Have you been left hanging by a prospective employer, wondering why you haven’t been called for an interview after submitting your resume and application? It’s especially disappointing if you felt confident you’d be a good fit for the job.
There are myriad reasons why you haven’t heard back from a company. The following are five common reasons you weren’t called for an interview.
A Cover Letter to an Anonymous Person
Your cover letter is your first point of introduction to a hiring manager. You can remove yourself from contention for a job if you address that letter anonymously.
- Avoid generic salutations like “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Human Resources Manager.” Find the name of the person who will be making the company’s hiring decision. Use LinkedIn, the organization’s website, social media, and your recruiter to locate this information. The right name is out there – and it shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Application Materials That Fail to Open
Hiring managers are extremely busy and are typically flooded with resumes, applications and support materials. Even if they’re interested in meeting you, they may not take the time to struggle with accessing your information.
- Be sure everything you submit is in the right format and opens easily. Do a test. Send your materials to four or five good friends before submitting them to an employer.
Missing Keywords
If key language in your resume doesn’t match the job description, you could be screened out automatically by an applicant tracking system (ATS).
- Tailor your materials to each position by including keywords from the job posting. This way, it’s much more likely that you’ll make the first cut and have your materials read by an actual person.
Failure to Follow Directions
The process and steps for submitting your application will likely vary from employer to employer. Read, reread and follow the specific directions provided. They are there for a reason. Hiring managers aren’t going to click through multiple links to find what they’re looking for.
- An added bonus: Following directions also demonstrates that you’re detail oriented and good at project follow through.
Red Flags in Your Online Presence
Virtually all employers use social media to vet job candidates. Clean up your profiles, as well as any content or images of you that may be offensive or give an employer the wrong impression.
- Google yourself. Make sure your LinkedIn profile shows up and that everything else revealed about you via search engines is positive.
To help ensure you land the interview of your dreams and tread successfully through all the steps in your job search, why not work with a specialized recruiter with the right contacts, knowledge and market intelligence? At PrideStaff Modesto, we have access to a broad range of positions where your unique skills will be put to the best use. Contact us today to learn more.
