Why Am I Not Getting Interviews For Jobs I'm Qualified For?

Frustrating, confusing, disappointing–you can feel all this and more when you aren’t getting callbacks for jobs you know you’re qualified to handle. At Technical Search Consultants we understand what you’re up against, and we’re here with our best tips on how to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

When It's the Company

Before we get into some things you might want to address personally, there are some legitimate reasons why you might not be getting interviews that have little to nothing to do with you. 

Sometimes things change rapidly within a company and they may no longer be in the position to hire. You just applied, but the timing was misaligned, and now they may not be hiring after all. The company or hiring manager may also have put the job on hold due to internal issues, uncertainties, or lack of funding. 

If the company is currently understaffed, they ironically may be too busy to do the necessary vetting to hire on more folks to help with the workload. And if an internal application was received, then the likelihood of hiring someone already familiar with the company with no need of extensive training or onboarding is most likely going to be a more attractive hire. It’s also possible that the company was looking for a rapid hire and you simply got your application in a day too late–things happen.

This isn’t really a consolation when you’re intently looking for a job, but it can help to explain what can sometimes feel like inexplicable rejection. On the other hand, there are some times when you may be able to pin down the lack of interviews to some habits or patterns that you can actually work on.

When It Might Be You

From language choice to mismatched qualifications and underhyped skills, there are plenty of ways that you could inadvertently sabotage your own job applications. Here are some key things to look out for:

• Selling yourself short. Instead of worrying that you’ll sound too braggy, include projects you were part of and tasks you did only a handful of times if they could have some bearing on the position you’re hoping to secure. There’s a fine balance to strike between over and under selling yourself and either side of that line could have employers looking elsewhere. Being confident and self-assured is helpful, not harmful.
• Leaning on jargon. Many, if not most, industries have a long list of specific terms that only other folks in the industry are aware of. Overusing these terms could make it seem that you are out of touch with those outside of your current working world. That doesn’t bode well if you’re looking to switch industries. If anything listed in your resume would require someone outside of your industry to do research, find another way to express or explain it–don’t leave recruiters guessing. All that said, if you are looking for another job within your industry and it is expected for you to use certain terms, be sure to include those to show recruiters that you know your stuff and you’ll easily fit in on their team.
• Submitting a lackluster application. It might contain all the necessary information that a hiring manager could want or need to know, but if your application is clunky, confusing, or doesn’t grab and hold attention, it could let you down. Focus on highlighting your abilities, find ways to inject your personality, and use important keywords to signal that you know what recruiters are looking for, and that you are that person. Tailor each resume and cover letter to the job you’re applying for.
• Getting lost in the crowd. If you know you’re qualified and you’re tweaking and editing your application to be just-so, it could be that you’re simply getting lost in the large influx of applicants. Standing out could mean getting in touch with the hiring manager directly, but it could also mean spending time well ahead of applying to create connections within companies you’re eyeing as a future employer. You know you have the necessary skills and qualifications–now you need to focus on being seen and heard in the crowd.
• You’re potentially overqualified. Yes, this is possible. And it isn’t so much a concern that you know too much, but that employers might feel they’ll need to pay more than budgeted for someone of your caliber. If this might be a concern, it’s worthwhile addressing it directly in your application and stating your flexibility if that makes sense for you. Express enthusiasm for the role you’re applying for to show that you aren’t above the work that needs to be done.
• Less-than-ideal work history. Everyone’s employment journey is different, and there could be very legitimate reasons why your employment history doesn’t follow typical patterns. That said, an employer deserves an explanation, so that they don’t pass you over for fear of prematurely losing a good employee. If there’s a succinct way you can truthfully limit the number of times you’ve changed jobs, that could be to your benefit.
• Playing It Unprofessional Online. Everyone has an online presence these days, whether they’re super active on social media platforms or not. If your online image doesn’t line up with your professional endeavors, a potential employer may look elsewhere. Adjust privacy settings, close accounts, and otherwise tweak how you’re seen online to ensure that it accurately reflects you as a job candidate.

Hiring trends in every industry will ebb and flow, shifting with time and overall need. Keep in mind that if your search for jobs is too narrow, it could limit you and not allow you to see potential in a position that isn’t exactly what you had in mind. 

Once you do get that long-awaited interview, you want to ensure that you ace it. The pro team at Technical Search Consultants are here for you! From helping you work up the perfect cover letter to tweaking your resume and preparing you for the interview, we’re ready to put our expertise to work for you. 

We specialize in linking that just-right candidate with the job that an employer needs to fill–everyone wins! Get in touch with us to learn how to better market yourself and to find out more about open positions in the administrative, engineering, manufacturing, and IT industries or submit your resume online today!