Wondering Why You Haven’t Received a Job Interview? Here are 5 Possible Reasons Why

Finding a new job is hard work. If you’ve been actively engaged in the process for awhile now, but still haven’t landed an interview, it’s time to re-examine your approach. There’s a good chance you’re doing something wrong across the board that is standing in your way of success.

5 Reasons You’re Not Getting Invited to Job Interviews

1. You Didn’t Personalize Your Cover Letter. Hiring managers want to choose a candidate who is truly excited about the position. If you’re submitting a general cover letter that could be applicable to hundreds of jobs, you’re sending the message that you’re really not that interested in joining the team. The cover letter is your chance to really sell yourself, so each one needs to be unique. Sure, it takes a lot longer to apply for jobs this way, but if you really want an interview, you’ll make the time.
2. Your Resume Has Spelling and Grammatical Errors. Your resume and cover letter are the first impression you’ll make on a hiring manager, so they should be completely flawless. If these documents contain errors, you’ll appear careless and sloppy, which will earn you an immediate spot in the discard pile. Running spellcheck is essential, but you also need to carefully proofread each document to make sure the finished product is something you’re proud to put your name on.
3. You’re Posting Inappropriate Content on Social Media. You can be certain part of the applicant screening process is conducting an online search of your social presence. If you don’t have privacy settings enabled on your social media profiles, enable them for the duration of your job search. The general public doesn’t need to see pictures from your friend’s bachelorette party or your political opinions, so if you feel the need to post anything remotely controversial, put your profile on lockdown.
4. You’re Not Using Your Network. Hiring decisions are always a gamble, but managers feel a lot more confident in their decision when someone they know and trust is willing to vouch for a candidate. Consequently, referred candidates are much more likely to get hired, so if you’re not tapping your network, it’s time to start. Before you apply to a job, ask around and use LinkedIn to see if anyone in your network has any contacts at the company.
5. The Company is Only Looking for Local Candidates. Many companies automatically disqualify long-distance candidates for a number of reasons, including not wanting to pay travel and moving expenses. It’s important to address this issue head-on in the cover letter, to try to sway the decision in your favor. For example, if you currently live in Florida, but are looking for a job in South Bend, IN, include a line explaining why you want to move to the area and that you’re willing to pay all travel and relocation expenses.

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