People often wonder why
they never hear anything back after they hit ‘send’ on the email with a resume
attached or on the on-line job application. If you’re very lucky, you might
have a preliminary email exchange with a recruiter and then never hear from
them again. It’s a depressing experience, and one which also casts a shadow on
the hiring company’s reputation. So why does it happen? Is it you, is it them,
or is it just something every candidate must prepare for in the hiring process?
There’s no question job
seekers face an uphill climb. High unemployment nationally means more
competition for every position; according to a January 2012 article in the
Wall Street Journal, Starbucks “… attracted
7.6 million job applicants over the past 12 months for about 65,000 corporate
and retail job openings…”
An oft-cited recruiter’s
complaint is that as many as 50 percent of people applying for a given job
simply aren’t qualified. Adding to the challenge, most large companies-= and
many smaller ones – use talent-management software to screen resumes, weeding
out up to 50 percent of applicants before a human even looks at a resume or
cover letter. The deck is definitely stacked against the job seeker. So how do
you break through?
Here are my top 5
reasons you’re not hearing back after applying for a job, with five suggestions
for ways to avoid the Resume Black Hole.
Why
You Never Hear Back:
1.
You
really aren’t qualified. If a job description specifies a software developer with 3-5 years
of experience and you’re a recent graduate with one internship, it’s unlikely
you’ll get a call. Avoid disappointment – don’t apply for jobs for which you
lack qualifications. Most job descriptions are written with very specific
requirements. Yes, the company is trying to find the most qualified candidate;
yes, they are trying to weed people out. It’s not personal, it’s business.
2.
You
haven’t keyword-optimized your resume or application. Job descriptions are salted with keywords
specific to the skills or attributes the company seeks in applicants. A close
read of the job description is a necessity, as is keyword-optimizing your
resume and cover letter, if you’re using one, or email. If the job description
lists words in a certain order, e.g. a list of programming languages required,
use the same order in your resume.
3.
Your
resume isn’t formatted properly. You might think distinctive formatting will set your resume
apart, but automated programs don’t care if a document is pretty. Help a
machine out. Be consistent in formatting – consider using separate lines for
former employer, job title, and years worked.
4.
Your
resume is substantially different from your online profile. LinkedIn, Dice and other online profile sites
can be useful tools, so it‘s important to make sure they match what’s on your
resume. This may seem to be a contradiction – in #1 I advised keyword
optimization – but it’s really common sense. Jobs worked, employers, years on
the job and other details should match. The subtext here is always “telling the truth”.
5.
The
company received 500 resumes for one job posting, and yours was 499th in. Looking for a job is a job. Do your research – know which companies
you want to work for, organizations where you sense culture fit. Every morning
scour the job postings and jump on anything for which you’re qualified (and in
which you’re interested.) Being early with your resume or application does matter. Check back often in the first few
days to make sure the listing hasn’t changed. Often a company will post a job
and halfway through the process change the description.
It’s hard to game the
system. Your best bet is still a personal referral, and even that may not be
enough to get a call. A guy I know gave his resume to a woman who worked at a
company where a good job had been posted. He received an automated email noting
his resume had been received but never heard another word. After a month he
asked his friend to check with the recruiter. It turned out the job description
had changed, but the recruiter never bothered to let the referring employee –
or the applicant – know. This isn’t unusual, unfortunately. So what can you do?
How
You Can Get Noticed:
1.
Research
interesting companies on social media. Find out who the recruiters are and follow them. Many will
tweet new postings, so watch their streams and jump on anything for which you
are qualified. And if they tweet news saying the company’s had a great quarter,
retweet the news with a positive comment.
2.
Consider
starting a blog in your area of interest or expertise. It’s a social world; time to build a trail
of breadcrumbs leading to you. Include the blog, and links to any especially
relevant posts, in your emails to recruiters with whom you’re working.
3.
Get
professional help with your resume. Either a resume writer or an SEO expert can help you
increase your odds of getting through the talent management software. If you
can’t afford this step, read the top career blogs for advice.
4.
If
at all possible, don’t wait until you’re out of work to find your next job. I realize for many people this isn’t
possible or might even be offensive, but your chances of finding the next job
are best when you’re still employed.
5.
Network. Old advice, but still true. Be visible, be
upbeat, be informed about industry trends and news in your area of expertise.
Finding a job is tough, no question. I’ve talked
to other recruiters who say they only respond to 30 percent of applicants. The
odds are good you’ll be in the 60+ percent who hears nothing a lot of the time.
Don’t take it personally – it’s not a rejection of you, it’s a reflection of
the times. If you don’t hear back, know you’re not alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment