We can’t control what happens once the employer has our resume, but we can control everything leading up to it!

Hello Hello!

Nicole here, wanted to share 3 main points I found from a great column on applying to a job and not hearing back. We tend to get discouraged if we turn in like 10 resumes and don’t get a single call back!

We can’t control what happens once the employer has our resume, but we can control everything leading up to this.

The article is from Ask Alexis, a career question column from idealistcareers.org. The full question and answer by Alexis Perrotta can be found at Ask Alexis | I Keep Submitting My Resume, but I Rarely Hear Back

The main points she makes are:

Remember, Hiring Managers are busy, busy people

“It’s also important to remember that occasionally, the reason for a delayed response is simply that the hiring manager is awaiting feedback or input from colleagues, or sign-off on whether they should schedule you for a phone screen. So don’t always allow yourself to assume the worst; it’s an unnecessary distraction that at the end of the day does nothing to benefit you as a job seeker.”

When was the last time you gave your resume a refresh?

“Is your most relevant experience easy for a hiring manager to locate and skim through? Is your formatting current, or a bit outdated? Maybe you have a three-page resume that you can consolidate into just one or two pages. The point is that your current resume may not be working, so let’s figure out something that does!” (Continue reading tips on idealistcareers.org ask Alexis column link above)

Are you customizing your materials for each role?

In short, if you’re not doing this, this may be your issue.

“While it can be one of the more time consuming resume best practices, it’s still critical to your success that you’re making sure each time you apply for a job, you are tailoring your materials to that specific position.” (Continue reading tips on idealistcareers.org ask Alexis column link above)