3 Reasons Why You Did Not Get That Interview
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3 Reasons Why You Did Not Get That Interview

So you fit 90% of the profile in the advertised. You checked your resume 3 times before submitting it. You even gave it to your colleague/spouse/partner to go through it one more time just to be sure. You spent 2 hours filling what felt like 50 pages of on-line forms. And uploaded a cover letter. Then you waited, one week, two weeks, three.

Finally, just when you had almost forgotten about the application, you got a new email. You opened it frantically only to find the dreaded standard reply, "We regret you were not selected.... we will keep your contacts should a similar position come up."

Here are the top 3 reasons your CV doesn't get you past the first step of a job application.

1. Your qualifications did not match the job offer

This may sound pretty obvious but in times of desperation, one may tend to apply for jobs for which they may be under or over-qualified. The key thing is to read the job description and understand where the recruiter is coming from. Apply for jobs which you are deeply passionate about and you are bound to get called as it shows in your writing.

2. Your CV was too long.

Recruiters may sometimes have thousands of emails to go through in a day and one which is cluttered with information is easy to skip. The solution to this is to format your resume in such a way as to make it almost tabular for ease of reading.

3. You did not apply as per the instructions given

Sometimes when job hunting several opportunities simultaneously, it is easy to overlook how different organisations have different recruitment structures. The advertised opportunity may require you to give a brief summary of your previous duties and so forth. Another may not require this and will prefer to have it done in person. Either way, it is important to be keen on the particular instructions for each opportunity.

Have any questions on why you would fail to attract an interview? Jot them down in the comment section below.

Mike Grauer Jr

Business Consultant and Content Writer.

4y

I have had recruiters contact me to say they have a position I would be perfect for just so I could call them up and give them names of my friends who would fit the position they claimed I was perfect for. 

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Dawn Brockman MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Retired HR and Talent Acquisition Leader open to short-term, supplemental, hourly, staff-support opportunities. Greatest strengths lie in pharma and device manufacturing talent acquisition.

4y

The problem is that a recruiter may get 25 resumes that meet the qualifications. You have to weed people out somehow. It may even be something simple...like where you live, and how far you would need to be relocated.

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Keir Finlow-Bates

I walk through the woods talking about blockchain

4y

4. The employer didn't actually advertise properly for the job they posted. I was once rejected for a job where the key skill was embedded C programming, in which I have no experience. That was the key requirement for the job, but nowhere in the job advert did it state this. I matched every single other requirement.

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Michael Choy

Assistant Project Manager at Axiom Builders

9y

Brandon Daniels, trust me I've been there. It could be that the industry you're trying to break into just is not booming and the entry level positions are not available right now. Best advice I can give you which was given to me recently, is to attend some networking events where you know companies you want to work for will be attending. That is honestly the best way to get your feet in the door; by word of mouth. It may not land you a position right away, but it is better than emailing your resume to HR, only to never hear anything. Other than that, just keep applying.

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Charles Daniels

Material Handler at Lockheed Martin

9y

How does one seeking employment who just wants to get their feet in the door, get the potential client to believe in them even if it doesn't show on the resume. I am more than confident in my skills in learning however I am not getting any bites at all. I am looking for longevity and stability in a company...

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