© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
17 job rejections in a row
Today I received my 17th consecutive job rejection. I've applied to multiple kinds of positions and tailored my resume to each, but I haven't even gotten an interview anywhere. I'd love to get my foot in the door before the 18th rejection comes around. Any tips on how to stand out and at least get to the next round?
Theresa Kasel
Premier Performing Executive Assistant
18
10/11/20 at 12:51AM UTC
It's not clear from your post if you are getting rejection letters after having actual contact with the company (like a phone interview with HR) or just generic, computer generated rejection letters. And, honestly, no HR person is going to tell you why you were rejected. They're going to tell you they found a better qualified person. (Who knows what that qualification was -- no as old as you, someone's kid, actual experience.) But they aren't going to tell you what you could have done differently -- it puts them at risk and HR is there to protect the company.
As others have suggested, make sure your resume has the key words they use in the job description. I'm told you can put them in the margins as white text (literally, type the words in white -- so they are there but they cannot be seen when printed or viewed.) Is this cheating -- sort of. But what you want is for the recruiting to actually read YOUR resume.
I would also start doing more focus on networking. Do you know anyone at the company(ies) you are interested in working for? Do you know anyone who does the work your want to do? Connect with those people.
I make sure my email signature reflects my job aspirations (short description under my name) and has my phone and email. It's on all my emails. (I do remove if I'm using it with someone for something like a Craigslist ad.) But, you never know when you'll email someone that knows someone.
Also, make sure all your social media posts are positive and upbeat. This is not the time to get into flame wars with ANYONE. Don't complain about the job hunting process. Ask social media friends to share leads.
Also, make sure you are doing things to enrich your life -- if possible to take some sort of continuing ed class, online course, etc.
Debbie Woods
41
10/09/20 at 3:07PM UTC
I am sorry your job hunt has been really disappointing. As prior responses have mentioned that you are getting rejections - meaning the ATS is working, my thoughts are maybe it is not. You are not getting interviews which may mean the ATS is possibly not matching keywords to the requirement.
My company helps people get interviews and jobs. I always tell folks I will get you in the door, but it is up to you if you want to stay! Have you thought about letting someone else help get you an interview? I would be happy to help. Please feel free to reach out.
KelleyHigher Education professional in Upstate NY
306
10/09/20 at 2:21PM UTC
Although it can be disheartening, it sounds like you’re doing the right things. Tailor your information to the position details. However, also make sure that you’re not just going for anything and everything. Perhaps expand outside of your area if you’re looking to get something that may be super specific, but also don’t go so far in left field either.
Also, though these rejections aren’t fun by any means, make sure to keep pushing. When I first started in my field, I had applied to over 200 positions in about a year, had perhaps 25-30 interviews and got one job offer. My hope is you fair far better, but I say this to say I’ve now been in my field for a while and changing jobs became easier after the first.
Finally, if you have a mentor, talk with them. If you don’t, get one. Speak with them about tips, have them review your resume, etc. I have a couple mentors and even after being in my field for a bit, I still go to them for advice and review any time I update my resume.
RRD Creates
24
10/08/20 at 8:30PM UTC
Specific issues need specific solutions.
You could have been denied based on more qualified applicants - are there any skills you didn’t have or didn’t have the years of experience in?
You could have been denied because your resume wasn’t skills based or interesting. The days of having a black and white times new Roman resume are gone for most industries and if you’re in any creative field this would be a complete bust to use a plain resume. Skills based means you list your skills (software, phone handling, event coordination, etc) before you get into related job experience. Let them get to know what you can do before they dig into where you’ve been. If you’re going for creative jobs or jobs at younger companies, switch up the layout, add color, make it interesting - canva has free templates to jazz up.
As a graphic designer I learned that I can’t say I’m detail oriented if my resume is in 5 fonts and the layout is all wrong. I can’t say I create vibrant and creative designs and have a boring resume.
In my job history I have a bunch of unrelated positions so it made more sense to pull what skills I learned from each one end to put those in bullets before getting into the fact I worked at a box factory design department or at Geico in customer service for a year.
And when talking about your job history you need to have 2-3 bullet points max, and those bullet points need to be based on what they are asking for - if the job wants you to be prompt on deadlines in a fast paced environment or to hit sales goals you need to highlight when you did that in your job history.
If you’re getting to the interview portion and not being selected, it is your organization of thought, clarity of communication, and company culture fit they are reviewing. Build your interview skills up and research the company before you get there. The more you can relate you and your skills to what they need, the easier it is to get into the job.
At the very least, there are hundreds of customer service work from home jobs or call center jobs which have 6months of paid trainings as you continue to search. All insurance companies, apple support, most corporations...so many. They pay well usually with benefits and can also give you some new skills to jot down on the resume as you continue to search for your dream job.
Cristina ZuazuaGo big or go home!
95
10/08/20 at 6:19PM UTC
I know it's rough, but one thing to remember is that it's just a numbers game. The more resumes you get out there, the better. I've landed some of the best jobs I've had as a result of applying to a high volume of jobs that I may not have thought would fit exactly at the time, but ended up being amazing growing experiences. I'd also keep an open mind about what may or may not be a good fit - the universe can surprise :) Feel free to reach out if you'd like to go over your resume together - I'm a nerd about this stuff!
Anonymous
10/08/20 at 11:09AM UTC
Online case study help services have become very popular for those seeking business case study writing as they engage the best Case Study Writing Services.
https://researchpapers247.com/case-study-writing-services/
Grace RankinBringing Sales Insight to Marketing Teams
24
10/08/20 at 3:32AM UTC
I second, third, and fourth the advice above. It felt awkward at first but I've stopped applying to jobs cold. I comb the company pages that I want to work for (i.e. Outdoor, SaaS, etc.) and if I see a position that looks interesting I reach out to people at that company (HR, recruiting, those with similar job titles to what I've applied to, etc.) and keep the initial message short and sweet. Happy to share some of the templates that have been working for me to at least get responses. Are you looking to pivot in your career or continue on a fairly 'traditional' trajectory?
Cristina ZuazuaGo big or go home!
95
10/08/20 at 6:08PM UTC
I would love to see some samples of that, if you're willing! I love new ideas like this and think that's a great creative approach :)
Chelsea JohnsonGraphic Designer
24
10/08/20 at 12:01AM UTC
So I totally get where you are coming from right now. I was too in your shoes just recently and just could not seem to get anywhere. I joined Linkedin, joined a few job groups on social media, tweeked my resume....and crickets.
However, thanks to Linkedin I have received a couple of internships just by networking with people. I agree with the ladies above. Networking is key, especially in these times we are living in right now. It just goes to show the old saying "It's not what you know, it's who know" is very true and important.
Right now I'm doing some unpaid internships just so I can get my foot in the door and in the meantime I'm working a part-time job in a retail store. I actually got the job because of a friend I go to church with who recommended me. My advice is to follow up with the hiring managers or someone on the inside and see why you are getting rejected. Where are you applying? If you are applying on Indeed or Monster, chances are your resume is probably getting lost in the shuffle or your resume is being shuffled through a system that if you don't have the right keywords it will be rejected.
Hang in there! I have faith you will find something soon and it will all be worth it in the end. Prayer has been my biggest thing and has gotten me through this rough time in our lives. I hope this helps!
Kristen WavlePrivate School Counselor in Baltimore
136
10/07/20 at 3:35PM UTC
This might be a strange thought, but have you considered reaching out to any of the hiring committees and asking what was missing from your resume? What made someone else stand out over you? Is there a certification or training or experience or another piece that maybe you could add to your portfolio while you continue to apply?
I have been there and am feeling your pain. One thing that gets me through times like these is some advice that I got when I was younger. If you believe in God, some kind of higher power, karma, etc., keep reminding yourself that if you don't receive good news, there's another and better plan for you.
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.