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Not Getting Interviews? Here’s What Might Be Holding You Back

You can put all the effort in the world into your resume, cover letter, portfolio, and other job search materials, but there’s no “magic bullet” solution to getting an interview.   

That said, there could be one or two things that are holding you back. If your resume contains a typo that you’ve missed, it’s going to stack the deck against you. Or, you may be targeting jobs for which you just aren’t qualified. 

If you’re feeling stuck in your job search and can’t seem to land an interview, consider the following tips. 

Proofread and Ask for ‘Another Set of Eyes’ 

Nothing will sink your candidacy faster than a glaring typo that you didn’t catch. If you’re applying for a ‘laboratory technician’ job and you list one of your previous positions as “laboratory technician,” – you’re looking at long odds for an interview. 

Ensure you’re finding straightforward errors. Double-check every application, every time. If you’re able to, ask a friend to review your application materials for grammatical mistakes and typos. A fresh set of eyes can catch errors you’ve stared at two or three times without noticing. 

Try to Stand Out (In a Good Way) 

There’s a lot of advice out there on how to write an effective resume and cover letter. Most of this advice is useful, but you have to realize that a lot of people are all taking this same advice. From a hiring manager’s point of view, this means having to see many applications that read the same. 

A good way to stand out from the crowd is to have a strong opening line on why you were drawn to the job opening, or why your abilities would allow you to excel if hired. 

Follow Up 

Some people don’t appreciate that there’s usually more to landing an interview hitting ‘send’ on an application email. Hitting send simply puts your application on a recruiter’s docket, only to have a pile of resumes follow it later. When you sit around and wait for the phone to ring, you run the risk of having your resume overlooked completely. 

An effective approach to grabbing a hiring manager’s attention is to get in touch with them. There’s nothing wrong with sending a brief LinkedIn message or email that follows up on an application. You might think this approach could make you seem annoying. Most hiring managers will tell you that one follow-up message perfectly acceptable. Following up indicates your level of interest and helps to prevent your resume from falling through the cracks. 

Get the Word Out 

It can be awkward to discuss the fact that you have been trying to find a new job, especially if you don’t have much progress. 

However, you’re more likely to land an interview through a referral. So, don’t be afraid to speak up and talk to your network. It can seriously boost your odds of getting a foot in the door. 

We Can Help You Find Job Search Success 

At Career Concepts, we put job seekers in positions to find career success. Please contact us today to find out how we can do the same for you. 

Blog published date

Aug 22, 2020
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