Why Am I Not Getting Job Interviews?

The average corporate job opening receives 250 resumes per job opening. With highly saturated job markets, many eager and qualified candidates are left asking themselves: “Why am I not getting job interviews?”

5 reasons you’re not getting job interviews

In reality, being overlooked and undervalued is often part of the job search process. However, there are aspects of the applicant vetting process that can steer employers in your direction.

Here’s a list of 5 reasons you may be overlooked by companies:

1. Your resume has typos, grammatical errors, or formatting issues

According to a CareerBuilder survey, 49% of hiring managers say they will automatically dismiss a resume with spelling or grammatical issues. Even with the most impressive background and skills, candidates can find themselves on the outs of a potentially perfect position. Proofread your resume multiple times to ensure your “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” are dotted.

In today’s markets, time is one of the most valuable currencies. So much so that it has turned us all into skimming experts. Recruiters and hiring managers are no exception. To avoid being overlooked, make sure your resume layout is organized and easy to skim.

2. Your qualifications don’t align with the position

If you’re thinking, “I have a good resume but still no interviews,” the explanation may still lie within your resume. Do your qualifications align with the position you are applying for?

A recent MarketSplash survey found that 63% of hiring managers prefer a resume tailored to the specific job opening. While elaborating differently on personal experiences, achievements, and skills can be more time-consuming, it is a surefire way to stand out in the hiring process.

Take the time to redo your resume for the positions you most desire. You have unique qualifications that can be geared toward various roles. Make sure you shine for each of them with different iterations.

3. Your resume isn’t ATS-optimized

If you’re wondering how to get an interview after applying online, the answer is to play nice with robots. Yes, you read that correctly.

According to Capterra, three-quarters of recruiters utilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) during the applicant vetting process. If your resume isn’t ATS-optimized, there’s a 75% chance it’s passed by without being viewed by human eyes! Ensure your resume is ATS-compatible by using job-relevant keywords and section titles. Be careful when using ATS-friendly resume templates as you still need a high-quality resume and not just a jumble of keywords. If you need help, enlist a professional resume writer.

4. Your cover letter is too generic

Forty-nine percent of hiring managers view cover letters as the second most important asset during the vetting process, an optimized resume is the first. While it can be time-consuming and difficult, a personalized cover letter helps you stand out from the crowd.

Unfortunately, many candidates are unsure what a good cover letter looks like. While there’s no bolt-on solution for the perfect cover letter, a good start is to ensure your cover letter is:

Properly formatted
The right length–typically 250 to 400 words
Highlighting your role-specific experiences, skills, and achievements
Highlighting why you are a good fit for the company
Exemplifies your uniqueness versus simply a repetition of your resume qualifications

It’s always helpful to enlist another set of eyes to see if your cover letter is serving you best. You might think your cover letters are fine when they could be missing the mark.

5. You have an unoptimized LinkedIn Profile

Have you ever wondered if recruiters view social media profiles? While it’s unclear whether a recruiter will scroll your Instagram, they will almost certainly visit your LinkedIn profile–with 95% of recruiters utilizing the popular professional networking tool.

So, if you’re asking yourself, “Why am I not getting any interview calls from LinkedIn,” chances are recruiters and employers are underwhelmed by your LinkedIn profile. Taking the time to bulk up your ‘About Me’ and ‘Experience’ sections and making your profile ATS-optimized could be your ticket to your next interview.

Resume, cover letter, LinkedIn Profile optimization and more

If you’ve gone from asking, “Why am I not getting job interviews,” to “How can I optimize all my job-seeking assets,” CareerTuners has your answer.

Our team of certified career professionals has helped over 3,500 ambitious professionals find and land their dream job. Our knowledge and expertise ensure you present the best version of yourself with our:

Find out why CareerTuners is one of the best service providers to show you how to get a job fast. CLICK HERE to schedule a FREE consultation.