Why am I not hearing back from job applications?
1. Your CV and/or cover letter aren’t tailored to the job description
Your CV is the perfect opportunity to impress potential employers. First impressions are incredibly important, so make sure your CV and cover letter highlight all the relevant skills, experience and qualifications you would bring to the table.
Sending off a generic, uninspired CV or cover letter to a potential employer is no good. Hiring managers can tell whether a person has taken the time to tailor their CV to match the job specifications or if they’ve received a generic CV.
Don’t neglect your cover letter either. Cover letters provide you with an extra chance to really prove yourself. Not tailoring this document to further outline your suitability to the role is a wasted opportunity.
When it comes to hearing back regarding your application, hiring managers will certainly prioritise providing feedback to applicants that have clearly made an effort.
2. You don’t meet the job requirements
If the hiring manager believes you aren’t qualified for the role, chances are you won’t be considered for the job. Recruiters and hiring managers are often very busy people, so you’re unlikely to hear back about failed applications, especially at the CV stage.
To avoid this, make sure you read the job specifications carefully before applying. If there are certain qualifications required to take on the role that you don’t possess, don’t waste your time. Or, if you’re happy to try your luck, be prepared to hear nothing back.
3. Your online presence is a concern
It’s becoming increasingly common for employers to have a quick look at your social profiles before deciding to hire you or not.
Your social media channels are an extension of yourself, so, if your accounts are visible to the public, make sure you present yourself in a way that wouldn’t deter potential employers. To avoid this, set your accounts to private or go through them and remove any content that could potentially put off employers.
You could even set up professional social media profiles to control what potential employers can view.
4. Employers don’t have the capacity to reply to every applicant
At the end of the day, the main reason you’re not hearing back from job applications is most likely due to hiring managers simply not having enough time to reach out.
Regardless of how well-suited to the role you may be, or how impressive your CV is, if the employer has decided not to continue with your application process, they’re not always going to take the time to write to you or give you a call.
Just remember, not hearing back about a job application or even an interview is nothing personal. Hiring managers are extremely busy and often receive hundreds of applications and meet with a long list of interviewees for any given role. Sometimes they just don’t have the time to get back to everyone. Don’t let it get you down, your perfect role is out there!
What to do if you don’t hear back from a job application
Be patient
Waiting to hear back on a job application or interview can make a few days feel like forever. But remember to be patient - the hiring manager could have hundreds or even thousands of CVs to sift through. Try to put it out of your mind and keep applying for other roles while you wait.
Get in touch with the employer/recruiter
After a week or so you might find yourself losing hope. At this point there’s no harm in reaching out to the employer or recruiter to request feedback or an update on your application. This not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but it might also encourage them to take the time to get back to you if they weren’t going to already. Even if you’re not being considered for the job, it’s always helpful to get feedback.
Move on
If you still don’t hear anything, assume the role isn’t for you and move on. The job market moves fast so you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Keep applying and interviewing throughout your job hunt, even if you’ve got your heart set on one role in particular.
