Reasons why you’re applying for jobs and not hearing anything back

Are you getting frustrated with applying for jobs online and never hearing back about your application? We understand, it can leave you feeling deflated and confused with what step to take next. There could be a number of reasons why you’re not hearing back from recruiters, which we have listed below.

Plus, here are some tips on how to turn job rejections into an opportunity to learn and grow from:

1. You’re not tailoring your application to the job

If you’re applying for jobs with a generic CV/cover letter, it will give the impression to the recruiter that you’re not eager for this position. The one thing that makes your application stand out is tailoring your application to show you have the skills and experience required to be able to perform the specific role you are applying for. When filtering through applications, the recruiter will be skim reading through the text, seeking out key words and information from the application in the quickest time possible.

Example

Advert (keywords highlighted):

You will be operating machinery, inspecting the product and packing the product ready for dispatch. We are seeking candidates with previous experience in a production environment.

Application (keywords highlighted):

I have previously worked in a production environment where my duties included operating the machinery and quality inspection. I also have experience of packing in a busy warehouse environment.

This information is clear, concise and straight to the point.

For more information, read our CV and Cover Letter tips here:

2. You’ve got massive gaps in your employment history

Recruiters will be wary of huge gaps in your employment history as they will use this information to determine your reliability. The best way to combat this is to address why you have these gaps. If you’ve been a stay at home parent or you’ve had a long term illness for example, state this in your application to let the recruiter know you’ve had a legitimate reason for being out of work to show that you are now ready to go back into work.

See what the key characteristics are that recruiters look for in a candidate:

3. You’ve worked too many short term jobs

Having too many jobs on your CV can actually be very off putting if they are all short term placements. This is because it gives the impression that you don’t hold down a job long term and is a huge red flag for a recruiter. Like with employment gaps, if there’s a reason why you’ve had a lot of jobs, address this in your application.

For example, if you’ve previously been a temporary worker you could explain that you’ve been with an agency to complete a number of different temporary/ad hoc placements, but you could then go on to use this to show all of the different skills you’ve gained through these placements that would be relevant to the job.

Example: Working in a nightclub bar when you were 18

Example 1:

If you’re applying for a manufacturing job, working in a nightclub bar isn’t going to contribute to this role. On your CV you can list this as:

Bartender

The Ivy

01/09/2012 – 05/04/2013

Example 2:

If you’re applying for a retail job you could include a description of working in a nightclub bar as you will have gained skills which will contribute to another customer facing role:

Bartender

The Ivy

01/09/2012 – 05/04/2013

In this role I have gained customer service skills through interacting with customers at the bar and completing their orders. I have also experienced handling money and using a till. Through my time spent in this role I worked as part of a team, providing support to my colleagues as well as working to my own initiative. At the end of our shift we would need to check stock levels which has taught me skills in stock taking.

4. You’re not applying for the right jobs / too many jobs

Another red flag for recruiters is when candidates are just applying for any job or applying for loads of jobs, as again it shows that you’re not eager for this particular position and you’re just applying for anything – which also goes back to not tailoring your application to jobs you’re applying for.

Also, if you’re applying for a job where you don’t meet the requirements of the job spec, recruiters are just going to assume that you haven’t read the job advert before applying.

5. You’re not taking care with your application

You may not be hearing back from recruiters because of the format of your CV/application. The key thing to remember is the recruiter doesn’t have time to read through every application word for word, they need to filter through applications in the quickest time possible.

- Your CV should be no longer than 2 pages
- Key information should be in bullet points to make it easier to read and find the key information
- The information needs to be clear, concise and straight to the point. No one wants to read through lots of waffle to get to the information they need
- The information needs to be easy to read, don’t write how you talk or use text/slang language. Remember to check your grammar and spelling before submitting your application