Why You’re Not Getting Any Job Interviews (+ What To Do About It)

There are a lot of potential reasons why you may not be getting any interviews or traction in your job search.

(Here are six reasons you may not be hearing back from recruiters.)

In this post, I want to focus on factors that may be contributing to you hearing crickets that you actually have some control over.

Well over 80% of our clients generate interviews by applying cold online.

Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not possible!

Use these ideas below to assess your process and resume so far!

You’re not actually applying for jobs.

People are surprised to learn that many many of the folks that I work with come to me because they’re not applying to any jobs at all. They’re scrolling through job sites, unhappy at work and wishing for a new job — but that’s not a job search.

Here’s the deal:  most successful job searches require multiple applications submitted in a strategic way.  it’s not enough to scour the internet looking for job postings, you must take the time to customize your materials and hit submit.  I know that preparing for a job search when you are already exhausted and burned out in your current job is an enormous challenge.

If you’re only applying to one job here and there you may not be giving yourself an opportunity to connect with potential employers or the right kind of jobs.

Don’t let your job search stay in your head! You’ve got to create opportunities for interaction to move your job search forward.

You’re applying to too many jobs.

Here’s the second most common problem I see: the infamous spray and pray approach to job applications.

If you’re someone relying on the volume of applications to get traction - and you are a mid or senior career professional looking to make a move that matters - this strategy is not going to work for you.

Most of our clients get traction (interviews) within 4-6 weeks by applying for 4-8 jobs/month.

By being selective and reducing our overall applications, we create more time and space to tailor your resume which can help them stand out when applying online.

Your resume and cover letter are too generic.

Most people don’t customize their resume and cover letter besides changing the name of the employer (and honestly, you’d be surprised how many people forget to do that! ).

Consider all the different roles you’ve applied for lately.

I’m sure they have a lot in common. But they almost certainly have distinct qualifications, too.

It’s really critical to treat those qualifications as central when revising your resume for each role.

Your resume is really not just about you - it’s about the job you’re applying for.

Learning how to effectively tailor your resume - effectively and efficiently - is a huge component of our work with clients.

(Or you can hire us to do it for you!)

You’re relying on the design of your resume template instead of the content

If you’re reading this and you happen to be a design professional - this isn’t necessarily advice for you.

But everyone else, please listen up: a cute, highly graphic resume is not what you need.

What makes a resume compelling is NOT the design or the template - it’s the content that conveys your qualifications.

Make sure you are using your words to demonstrate your relevant experience.

(And if you need some help with your Words, check this out!)

If you’re struggling to get traction, I definitely recommend modifying your approach to focus on quality applications over quantity - and see what happens to your search!