Five Reasons You Didn't Get Called for That Interview

Jill V. • May 13, 2016

And maybe they read a few comments I put over this Internet?!-- But then, I'm pretty straightforward, I don't think I'm going to change now.

Nancy Anderson • Apr 17, 2016

@Syreeta thanks for that valuable information. So sorry that you had to go through all of that. I agree that we should be judged based upon our work experience and skills and not our name, our ethnic background or our age!

Syreeta H. • Apr 16, 2016

I have two college degrees and have been without work for almost six months. Literally last weekend I came across an article about how a job seeker's name can affect their job search due to the hiring manager's "subconscious bias".
There is substantial data that supports this, especially if the applicant has an ethnic name or a name.
I made the decision to abbreviate my name on my resume in hopes of receiving more responses and it worked! This week my phone has literally been ringing off the hook!
I have removed my pic from my LinkedIn profile while I'm looking, because I want to ensure that I am being judged on exclusively my skills, knowledge and ability and of course have the opportunity to demonstrate that at the interview stage.

Nancy Anderson • Apr 9, 2016

Thanks @Jesephus for your comment. So very true that networking can make all of the difference. We always stress networking and its importance. Many people fear networking but you can do it right here - online so that you don't have to actually "see" the person. And you never know. That person that you just connected with might know of a need in their company for which you are qualified. So yes - network, network, network.

Josephus T. • Apr 8, 2016

One matter that has not been mentioned is the power of networking. No matter how well qualified you may be, the guy that has an inside track with HR or the hiring manager always has a better chance of getting the job. Most senior jobs are hardly advertised. Companies prefer to headhunt through their networks for the candidate who's profile fits with their's. The power of networking trumps all qualifications, etc in the job search business.

DONNA SILVER • Mar 4, 2016

Amen, Dindo D.!

DINDO D. • Mar 4, 2016

All comments are good to read and understand, but as a Christian , always Trusting GOD in ALL YOUR WAYS giving you the 'favored' opportunities while applying your dreamed position. Remembering 'Joseph "the Dreamer"experienced', only GOD knows what 'BEST' for each one of Us. Putting your Trust to HIM and you will succeed until the end .

Jacqueline Parks • Mar 2, 2016

I use have a lot of trouble with number three. I thought professional equaled boring. Now I work harder at branding myself and showing how I am special, and I get more interviews! I am always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd. One thing I do is keep a little list on my phone of ways I am special. I look at it when applying for jobs. Not only does it help me round out my resume, it also boosts my self esteem.

Nancy Anderson • Mar 2, 2016

Thanks for your comments. @Abbey we discuss social media and online presence all of the time - in article after article. Sadly there are so many job seekers who are still seeking because of their social media sites. Fair or not, many companies will check out your social media pages before they even consider bringing a candidate in for an interview. The best rule of thumb - always keep your sites clean whether searching for a position or not. You never know when you will be on the unemployment line so it's best to just always keep your social media pages clean and professional. @Mia LinkedIn is a wonderful tool to use. Yes you will be creating a profile which includes your resume. But you also have the opportunity to network, look for jobs and research companies. You have the ability to help someone else out, too, by joining groups and participating in the discussions. It does take time to get it set up but it could be a valuable tool in your job search.

Mia Greenwood • Mar 2, 2016

How important is it to have LinkedIn? What do you think is the most important feature of it? I went on it once, but it seems like it is just a rehash of my resume. I think I am missing something. For personal social media sites, it is pretty easy to set everything to private so no one can see.

Abbey Boyd • Mar 1, 2016

I think one of the most overlooked issues in job searching is your online presence, for the simple fact that many people don't even know about it. Many people have no idea that companies search out social media profiles of job candidates to get more information about them. When a hiring manager checks out your Facebook profile and finds crude language, constant partying, scantily clad pictures and the like, you can pretty well say goodbye to that job opportunity. It's okay to keep your page personal, but it needs to be clean. Think of yourself as a hiring manager, and decide whether your posts and pictures would send up a red flag. If so, don't post it.

Nancy Anderson • Mar 1, 2016

Thanks for the comments. @Jay - eloquently stated! I agree that, even if you don't have 100% of the qualifications, you should still apply. Maybe no one has the exact qualifications that the company is looking for! @Catherine in my personal opinion, I think it's a detriment to not have a social media presence - especially in today's world. 10 years ago you could have gotten away with it but today - everyone is on there and you need to make your presence known - but in a professional manner. It's hard at this time of the year not to get embroiled in political views but, if you job hunting, you should probably just pass it by. Yes hiring companies do look at social media sites and see what you are doing out there. They also know that, if you have been silent on social media for months and then all of a sudden you are everywhere, you are probably padding it just to get in the door for an interview. Consistency is the key. As for standing out in the crowd - try some very simple changes by changing the layout of your resume or using different fonts and even different colors. Maybe you could even use a "background" effect on your resume - subtle and professional though. No hello kitty or supergirl background but just clean lines and subtle. Hope that helps.

CATHERINE S. • Mar 1, 2016

I definitely agree about how much of a detriment unprofessional social media profiles can be in the hiring process. Every company looks at them these days. My question, however, is whether or not it is a detriment to not have any social media presence at all? For example, not having a LinkedIn profile? For this very reason, I deleted all of my social media accounts. I'm also interested in the point about making resumes more interesting and eye catching. How do you stand out in the crowd?

Jay Bowyer • Feb 29, 2016

I have to disagree very slightly with the implication of point number one. It's so true: if you need a master's degree, you may not get an interview if you only have a bachelor's degree — but you can still give it a shot. I think Richard Branson once said, "If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!"

Nancy Anderson • Feb 29, 2016

Thanks for the comments. It is tough @William to try to remember everything. And it's not always in your best interest to use a chronological resume. You might want to consider a functional one. As for formatting a "story" - there is no right or wrong. Let it just show your personality. But make sure that you are including keywords and that you have done your due diligence on the company (if you can) and know what they are all about. Knowing about the company makes it easier to formulate your story. We have all sent out applications that seem to just go into a black hole @Lorri. All you can do is try to follow up - if possible and find out why. Sadly you probably won't get a response on that, either but it's always worth a shot. @Katharine you are so right - the more you know, the better your application will be. And yes - as we have said thousands of times, watch your social media accounts! Sounds silly I know but imagine being an HR who doesn't know you and who is looking at your Facebook account or checking through your Twitter feeds. Would you want them to see what is there?

William Browning • Feb 29, 2016

One thing I've seen is that your resume, cover letter and social media should tell a story in between bullet points, accomplishments and skills. How do you tell a story in a resume, social media and all of the details? It's hard to go purely in chronological order, yet you need to give HR a complete picture of what you bring to the table. Even with all of this, I might leave out one important detail that tips the scales in my favor.

Jacob T. • Feb 28, 2016

Reading this article helps make clear why I seem to always get such a low response rate when I send out my resume. Many of this tips are things I have failed to understand, and perhaps it is the reason that, despite a strong resume, it can be struggle to land even a preliminary interview. These are definitely things worth trying moving forward.

Katharine M. • Feb 28, 2016

I've definitely found that when applying for jobs, the more you can do to show your interest and customize your application to the position, the better. Social media can definitely be your downfall- when recruiters know next to nothing about you, they may give disproportionate weight to the information they can glean from your Facebook profile. Ditto typos and careless errors on resumes: everyone makes mistakes, but they loom larger in the minds of strangers.

Lorri Cotton • Feb 27, 2016

I can't count the times that I have diligently prepared an application package, checked it over and over, and waited for a response that never came. I couldn't figure out, with my qualifications, why I hadn't heard back. While reading this article, I began to notice that a number of the tips applied to my resume, especially the bullet-point-ridden resume. I am in the process of re-doing my resume, perhaps these tips will help.

Nancy Anderson • Feb 27, 2016

@Tara thank you for that and it's so true. When a company puts together a job posting, they tend to include everything possible to try to find that one in a million candidate. Chances are they will never find it but they could find someone who has most of the qualifications required. The job posting is like a company's dream list. If you have about 75% of what is required, go for it. Concentrate on what you have to offer to the company that would make you great in the position - even if it's not what they have asked for.

Tara Avery • Feb 27, 2016

While I agree with many of these points, especially regarding being aware of one's social media presence and how it might effect an impression of you, I'm not sure the first point is great advice. I know many, many people who've applied for jobs where they had many but not ALL the skills/qualifications the employer was looking for, and they've gone on to successfully get those jobs. It may be why an employer doesn't call some candidates, but I don't think it's entirely pointless to apply to all positions where one might be slightly outside the requirements.

Nancy Anderson • Feb 26, 2016

Thanks for the comments. @Shannon I am not sure how much they really look. I would think that if your resume is the pile of finalists to be called for an interview that they would at least do a cursory look and see if they can find articles where you expressed an opinion or your twitter or facebook accounts. I honestly think that they make assumptions based upon our photos. But, then, if you don't have a photo they think that you are hiding something. I think just good common sense is the way to go. @Hema I agree that it's hard to decide what to include. There is always the fear that you will show up the hiring manager by being better educated or having more experience! I think that if the accomplishments are applicable to the job for which you are applying, then it's okay to list them. Always remember - quantifiable, actionable tasks are what you should list.

Hema Zahid • Feb 26, 2016

I don’t think a long list of accomplishments will always impress a hiring manager. It might come across as bragging and the hiring manager might suspect I’m trying to cover up a flaw by focusing heavily on my achievements. On the other hand, a concise list of responsibilities shows that my former bosses trusted my judgment and maturity and were comfortable delegating duties to me.

Shannon Philpott • Feb 26, 2016

The social media and online presence portion is really helpful. I'm wondering, though, how much potential employers dig into this, though. Is it just a basic Google search? Also, when social media platforms are private, how much assumption can the employer make about the candidate based on just a profile picture? It definitely is a good idea to make sure all profile pictures are professional to be safe, though.

Nancy Anderson • Feb 4, 2016

@Ruth thanks for your comment. How exciting to be changing careers. Typically, when we change careers, we have to start at entry level - especially if we don't already have the skills. It's that same old thing - how can I get a job if I don't have the experience; how can I get experience if I can't get a job. Tough to do at any stage of your career. You might want to try going through a temp agency - sort of as a trial. Another thing you might consider is finding a company that fits in with your new career and then do a search on them. See if there is anyone that you know there or even finding a friend of a friend. Then contact that person within the company and see if they will allow you to shadow them for a few days. This way you can find out if this new career is for you. You can also utilize the career services at your local college as they get leads on many entry level positions. @Michelle thanks for your comment. Three months isn't very long in the grand scheme of things but I truly understand. I was only out of work for 6 weeks and it seemed like an eternity! It is tough to try to cut your resume at ten years but that seems to be all that companies want anymore. You don't want to lie so what I do on my resume is to put a statement in there that other work experience available upon request or something to that tune. They already know how old I am just by some of the dates such as graduation dates from school or college; military dates, etc. But, remember that companies only care about the pertinent experience. Sadly there is no program in place, other than social security, that will take care of you as you get older. It's not true that companies don't want to hire 58 yr olds. I am living proof of that. All you can do is keep on searching and applying. The right position will come along.