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Are They Just Not That Into You?
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs
In the best of times responding to a job listing can feel like sending your
resume out to sea in a bottle. But at least you received a call or an email
acknowledgement. Now, with the volume of applicants higher than ever, you're
more likely to hear nothing.
If there is a resounding silence from your queries, keep looking and networking.
But you can also do some sleuthing to give you a better chance of standing out
next time. Recruiters and career experts agree that, if you didn't get an
interview or phone call -- or even a thank-you email -- it may be due to at
least one of six reasons.
1. They're just not that into you.
You're good, but someone else more closely met the qualifications. In a tight
job market employers can usually get exactly the type of candidate they want. A
polite "thanks, but no thanks" letter or email would be nice. But don't expect
it these days.
2. They may be into you, as soon as they get to you.
Companies receive so many submissions these days that they don't even have time
to send out letters or confirmation emails. "I know a major software company
that's taking more than three weeks just to send out acknowledgement notes, and
some companies are spending months sifting through resumes for just one
opening," workplace etiquette expert Sue Fox tells Yahoo! Hot Jobs.
3. They would have been into you if you had followed directions.
"Many job listings use the word 'must,' not 'it would be nice to,'" according to
Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet. "If it says you must have experience in
X, then tailor your resume to show that," Opton says.
If you're answering a job listing, be sure you respond in exactly the way the
company wants. And be aware that if you're not applying for a specific job but
rather sending out dozens or hundreds of form letters, your resume is likely to
end up in companies' spam folders.
4. They might be into you if you apply for a more appropriate job.
Independent recruiter Cheryl Ferguson tells Yahoo! HotJobs that many job seekers
are overqualified, under-qualified, or otherwise just wrong. "If we need to fill
a specific job, and you're not right for it, don't assume that we're going to
find the right fit for you. A lot of times people send me resumes, and I want to
ask, 'Did you even read the job description?'"
5. Your presentation could use some work.
"A lot of mistakes I see are a lack of cover letter, and an objective statement
on the resume that is all wrong for the job opening," says Lindsay Olson,
partner and recruiter at Paradigm Staffing. "Even worse are obviously mass
emails where the candidates had no clue what they were applying for."
6. There isn't any job.
Sometimes, due to last minute budget cuts, a position is eliminated before it's
even filled. Other times, according to Olson, companies reel in resumes even
when they know there isn't any opening. "Some companies want a big applicant
pool because they think they may be hiring in the future," Olson said.
How can you learn what happened?
If you feel like your resume is out at sea, and you'd at least like confirmation
that you're out of the running, there are things you can do.
1. Contact the company.
Yes, the ad had a NO CALLS warning, and there wasn't a name anyway. But if
you're pretty sure you're right for the job, and you've heard nothing after a
week, you can still call someone to find out if you're at least in the running.
Try to find the hiring manager (HR is too busy, and they almost never want to
hear from you).
"If you do follow up by phone, don't leave a voice mail," Opton says. "Early in
the morning or after five you're more likely to reach a real person."
2. But don't be a pest.
"If you've had an interview and sent your thank-you letter, wait a week to
call," Fox says. One or two emails are OK, but three will probably look
desperate, she adds. "And never, ever, show up at the company without an
interview and demand to be seen. It will backfire."
3. Re-read the job posting.
Did the resume you sent really fit the job requirements? Or were you hoping they
would find another job just for you? "I love it when a candidate has done the
homework and already knows the company and the position," Ferguson says. "It
makes it easier for both of us."
4. Take a look at your resume.
Get a second opinion, and a third. Does it present you in the right light? Is it
professionally formatted? Does it feature accomplishments, rather than merely
job titles and dates?
5. Step up the networking.
"It's always best to network your way into a position," Opton says. "You'll get
a lot more individual attention than someone responding to a job listing."
Tags:
6 Reasons They Didn't Call You Back
- 6 Reasons
- Didn't Call You Back |
