Not Hearing Back About The Jobs You’re Applying For? Here’s Why!

Rejection is hard. But silence can be even harder. When you find a job that seems perfect for you and don’t even get a response to your application, it can undermine your confidence.

Sometimes you just have to be patient. On average, companies take more than three weeks to run their hiring process. It’s rare to get a truly quick reply — one study showed that only 37% of applicants receive a response within the first week.

You can fast-track your job search with a staffing agency. A top recruiter, like SmartTalent, will connect you with employers ready to move quickly.

However, there are other steps you can take as well. if you’re constantly getting ignored by employers, it might be time to look at your process. Here are a few common reasons why you might not be hearing back about the jobs you’re applying for:

You Weren’t Qualified

Sometimes, you just don’t make a good fit for a particular job. Even as a high-quality candidate, some positions will be outside your expertise or don’t match your particular skills. Don’t dwell on these. It’s best to just move on to other, more suitable opportunities.

That said, if this happens often, it might point to a glitch in your selection of potential jobs. A shotgun approach (in which you apply to almost every position you see) can waste time and effort, as well as divert your attention from more promising situations.

Your Resume Could Use an Upgrade

Let’s assume you’re a good fit for a position but still don’t get a response from your application. In that case, you fell short in showcasing your qualifications.

Your resume represents the most likely culprit here. Go through your document, looking for potential improvements. Here are a few areas to look at:

Grammar/Spelling Errors: Aggressively proofread your resume for any mistakes. Even the smallest typo can cost you a callback.

Formatting: Does the structure of your resume make the most pertinent information obvious? Look for ways to better highlight your top-selling points.

Keywords: Many companies use software to make the first cut when reviewing candidates. These programs rely heavily on keywords. As such, ensure that your resume includes likely keywords for each particular job.

You Didn’t Target the Individual Employer

Treat every application as a unique opportunity. Every employer (and every position) has idiosyncrasies that make it special. If you can target the specific role being described, you’ll have a better chance of making the cut.

A recruiter can help find jobs that exactly match your skills and background. SmartTalent can connect you with the perfect situation, letting you skip the waiting game that slows down the typical job search.

You can further maximize your chances by customizing your resume. Using the job description as a guide, tweak your resume to target the specific position. Consider possible keywords, as well as the skills that will best fit the job.

You Need to Network More

Submitting applications is a numbers game. Companies often receive hundreds of resumes for each available position. Only a handful of these will turn into interviews. Your chances of being one of those lucky few are very low.

However, when you have a connection with an employer, you suddenly don’t face the same long odds. You skip to the front of the line. As such, aggressive networking can lead to a better response rate. You’ll get more interviews because you aren’t relying on a cold reading of your resume.

A staffing agency provides the same kind of boost. Working with a top recruiter, like SmartTalent, plugs you into a vast network of employers, accelerating your job search.

Contact SmartTalent today and stop waiting to hear back from employers.