here, we will discuss ten possible reasons why you are not hearing back from employers and how you can fix things to stand a better chance of being hired:
Your Job Search Process Is Not Optimized
Your overall success depends on how you approach the job search. You need to optimize the entire process if you want to get a real result. From the way you search for new job openings to the way you submit your resume and cover letter, everything counts. You need to set up job alerts and email update for the sort of jobs you need and the kind of positions you are qualified to fill.
By getting the right alerts, you stand a better chance of landing your dream job. When the alerts and emails are coming in, study the job descriptions properly and try as much as you can to optimize your resume with them. When you have everything properly set up, the amount of time you spend searching for jobs will reduce and this will give you the time to customize your applications to sooth the jobs you want.
You Do Not Have a Target Employer
You need to understand who your ideal employers are and target them appropriately. This is not only helpful when you are searching for a job; it will also determine the satisfaction you will get if you finally land a job. It will be helpful if you identify the kind of organization you will be most suitable for working with. Your skills and interests should determine your target employers.
When you identify the employers that are more likely to hire you, your job search process will become a lot more effective. It is also important that you study these target employers and understand what they need so that you know how to structure your applications and appear as the candidate they truly need. By identifying companies and organizations that need your skills and align with your passion and interest, you will increase your chances of getting hired sooner.
Your Resume and Cover Letter Are Not Optimized
Many job applicants make the mistake of using a generic resume for different job applications. Just as you need to tailor your cover letter to match the job you are applying for, it is also important that you optimize your resume for any particular job you are applying for. If you are truly interested in working for a company and have identified them as your target market, you should take out the time to write a super-attractive cover letter and twitch your resume to suit the job you are applying for.
To optimize your application, you should use some keywords from the job description. You don’t have to write a new resume every time but you can have a skills section where you can emphasize the relevant skills you have that will add value to the company. You can also address the company’s business problems and how you can help solve them.
Your Resume Is Too Long
While it is important to include all the relevant information that will make an employer hire you, it is also important that your resume is as concise as possible. Having a very long resume may be the reason you are not hearing back from employers. Believe it or not, most recruiters are too busy and can be turned off by a pretty long resume. A long resume also indicates that you did not tailor your application to a particular job and included irrelevant information; most HR experts frown at this.
You may want to let the recruiter know about all the skills you have but making your resume too long can get the recruiter bored or confused and some will not spend time looking at such long resumes when they have concise ones at their tables. You need to include only information that will help you land the particular job you are applying for.
You Are Not Making Good Use of the Top Third of Your Resume
The top third part of your resume is the most important part and you need to optimize it to impress a recruiter. This is especially helpful in online job recruitment which is the real deal at the moment. Most recruiters have so many resumes to read and if they can’t find anything attractive or compelling in this part of your resume, they may swipe to the next resume and trash yours. This is the major reason why most applicants don’t hear from employers these days.
You should start by providing your personal information in a clean a sweet manner. Your name, a single phone number, one email address, and your LinkedIn URL will be enough at this point. You can dive right into your experience or provide a professional summary statement.
You Neglected Some Instructions
You should know that a recruiter will quickly trash your application if you did not follow instructions. In most cases, detailed instructions are given by employers to see how carefully applicants read instructions. Even if you are the most suitable for a job and you fail to follow the instructions, you will be screened out at the very first stage of the recruitment process.
The commonest instructions are about what you need to submit with the applications. It is important to attach all the documents that are required. Doing otherwise will mean no call back in most cases. Another tricky instruction can be the format to submit the documents. Some employers will ask that you submit your resume as a PDF; if you submit a Word document instead, you will be automatically screened out in most exercises. Read instructions carefully and follow them dutifully.
You Submitted Your Application Very Late
Most companies receive hundreds of applications when they have a single job vacancy. While some may tell you that it doesn’t matter, the time you sent in your application matters so much. You stand a better chance of having your resume read when you are the 3rd out of 500 that applied than when you are the 497th.
This is one of the reasons you need to know the companies you hope to work for and set up alerts and email updates to know when they have openings you can fill. It can also be helpful to scour job postings every morning. Try to submit your application as early as possible and always check back to see if the requirements have changed or if there are new instructions.
You Are Not Making Good Use of LinkedIn
In the age of social networking, your LinkedIn account can make all the difference when it comes to getting hired. Almost every employer will look up your LinkedIn profile before hiring you. If your profile doesn’t look professional enough your chances of hearing back from employers will be meaningfully reduced. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile already, now is the time to create one. If you already have, you can give it a facelift now.
LinkedIn is most helpful when you have scaled through the earliest part of the hiring process. It can be the distinguishing factor between you and your closest rival. If you have a better looking LinkedIn profile, you will be hired. You need to make your profile as professional as possible. Get as many connections as you can, include some samples of your works and/or accomplishments, and include a great personal story.
You Are Not Networking
You stand a better chance of landing your dream job when you know how to network. Building and using your networks is something you must take seriously. Both social and professional networks are important and you should never neglect any. If you have applied to a target company and are yet to get feedback from them, a member of your network that works there already may be able to find out the reason and help you in any possible manner.
If you do not have a strong professional network at the moment, it is never too late to start building one. You can start by attending networking events around you. There are equally some digital communities you can join and meet like-minded professionals that can be of real help when you need it.
Your Social Media Presence Is a Mess
Your social media platforms may be personal but employers may take a peek before deciding to hire you. This is major because once you work for any organization; you become a part of them on and off the clock. When you have a toxic social media presence, your employers can suffer the consequences too. This is why most employers will review your social media presence before letting you join them: and they have the right to do that.
You need to keep your social media profiles as clean as possible. Avoid whatever you feel can turn recruiters off. You are expected to be socially decent and employers will use what they see on your profiles to judge your personality. If it means deleting your account and starting over again, do it.
Landing your dream job can be tough but with the right effort, it is achievable. If you haven’t been hearing back from employers recently, consider the ten points discussed above. Making the recommended changes will improve your chances of hearing back and securing that dream job.
