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.

8 Steps to Acing Your Phone Interview

Most first job interviews are via telephone. A hiring manager sees your resume, thinks you may be a good fit, and calls you. It is very important to be ready for that first call because it is your one chance to move forward in the hiring process. Flub it and you won’t get a second opportunity. Make the sales presentation of your experience count.

Control Contact

Do not list every possible telephone number at which you can be reached. A home number and cell number are typically all an employer needs. If your cell is a company phone, list only your home number or obtain a personal cell phone. A company phone should not be used for job search. Do you spend a great deal of time during the day in situations where it would be difficult to talk spontaneously to a prospective employer such as meetings or in a shared office? Make sure you have a very professional voice mail message and check your messages regularly. Return all calls as soon as possible and if you end up in a “phone tag” situation, be persistent and proactive.

Focus

If you receive that first call while driving or any time you cannot devote 100% of your attention to the conversation, ask the caller if you can return the call. Distracted conversations make for poor interviews. When an employer or recruiter calls, they understand the time might not be good and are generally open to scheduling a call for a later time. Try to schedule the conversation as soon as possible and don’t forget to get a name and number for a contact.

Practice Tough Answers

Many people have some sort of obstacle in their current career search or a past problem that may come up in an interview. Be especially prepared to discuss such issues, not because they are more important but because they cause the most anxiety. Knowing what you are going to say to tough questions makes them much less scary.

 

Google Yourself

Be aware of information about you in the public realm. Make sure you conduct an Internet search on yourself. Employers will be doing this so you need to be on the same page. Be aware that your social media activities will also be reviewed by many employers or recruiters. If you have a Facebook page or Twitter account, it might be examined by employers. Be careful what you put there and don’t be surprised if a related question arises in the interview.

Use Your Resume

The resume’s usefulness does not stop with gaining the interview. It is your guideline for steering your interview. Carry your own copy with additional notes added. It is impossible (and unnecessary) to include all information in a resume so having additional facts and figures that support information in the resume can be a great aide in the interview. Think of it as a sort of “cheat sheet” for helping you to remember facts during the interview.

Be Informed

If you apply to a company, know something about that company! Knowledge is power. If a hiring manager calls ten people and only two of them can speak informatively about the company, its mission, and its products/service, those two will be the ones to move forward in the process! Ask informed questions that make sense and are company-focused.

Give Scenarios

Employers want to know not only what you’ve done but they want to know in what context. Be prepared to back up your claims to skills and expertise with specific scenarios and details about your performance. For example, if you have experience in project management, be ready to talk about a couple of projects you handled successfully. Select “stories” that will demonstrate your expertise. Bring in details and make sure to emphasize successful results of your efforts.

Curb the Chatter

Are you enthusiastic about your potential? That’s great but don’t let it get control of your tongue. An interview is a dialogue – it isn’t a monologue opportunity for you. Let the interviewer get a word in! Answer the question presented and keep your answers on topic. It is very easy to rabbit-trail off and chatter away but it is not helpful. It’s frustrating to the interviewer who probably has a limited amount of time and the information you chatter about may not even be relative. If you have trouble knowing when to stop talking, practice with a stopwatch. Limit your answers to two minutes if possible.

 

When the employer or recruiter calls you, you are “on”. Think ahead about what you will say, how you will handle specific questions, and have “stories” prepared that will demonstrate the skills and experience you offer. Use your resume as a guide and don’t prattle on about topics. Let the employer ask questions and ask some of your own. An interview is a conversation! Relax and make a great impression!

Sorry CEO!!, you are not my Target Audience

There might be many reasons why many start up's fail, but after a lot of Q and A and discussion in my upper membrane, I came to a conclusion. If you have a list of all the things you shouldn't do, you can turn that into a recipe for succeeding just by negating. And this form of list may be more useful in practice. It's easier to catch yourself doing something you shouldn't than always to remember to do something you should. In a sense there's just one mistake that kills startups: not making something users want. If you make something users want, you'll probably be fine; whatever else you do or don't do. And if you don't make something users want, then you're dead, whatever else you do or don't do. The warning signal comes when you think and make your product for your own convenience rather with respect to your user.

In my career, I have made products which user wish to use. Sorry Mr. CEO, I don’t make products for you because you’re not my TG and I am not here to impress you.

I am listing few reasons for failure since most of the start up's failure funnel through these:-

1. Single Founder

2. Multiple Founder with limited powers and Zero Expertise

3. Bad Location

4. Concentration on Marginal Niche to Avoid competition hoping to get success

5. Derivative Ideas

6. Obstinacy/Being stubborn or Refractory / Not willing to accept failure and stubborn to accept better ideas

7. Hiring Bad Programmers

8. Choosing wrong platform / No research done

9. Tortoise Steps in launching / Else Launching before time without fixes

10. Having no specific Target User in Mind

11. Hiring best employee's with less pay / Bad HR resources.

12. Raising too little money or Spending excess of money

13. Poor Investor management

14. Sacrificing users to Profit

15. Tussle between founders

16. No research and getting self hands dirty

17. Hiring people with no competitive role and out of bounds competition employees

18. Giving employees a platform to work for their own. Remember a Start-up is neither a ground of interns neither it is a home for parasites who work for them using your own resource. Most Dangerous.

19. Hiring HR with no expertise in your Domain. Remember they bring no value as consultants.

20. Imbalance appreciation of work, low motivation, and no interaction with employees. Instead fake promises are biggest cause of failure.

Mr Rocket Singh, My Mozo Man

Literally a man who helps as main assistant or porter is a Mozo. What happens when your friend a Mozo kill your share of value taking advantage of friendship and innocence. At the beginning you feel to let it go. But later you learn never to commit such mistakes on blind trust.

Agreed my friend business starts like a Rocket Singh, but Rocket Singh in your own stuff is funny. So Mr. Mozo, agreed it’s your job to get the things done, whether alone, by your team, or by free-lancer, I hardly give a damn to it. My share remains mine. Irrespective of whether you work for 1 or 10 companies at a time, I don’t care. It is as simple as that, whether you have to buy 10 apartments or single, broker commission remains flat. If you have short sightedness, and if you think locally, then I am sorry I cannot help you out. You lost many things man.

Secrets to getting the job you really want

I'd like to make your job search more successful. When applying for a job, it's critical to deliver your resume to the right person. In most job listings, the recipient of the resume is an HR professional. That's fine, but it's not the only way to apply for the job. If you find a job where you're a perfect fit, an alternative approach is to send a resume directly to the hiring manager. For example, if you were applying for a sales position, you could call the company and ask for the name of the sales manager, and then send a cover letter and resume directly to that person. My advice is to only use this tactic when you're a perfect fit, and to not apply to the job via the traditional HR process as well. You don't want to be seen as someone who is sending two resumes in an attempt to end-run the HR process. Your goal is to have the hiring manager call the HR recruiter and tell him or her to bring you in for an interview.

I also advise job seekers to be sure that their resumes highlight the relevant accomplishments they have for the job they want. Most job seekers have resumes listing their skills and responsibilities, which isn't enough. It makes them look like every other job seeker who will be ignored for the job. Your resume should highlight your relevant accomplishments in a way that will make the employer say, "Wow, she's succeeded at doing a similar job before." You want your resume reader to perceive you as being accomplished in your profession. Transitioning your resume to this better approach isn't easy, but it will surely get you more interviews.

When your CEO or COO updates Resume

Is this the time to take a nap or time to hammer your head? Shocking to listen when you see your COO or CEO updates his or her resume and later his resume comes back to you in your mail floating. Time to recap all hard work and get into a safe place, since the virus of insecurity is eating your boss even. Go to your flash back when those were the people who made you promises. Dude, we are this and that and bla bla bla!!!! . You stepped in and worked for them. Now suddenly you realized Trust is indirectly proportional to promises. What do you wait for now, a pink slip when you see your organization is in losses? Kill that feeling of loyalty, eagerness, attitude towards work, and of-course kill your sleep and find the next right job. I am not promoting job hopping; instead I am making you cautious to beware of skeleton of danger.

I remember when flood came to my home, I prayed to god, why didn’t I choose for Top Floor apartment. It happens in life when you realize that time is still not gone and better time is yet to come. There are many good things to do in life rather living with moles.

Awesome!!! Beat Your Boss Game

http://www.funrestarea.com/pages/boss.shtml

http://arcade.modemhelp.net/play-4633-Whack_Your_Boss.html

Play this game, worth trying.

Top 10 mistakes that bosses make, Encash these mistakes..Be Smart..

Calling the boss H - Hitler, A - Arrogant, R - Rascal and I - Idiot caught everyone's attention in Naukri's TV commercial, would you do the same if given an opportunity? Even though it was just an advertisement, it did reflect the plight of employees in the IT industry. Lets find out top ten mistakes that even good managers and bosses make. So I am listing below the top ten mistakes which are very common amongst bosses.

1. Fake Promises
2. Micro-management
3. Using improper mode of communication
4. Leading through intimidation
5. Lacking empathy for employee's situation
6. Becoming inaccessible to your employees
7. Not providing guidance or motivating employees
8. Not providing a clear picture - Transparency
9. Insecurity about their post
10. Trying to be friend as well as boss or showing partiality

10 most popular incentives that firms offer BEWARE

From project completion lunches to holiday sponsorship, companies around the world dole out several innovative incentives to employees, in a bid to retain them. Employee's should be cautious before joining an organization that is the offer a bait or butter? I think, the ten most popular incentives that employers offer, and employees enjoy today are:-

1. Cash Bonus
2. ESOP's
3. Project Completion Lunch
4. Joining Bonus
5. Tax Saving Incentives
6. Trip Abroad or Holiday Sponsorship
7. Corporate Discounts
8. Motivational Employee Recognition
9. Insurance
10. Rewards and Recognition

Infosys employees vent anger on HR issues in blogs

Employee activism is on the rise at Infosys, India's second-largest information technology services firm, which employs close to 114,000 in India and across the world.

The company's effort to tame the disgruntled employees, who were earlier venting their anger in public forums and some social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, by giving them a blogging platform on its intranet, seems to have back-fired.

So much so, the company's HR Head, Nandita Gurjar claims to be getting thousands of negative reactions to her blog postings in the company's intranet 'Sparsh'. This has forced her to set up a team of six to moderate the blogs and 'My voice', the dedicated website the company has developed to seek the opinion of employees on important policy matters. Infosys is understood to have changed some of its HR policy decisions, coming under severe attacks by the employees in these blogs and 'My voice'.

Read more on:-
 http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/apr/15/slide-show-1-infosys-employees-vent-anger-on-hr-issues-in-blogs.htm