Hearing Crickets After Applying For Jobs? Focus On These 2 Things.
You've spent countless hours crafting the perfect resume and tailoring your cover letter for jobs where you think you’d be a great fit. But once you hit send, all you hear are crickets. Two, four, or more weeks have now passed. You start to wonder: Did they get my resume? Was there something missing? Why have I not heard back? All these questions can begin to wear on you, create self-doubt, and even make you feel helpless in your job hunt.
While it's 100% frustrating to put in so much effort and not hear anything, it's important to remember that it's not personal. There could be several reasons why you haven't heard back that are completely out of your control. So let's focus on what you can do next time before you apply.
Does your resume answer "fit" questions?
In the thousands of resumes I've reviewed as a college career advisor, the main thing I've seen resumes and cover letters lack is demonstrating "fit" for the position.
Employers spend approximately 6-7 seconds (yes, seconds!) reviewing each resume. Why? Well, time, for one thing. Employers may receive as many as 100+ resumes for just one internship or job opening. So how do you get an employer to keep reading after the first few seconds? Demonstrating how you are a fit and will be their next great employee.
Specifically, does your resume show…
How your experience (whether through internships or course projects) aligns with the expertise they require
You are proficient in the skills listed in the job description
You hold the type of degree the job description requires
Individualize (but don't rewrite) your resume for every job
One of my favorite quotes is, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting a different result." I had this quote posted in my office as a career advisor. I often would refer to it when advising students who were frustrated in their job search, feeling like their resume was falling into a black hole.
We know the same resume won't work for all college majors and industries. For example, a resume of an accounting or business major should be different from the resume of someone who graduated in animation or graphic design. So, in addition to having a resume format consistent with a particular job target and industry, your resume (and cover letter) must clearly spell out how you are a highly qualified candidate.
The answer isn't to spend more time creating a new resume and cover letter for each application (back to Einstein's quote) but to demonstrate how you fit the job requirements.
Pro Tip! Job requirements always list the job's location (unless it's 100% remote). So if you're living in another city or state, be sure the employer knows that you can work where they need you. Often this isn't clear to an employer, especially if you attended college in one state but are applying to jobs in your home state.
Let’s sum it up
Focus your job search time and energy on what you can control (your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, networking, and interviewing skills).
If you're not hearing back from employers after you apply, it's likely employers aren't seeing how your experience, skills, and knowledge align with their needs.
Instead of spending time rewriting your resume for every job, focus on how you meet the job requirements and why you should be their next hire.
Let Collegiateca Help
If you're spending a lot of time without getting results, let Collegiateca help. We have the experience to ensure your resume and cover letters are seen by employers. We can give you peace of mind through a resume review or by creating a tailored resume and cover letter for your major and target industry. Book a career advising appointment today to get started or a Discovery Session to learn more.