Why am I not even getting interviews?

13 Comments

1. M LopezFebruary 10,2023 at 9:40PM UTC

   I'm running into the same thing. I've overhauled my resume, cover letters, LinkedIn page. It can be a bit demoralizing.

   I'm leveraging my network and seeing if referrals will yield interviews.

   I know that doesn't answer your question. Just wanted you to know that you're not alone.

2. AnonymousFebruary 13,2023 at 1:50PM UTC

   Yes! I literally announced to my church congregation (which is small and mostly retired people) that I’m looking because I’m so desperate.

   there is no one I meet that I don’t try to network with in this way.

3. AnonymousFebruary 10,2023 at 10:35PM UTC

   Have you thought about freelancing? Then you could be your own boss, series your own hours, etc.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 11,2023 at 2:52AM UTC

   I'm sorry that you're struggling. If you're not receiving responses to the positions you've applied for it's typically either the resume or the positions you're applying for.

   I can't tell you how many times I've gotten to the end of an interview and said "I really like your background/experience but we have to fix this resume" only to be told "I just paid to have it professionally redone".

   What have you done so far in your job search? Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles?

   Is your LinkedIn profile filled out and up to snuff? Do you have the green “open to work” banner on your LI profile and the other “open to work” indicator that recruiters with a LinkedIn Recruiter license can see?

   Are there specialty job sites you could be using? Do you have a degree? If so, are you utilizing the University's job site or alumni network?

5. AnonymousFebruary 13,2023 at 1:49PM UTC

   I have fleshed out my LI profile, updating the about me and changing the headline. I’ve asked for a received new recommendations from people I currently work with in my volunteering role. My resume is searchable in LI, indeed, Monster, and the American Marketing Association. I haven’t utilized my university’s job placement services because I graduated 15 years ago and that university is 1,300 miles away. I can reach out, but they didn’t help me in 2008 when I was initially looking for a job after I graduated.

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 13,2023 at 6:25PM UTC

   How often are you updating your profiles on Monster, Indeed and the AMA?

7. AnonymousFebruary 14,2023 at 8:01PM UTC

   How often am I supposed to update them?

   They have all been updated to my re-written resume within the last 2 weeks.

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 15,2023 at 8:44AM UTC

   I would update them every week or two. From the recruiter side we can sort our search results by some variation of: show me resumes from today or the last week or last two weeks or the last month or last 6 months, etc.

   You can go in and change a comma and then change it back - that should update the profile.

   Recruiters like fresh candidates - they're typically more likely to respond.

9. AnonymousFebruary 11,2023 at 7:56PM UTC

   Not answering your question, but have you done any contract work or volunteer work or bidding for any Upwork jobs? This is a portable skill, but companies may be gunshy if your experience is for one organization or niche field. Meeting specs in a variety of ways for a variety of people will be a good thing to help promote your flexibility and ability to learn. Also, at this point, it would show you are eager to get back to work.

   It's also possible that the positions you've been applying for don't really exist, or are in the bag for an internal candidate.

10. AnonymousFebruary 13,2023 at 1:45PM UTC

    I am currently both volunteering with my church and essentially fulfilling a digital marketing role for them AND I have current part time contract work. Both are on my resume.

11. AnonymousFebruary 14,2023 at 8:53PM UTC

    Have you thought about working for yourself? Find individuals or companies you want to write for and pitch them. You sound like a dream writer!

12. Carolina Perez SanzFebruary 17,2023 at 4:20PM UTC

    I hear you!! We keep hearing how companies can't find talent and yet here we are, looking for jobs for months. Don't despair! Are you doing informational interviews? That could help you find opportunities that aren't posted.

13. AnonymousFebruary 23,2023 at 4:05PM UTC

    I am curious if you have any updates now a couple weeks later?

    Like you, I have years of experience, have had professional job placement executives tell me “your resume is outstanding, you’ll be picked up in a hurry” only to be sitting here unemployed for 4 months and only one interview that wanted to pay me what I made in the year 2001. I have done all the “right” things to my LinkedIn page, I’ve contacted the HR recruiters directly (and have NEVER) heard back, I’ve reach out to the CHROs, I’ve gone through college alumnus, I have networked, I have called companies and still Zilch!

    What is the secret sauce? Like you, I am highly educated, been incredibly successful and just found myself in a company that downsized.

    I am at my wits end and hoping you have found some success since you posted?