One of the most common complaints I hear from job hunters is about the lack of communication from an employer.
How many times have you applied online for a position for which you're perfect, only to hear crickets chirping for weeks at a time? Then the opening appears again. Or, you've interviewed but never heard back?
While you can't force someone to acknowledge you, much less interview and hire you, here are some thoughts on increasing your chances for a positive outcome.
When applying online, bear in mind they don't know who you are, nor do they particularly care. Typically, software will scan your application for relevancy. So it's critical you incorporate keywords into your résumé. These keywords should mirror words in the job description and requirements as much as possible.
If the job is out of town, get a free phone number via Google Voice that's in the city where the company is, and use it on your application and résumé. Google Voice can forward calls to your cell or home number. This will help remove your location as an automatic disqualifier.
Your salary requirements could be getting you pushed aside. Regardless of what you have earned, there's a fair market value associated with this new position. Leaving that space blank or entering a figure that's too high decreases your chances. Online research can give you a decent sense of what a job is likely to pay. Just be aware that these sites often inflate the salary range 5 to 10 percent, so drop your asking price accordingly.
Timing is another reason you might not get a fair shake. In the old days, when you mailed a hard copy to an employer, conventional wisdom said to wait several days after reading the newspaper ad before sending your résumé. Why? Waiting allowed your résumé to arrive with perhaps only a few others that day versus arriving with a lot of résumés early on. The thought was you got a longer look from a set of eyes reviewing applicants.
That game has changed. With software scanning incoming transmissions for relevancy, once employers have a certain number of highly qualified applicants, they often begin the "eyes" review and ultimately call those selected folks. If, as in the old days, you'd waited a week to apply, there's a great likelihood they'll already have identified enough candidates and you get assigned to the backup-candidate batch. Apply right away. Don't wait.
If you can determine the company's name, it's a dicey decision as to whether to follow up with a phone call, especially if it requests no phone calls. I know some will disagree with me on this, but I generally want to place a brief call regardless. I'd wait a couple of days after submission before making the call and, realizing I'll probably get voice mail, simply say that I want to confirm that they've received my material and let them know that I'm looking forward to the interview process.
Lastly, a lack of interview follow-up from the employer is rarely a good sign. As your interview concludes, ask about the timeline for a decision. Then ask whether you may contact him or her if that timeline has passed. A call at that time, followed by an email another week later, would make sense.
Having sat on both sides of the interview desk, I understand the frustrations of job seekers and employers. Keep in mind, the Internet has allowed the applicant pool to swell tremendously. And all too often, your résumé is but one in a sea of qualified and unqualified applicants. Hiring officials are swamped and typically do the best they can in light of the applicant volume.
Try not to take a lack of communication personally. Easier said than done, I realize. Just move on to the next opportunity and exercise some of my tips. Good luck!
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