You've got a great resume; reads better than a John Grisham novel. Employers would be nuts not to want you. You send out a bunch and wait. You tell yourself any minute they'll be calling. A few days go by and since you know the job market is tough you surmise employers have a lot of resumes to go through and this might take a bit more time than you thought. But when they see your resume the drop ceiling tiles will part and light from the heavens will shine upon them. They'll hear a chorus of "halleluiah" from angels and frantically grab their phones... any time now.
After a week or two you conclude that maybe somehow your resume was lost or your file would not open; maybe your email went to the spam box. You send another one with a follow up letter. Now another week goes by and you start checking your contact information. You check the phone number on your resume? Finally you ask the BIG question: "What's going on?"
Are you ready for the truth?
The Reasons Employers are: Just Not That Into You
1. No matter how great you are you might not be the right fit for an employer. Sometimes employers have ideas of what they are looking for and you are not going to know. Attributes, experience, knowledge, skills, or abilities they have not advertised. Like dating often has hidden criteria, for instance some people appreciate tall people, others prefer shorter dates. You see in this case: it's them not you!
2. They're might be somebody better for the position. This one might be hard to imagine, as great as you are, there could be someone else better suited for the position.
3. Your resume might not be as great as you are. This is the one you can do something about:
· You might have used one or more of the 197 words that you should not use on your resume. Find out about the 197 words you must avoid and resume writing. Check your resume for every word.
· Create your resume to fit the employer. While this takes a bit more work, match your knowledge, skill, and ability words with what each employer and the industry are using.
· Check your tone: Have several other people (preferably employers or HR employees) review your resume and cover letter. If your tone is too self centered give up the spotlight: Focus your writing on the needs of the employer and you will find one that loves you!
Just like dating, job hunting is a numbers game. You must job hunt every week to keep the odds in your favor. Keep improving your resume. Make sure what you are sending is relevant to what each employer is looking for and you will find the employer that is "into you" and hears that chorus of "halleluiah" from angels.
