It is frustrating when you send out dozens of resume and don’t get a callback or even a response from the company. Firstly, don’t beat yourself up about it, because you are not alone. 30% of job-seekers get silent- treatment from HR after sending out a resume.
Secondly, find out if you are making some mistakes due to which you are not getting a callback. There are many reasons which may or may not be in your control. Let’s look at them.
Your qualification doesn’t match the job post
Most job applications require special skills or certification or experience. The recruiters will not reply back to your job application if it doesn’t match with their requirements. For example, if a job requires the applicant to have 3-5 years of experience and you are a fresher, you won’t get the job. Also, due to legal issues, the recruiters are not allowed to tell you the reason for rejecting your application.
- Multiple screening process
As an applicant, you send your resume to a single HR. But hiring an applicant is a collective decision taken by a team of HRs and managers. If one of the HR managers doesn’t like your application, they will reject your application. When everyone likes your application, then only you get an interview call from them.
- Your resume is not up to the mark
A resume is the first point of contact between you and your potential employer. If the resume is not crafted carefully, you won’t get a callback.
An HR or recruiter has tons of resume to go through every day. In 30 seconds, they scan the resume, and if they find it interesting, they read it cover by cover. Create your resume here.
To make sure your resume gets shortlisted for the next round, follow these tips:
- Career summary of the CV must tell the HR what skills you have that can help their company grow. Don’t write the same vague objective like “aims to bring more energy to your company” or “looking forward to adding value to your firm”. Also, the summary must be tailor-made for the job position you are sending the resume for.
- Proof-read the resume to get rid of spelling and grammatical errors.
- For a fresher, it is important to write about the internship and training that they underwent.
- Don’t disclose the reason for leaving your previous job.
- Don’t over-exaggerate or lie in your resume.
- Use a font size and typeface that is readable and professional.
- Use action verbs like leading and so on.
- Not planning ahead and targeting the wrong employer
Sending out a resume to each and every company that has a job opening is a bad move. You need to carefully plan your job search. For that, target the job posts that require that you are passionate about.
Only then, the chances of you hearing back from the employer will increase. If you send out numerous resume every day, without looking at the qualifications and skills requirement, you will be disappointed.
Thus plan ahead, target the job openings that are asking for skills and qualification you possess.
- Not using keywords
Keywords in the resume are the phrases or words, that define your skills and qualification, the recruiter is looking for. An applicant should make sure that they include at least 2-3 keywords in the first half of the resume. It will especially help when the company you are applying to uses a resume scanning machine. These machines look for keywords or pointers specified by the recruiter, and if your CV doesn’t have that, it will reject your resume.
- You applied to the job at the last moment
If the company gets 100 resumes in 2 days for a job, and yours was the 99th resume, it will reduce your chances of getting hired. To make sure your resume is at least considered, send it as soon as you find the listing (And if it interests you).
Don’t lose hope when you don’t get an answer from the recruiter. It is a game of chance, and sometimes despite your best efforts, you don’t get a callback. Don’t take it as a rejection; instead try to find the mistakes so that the next time, you don’t repeat it.