Have you been struggling to land the job of your dreams?
It can take quite a bit of time and patience to secure a job. Most people have to fill out numerous application forms and attend many interviews before they find employment.
However, you may find that you are not even being contacted for an interview after applying for jobs. In this case, there is a chance that you need to change your approach in some way.
If you are wondering ‘Why Not Getting Job Interviews?’, let’s find out what the reasons could be and how to fix them.
The Most Common Reasons
Trying to work out exactly why you were not called for an interview can be tricky. Contacting a hiring manager and demanding the answer can make you seem desperate and unprofessional. However, there is a good chance that you did not land the interview because of one of the following reasons.
Not The Right Match
These days, many application forms are screened by an automated system. This is designed to save the hiring manager the time of personally scanning hundreds of application forms. The automated system searches for keywords that match the requirements listed in the job description.
What you can do?
Highlight the required skills in the job description and make sure they are reflected in your application form. If you do not hear back from the hiring manager within two weeks, send them a letter of interest. This gives you the chance to introduce yourself and present your key skills and attributes.
Even if the position has already been filled, the hiring manager may have another suitable role for you.
Not Enough Qualifications
There may be certain required skills and qualifications in the job description that you do not have. If several more qualified people have applied for the role, your application may have been rejected immediately.
What you can do?
Check the required qualifications in the job description carefully. If there are essential qualifications that you do not have, there is no point in filling out the application form. Instead, send a letter of interest directly to the hiring manager highlighting your unique skills and attributes.
Overqualified For The Role
You may be applying for an entry-level role to earn money while you are job hunting. Most hiring managers prefer to employ candidates who will remain with the company for a long time. If you are overqualified for the role, this indicates that you are likely to move on rather quickly.
What you can do?
Consider removing higher degrees from your resume. Once you are granted an interview, you can talk about your reason for applying with the hiring manager. You may find that they have a more senior role at the company that is a better fit for your qualifications.
Failure To Follow The Directions
Your application may have been rejected because you failed to supply all of the requested information. If several people have applied for the job, the hiring manager is unlikely to reach out and ask for the information. They will take your inability to follow the directions as unprofessionalism and pass you over.
What you can do?
Make sure you read the directions carefully when applying for a job. If a resume and cover letter are requested, make sure they are carefully edited before submitting them. Regularly update your resume and over documents to save time when applying for a new job.
Hidden Accomplishments
Your resume and cover letter may not reflect your most important accomplishments. This is likely to happen if you have not applied for a job for a long time. You may have gained important skills and other achievements that you have forgotten to add.
What you can do?
Regularly updating your resume and cover letter templates can help to prevent this. Whenever you apply for a job, read the job description carefully. Underline the key requirements and make sure they are reflected in your documents.
Spelling And Grammar Mistakes
Spelling and grammar mistakes in your documents will be a red flag to hiring managers. They make you seem unprofessional and as if you have created your application in a hurry. The hiring manager is likely to question whether or not you are truly interested in the job.
What you can do?
Always check your documents carefully before submitting them. It can sometimes be difficult to catch your own mistakes. Asking someone else to check your documents before you submit them can save you from this issue.
Generic Cover Letter
Creating cover letter templates can save a lot of time when applying for several jobs simultaneously. However, the danger is submitting a cover letter that has not been tailored to the specific job. This will indicate to the employer that you are interested in several different jobs.
What you can do?
Take the time needed to adapt your cover letter to the job you are applying for. Include at least one element about the company that you are particularly interested in. Make it clear how your skills and experience will help the company to grow and thrive.
Short/Long Cover Letter
If your cover letter is very short, the hiring manager is likely to feel that you are not really interested in the job. However, submitting a cover letter that rambles on for more than a page can be just as detrimental. The hiring manager may become overwhelmed and dismiss your cover letter altogether.
What you can do?
Creating a cover letter is an art form that requires time and attention. It is worth taking the time to learn the proper cover letter format and style. You can create a few cover letter templates that can be adapted to the role you are applying for.
Unclear Career Path
You may have had several jobs in the past that appear to be unrelated. This can be a red flag to a hiring manager. They may feel that you are unfocused and willing to change jobs if a better opportunity comes along.
What you can do?
Take the time to edit your resume so that it paints a consistent picture. If you have had several short roles, it may be a good idea to combine them or remove them altogether. Remove any older and unrelated jobs that do not reflect your key skills and education.
Employment Gaps
If you have been unemployed for several months or even longer, you are likely to have gaps in your employment history. You may also have employment gaps for a wide range of other reasons, such as maternity leave or traveling. Long unexplained gaps in your resume are likely to make the employer believe that you are unemployable.
What you can do?
If you have a good reason for employment gaps, it is best to mention them in your cover letter. In some cases, it may be possible to edit your resume slightly so that the gaps are less noticeable. This will increase your chances of getting an interview, during which you can explain the gaps if you need to.
Unprofessional Social Media Presence
Many employers review the social media presence of candidates before reaching out to them. This is because they view their employees as their representatives. If your social media pages are full of inappropriate content, it is likely to make the employer question your professionalism.
Read more: Why Not Getting Job Interviews?
What you can do?
Take the time to adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Everything available to the public should be work-friendly. It is also worth taking the time to update your LinkedIn profile so that it showcases your key skills.
Out-of-Town Candidate
If you live in another part of the country, the employer is likely to dismiss your application. They may feel that you have failed to check the location of the company before applying. Even if you live just outside the area, a long commute time may seem to be impractical.
What you can do?
Make it clear in your application that you are planning to move locations. If you already have a moving date in mind, make it clear in your cover letter. If possible, directly email the hiring manager to make sure your relocation plans are clear.
Want To Learn More About Resume Writing?
Firstly, I’ve put together some helpful guides on How To List Education On A Resume, the Most Important Skills To Put On A Resume, Motivation Letter Writing Guide, How To List References On A Resume, and Achievements To List On Your Resume to get you started.
For additional advice, we’ve found some insightful books online such as the English for Academic CVs, Resumes, and Online Profiles, Land Your Dream Job: Join the 2% Who Make it Past Resumé Screening, Marketing Yourself in the Age of Digital: CVs, Applications, Interviews, Social Media, LinkedIn, as well as CVs, Resumes, and LinkedIn: A Guide to Professional English available online in 2023.
Now that your resume is ready to go, we’ve researched some great interview guides to look at. So, check out the Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview, Amazing Interview Answers: 44 Tough Job Interview Questions with 88 Winning Answers, and How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions.
Or have a read of my favorite book, Hiring Squirrels: 12 Essential Interview Questions to Uncover Great Retail Sales Talent, or maybe INTERVIEW with DESIRE and GET HIRED!: How to Ace the Interview, Sell Yourself & Get Your Dream Job to help ace that interview.
Final Thoughts
If you do not immediately get called in for an interview, the last thing you should do is give up. If you have your sights set on a particular role, it is a good idea to take a different approach.
Instead of simply applying for a vacancy, you can work your professional connections to help get a foot in the door. Obtaining a recommendation from a current employee can help you to move to the top of the pile. Sending a professional letter of inquiry to a hiring manager can also help you to stand out from the crowd.
Above all else, stay positive and keep working on your skills, and the right job should be just around the corner.
All the very best with your future Interviews!
