by Chris Durst Mar. 6, 2020
Job searching can be frustrating enough, but when you apply for jobs and never hear back, it’s just plain discouraging.
In some cases it happens when the applicant is relying on the often-used but rarely-effective “SPRAY & PRAY” method of applying for jobs. In other cases, applicants are carefully selecting the jobs they apply to and still aren’t hearing back. Either way, it’s annoying as heck.
Before you can break the cycle, you’ll need to pinpoint why your applications are failing.
In this post, I’ll give you a process for breaking things down and determining why you may not be hearing back from companies.
If you TRULY met all of the job criteria and didn’t hear back from the company, ask yourself these questions:
- Did I include a position- and company-specific customized cover letter?
- Did I tailor my resume for this exact role with this exact company?
- Did my resume mirror the language and keywords used in the job description?
- Did I showcase my skills, experiences and achievements that match the employer’s needs?
- Did I convert my resume to an ATS-friendly format?
If you answered “NO” to two or more of these questions, your resume probably never made it past the “bots.”
If your application can’t clear the Applicant Tracking System software and make it into the hands of a human decision-maker, there’s no way you can land the job. You can NOT UNDERESTIMATE the importance of taking the time to tailor your resume and cover letter for EVERY job application.
For more information on cover letters and ATS-friendly resumes, please refer to our FREE LEARNING UNITS.
If you answered “YES” to these questions, it’s likely that the company either filled the position from within or there was another person who was just a bit more qualified.
I INTERVIEWED FOR BUT DIDN’T GET HIRED – NOW WHAT?
Landing a job interview means you did a great job on your resume and application. That’s a win that you shouldn’t underestimate – most applicants don’t get through Applicant Tracking Software.
If you interview with a company and are not offered the job, ask yourself these questions:
- Did I TRULY meet all of their job criteria and did my interview answers prove that?
- Did I feel adequately prepared for the interview?
- Was I in a quiet place or could the interviewer hear background noise?
- Was I fully attentive during the interview?
- Was I on time and prepared for the interview?
- Did any of the questions catch me off guard?
- Did I emphasize how my skills will benefit the position?
- Did I ask meaningful questions about the company and the position?
- Did I “ramble” or give meaningful and direct answers?
- Do I feel like I conveyed everything I wanted to about myself?
There’s stiff competition for work from home jobs. With hundreds of people applying for the same position, you have to be on top of your game!
If you answered “NO” to two or more of these questions, the company likely put you to the side while they look for applicants who aced their interview – hitting the marks you may have missed.
If you answered “YES” to these questions, it’s likely that the company either filled the position from within or there was another person who was just a bit more qualified.
Either way, now’s the time to review the questions above and formulate a plan for nailing your next interview.
Also consider these questions:
- Which questions did I handle well?
- Which questions did I handle poorly?
- What will I do differently in my next interview?
Taking the time to assess the reasons for the lack of response and then taking corrective actions can help set you on the course to the YES you’ve been looking for!
Now that you’ve refined your application practices, be sure to follow us on Facebook to get our leads as soon as we post them. May you be working from home soon!
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