You’re undoubtedly wondering, “Why am I not hearing back from jobs?” This is one of the most annoying parts of looking for a job—when you’ve sent in a job application and haven’t received a response.
Your Typical Job Hunting Experience
You carefully edit your resume and cover letter to meet the job description’s exact requirements, then you submit your application and nothing occurs. Take solace in the knowledge that you are not alone. It can be confusing and distressing to submit applications and not hear back. Often, people immediately assume the worst.
There has to be a reason, isn’t there? After all, you are a solid candidate due to your general knowledge, prior work experience and job skills.
If you’re applying for jobs but no response is coming your way, there are probably reasons why employers aren’t responding. In fact, there are several reasons why this might be the case. In this article are some of the reasons why you might not hear back from employers. The essence is to help you prepare and position yourself better for subsequent opportunities you might want to apply for.
Finding a job can be challenging, particularly if employers don’t reply. It can feel like employers are ignoring your job applications and like everyone else, you want to know why. Here are some common reasons why your application might not get a reply.
Why Your Application Might Not Get A Reply
You might risk not getting a reply from employers for any of the following reasons explained thus.
1. You neglected to adapt your application to the available post.
Every job application in today’s competitive labour market should be tailored to the duties and experience specified in the job description. As a result, you should take the time to tailor your cover letter and CV to each opportunity.
Secondly, personalising your application materials not only helps you pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), but it also shows the firm that you are genuinely interested in the position and willing to work hard to demonstrate it. Not personalising your application may give the idea that you are not putting in any effort, which is the last thing you want to portray.
2. You submitted your application the wrong way
First, you’ll want to double-check that you’ve applied for the job the correct way. It seems obvious, but it’s an easy mistake to make. For example, you may have emailed your resume and other application materials when it clearly states in the job posting that everything should be submitted through the company’s application portal.
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Maybe you didn’t catch that instruction the first time around… But don’t fret. If you realize you made a mistake along the way, do what you can to remedy the situation (i.e., reapply and send a brief apology note to the hiring manager explaining what happened).
3. You are not qualified
By all accounts, you believe you are more than qualified for the post. However, when a potential employer sees your résumé and cover letter, they may have a different perspective.
For whatever reason (e.g., you lack the requisite skills, you lack a certain qualification required for the job, your cover letter contained grammatical errors, etc.), you may not be the best fit for the position. However, because the employer may not be legally able to tell you what is wrong, they are unlikely to answer at all.
4. There’s just not enough time
With a large number of individuals applying for limited opportunities, hiring managers and recruiters simply do not have the time to react to each and every job seeker who applies for the position.
In fact, according to Greenhouse data, the average job receives over 200 applications, and recruiters review approximately 400 applications monthly.
Not only that, but the hiring process itself can be lengthy. According to Workable, the average time to hire an employee is between 12.7 to 49 days, depending on the industry.
So, even if all you want is a “thanks, but no thanks” email to verify that someone received your job application, unfortunately, many hiring managers don’t have enough time in the day to do that.
5. Companies are doing more screening
A chain reaction begins when a job application is sent to a potential employer. In order to assess your qualifications and requirements, an applicant tracking system (ATS) initially searches your application materials for specific keywords. It’s essential that your resume include the job description’s keywords in order to pass this screening.
If the applicant tracking system (ATS) finds your application acceptable, a real person at the company will review it to see if you are a qualified candidate. Another method used for screening is background checks. Businesses are checking you online to find out more information about you in addition to confirming the information on your application.
Your social media accounts, including LinkedIn, will be examined by employers to determine what you share and publish, as well as what is public and private. An employer might not respond to anything even marginally offensive.
What You Must Do!
When looking for a job, it is not enough to just toss out applications and cross your fingers. You must refine your approach at every level, from tailoring your resume and contacting recruiters to honing your professional abilities and attending networking events.
As you improve your strategy, your chances of standing out rise. Instead of being just another application in the stack, you will be the one they get in touch with when the perfect job opportunity arises. Don’t let the absence of answers make you feel unwelcome.
Applying for jobs and searching for them can be a frustrating process, but it’s crucial to persevere. To improve your chances of success, keep applying to jobs that fit your interests and skill set.
Need a CV Review? Send an email to info@cedencareers.ng or send a WhatsApp message to 09160876777 with the words “CV REVIEW.”
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