6 Reasons Your Resume Got No Response

In the best of times responding to a job listing can feel like sending your resume out to sea in a bottle. But at least you received a call or an email acknowledgement. Now, with the volume of applicants higher than ever, you're more likely to hear nothing.

If there is a resounding silence from your queries, keep looking and networking. But you can also do some sleuthing to give you a better chance of standing out next time. Recruiters and career experts agree that, if you didn't get an interview or phone call -- or even a thank-you email -- it may be due to at least one of six reasons.

1. They're just not that into you.

You're good, but someone else more closely met the qualifications. In a tight job market employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want. A polite "thanks, but no thanks" letter or email would be nice. But don't expect it these days.

2. They may be into you, as soon as they get to you.

Companies receive so many submissions these days that they don't even have time to send out letters or confirmation emails. I know a major software company that's taking more than three weeks just to send out acknowledgement notes, and some companies are spending months sifting through resumes for just one opening.

3. They would have been into you if you had followed directions.

If you're answering a job listing, be sure you respond in exactly the way the company wants. And be aware that if you're not applying for a specific job but rather sending out dozens or hundreds of form letters, your resume is likely to end up in companies' spam folders.

 

 

4. They might be into you if you apply for a more appropriate job.

Many job seekers are overqualified, under-qualified, or otherwise just wrong. If recruiters need to fill a specific job, and you're not right for it, don't assume that they're going to find the right fit for you. A lot of times people send resumes, but before that remember, 'Did you even read the job description?'"

5. Your presentation could use some work.

A lot of mistakes I see are a lack of cover letter, and an objective statement on the resume that is all wrong for the job opening. Even worse are obviously mass emails where the candidates had no clue what they were applying for.

6. There isn't any job.

Sometimes, due to last minute budget cuts, a position is eliminated before it's even filled. Other times, companies reel in resumes even when they know there isn't any opening. Some companies want a big applicant pool because they think they may be hiring in the future.