The world is still trying to recover from recession. And with a down economy, come a lot of layoffs and downsizing or, in a more polite manner, cost savings. All these drastic measures open doors for prospective job seekers around to start applying for the vacant positions. Some are advertised, some abolished, while some are filled from within an organizations.
Being a part of the job seeking pool, I have heard countless accounts of job seekers sending 10, 20 and sometimes even 30 resumes to different organizations, yet not even getting a single response. Yes, the economy is down, there’s a lot of competition, the system is not transparent, nepotism is at all times high etc. etc. etc. You may go on and on, in a circle. If you really want to know why you didn’t score an interview call, then read on for a FEW reasons to find out the cause.
Disclaimer: These reasons are not to make you feel insulted, but are coming from a few years of experience of going through 100’s of resumes without short listing one. Take them as constructively as you can, and you will hopefully score your dream job if you follow even a few.
1. Sending resumes to [email protected]
Its not necessary that your resume had flaws in it or you didn’t build the most exceptional of the resumes, its just that no human actually read the resume. Almost all these [email protected] are based on scoring systems which shortlists certain resumes’ based on the buzzwords fed to it. So, if you’re really willing to work in any particular organization, then it is better to do some research and find someone you know. Even a friend of a friend in this case might prove to be the bridge between you and your job.
2. Grammar and Spelling speed breaker
Nowadays, almost a zero-tolerant policy is adopted by almost all the good organizations when it comes to grammar and spelling mistakes in your CV. Yes, 6 seconds are more than enough to find a grammar mistake. So, please run a grammar and spelling check before finalizing your resume.
3. Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V
You have been sending resumes and cover letters to many organizations. You do not want to go to the hassle of personalizing each and every cover letter, resume according to the job profile. So, why should a recruiter go through the hassle of reading your resume or cover letter? You do not need to recreate your resume and cover letter for every new job, but YOU NEED TO PERSONALIZE THEM FOR EVERY JOB YOU ARE APPLYING. Do a bit of research and then shape your cover letter and resume accordingly.
4. Sending only a Resume
Most candidates, when applying, send only a resume when applying for a job, omitting the cover letter. It increases your chances of being put in the fire pot. Many organizations do not mention the requirement of a cover letter, but it is implied by default. Most of the times, your cover letter will prove to be your job scoring tool. So, next time when you send a resume, do include a cover letter with it, it will increase your chances of scoring the job.
5. You didn’t follow up, while someone else did
At each and every stage of the hiring process, it is extremely important to follow up with the hiring personnel. It can be of any kind, from a small thank you note to giving them a call and simply inquiring about the post or status of your application. It is appropriate for candidates to follow up on their cover letters at least once a week for a couple of weeks. You do not want to sound desperate at all, so do not go about piling e-mails on them, or your resume would become another submission in the pile.
6. Too long, Didn’t Read
Too long resumes would decrease your chances of getting a job. In an age, where digital resumes are starting to become a norm, you simply cannot expect a recruiter to go through six pages of long stories. Two pages are more than enough, and three is the max you should go. Resumes are a summary of your achievements, not your Valedictorian speech.
7. Applying for an irrelevant/unrelated job
It is assumed, on average, that by the time you complete your Bachelor’s you know what position you are seeking in a particular industry. Nowadays, companies expect an extremely close fit between the post and the skills. So, try to elaborate on all the elements of the skills you have or have gained that match the responsibilities of the job you are applying for. Do not waste time filling up applications for jobs which are clearly out of your reach, instead utilize that time searching for jobs that match your profile.
8. No Objective
You have an exceptional resume, but you do not have any objective. Your resume is nothing but a plain piece of paper for recruiters. Recruiters nowadays believe that people with no objectives would not be able to work towards fulfilling the vision of the company, as they do not have a vision for themselves. Being a potential job seeker, you need to have clearly defined objectives, with skills to correspond to that objective. Do a bit of self analysis and try to find out what job and organization suits you best. In this digital age, its only a few clicks away.
9. Too adorned
Your cover letter and resume should be in a single flow and must be in a simple language, easy to understand. You should not get too technical with the terms and buzzwords, or use too much of decorations or buttering language. Recruiters know when you are trying to cross the line with an adorned resume. So, use simple fonts and font sizes, which look pleasing to the eyes.
10. Not being available
You sent out a well furnished application for a job you are best suited to, and you left the next day for a vacation, leaving behind your contact number. The organization will, at most, call you twice in two days. They’ll move on after that. So, when you are confident of scoring a suitable job, wait for at least 2 weeks. That’s the minimum, and sometimes the maximum; it takes for good organizations to return back to you.
These are only some of the reasons as to why you didn’t get interview call for the job. Take them as constructively as you can and keep in mind that you could do everything right and still not get a job. Take all your rejections positively and frame out a better YOU every time. Sooner or later, you will be the most preferred candidate.
