7 Top Reasons Recruiters Don't Call You for an Interview 

“Hey Alex, how’s your job application? Do you get an interview offer?” 

‘Nah, it has been a week and there is no call from the company. I feel bad about this. I really want to get into that company.’

__

For many of us, getting no call after submitting a job application feels worse. You might spend days or weeks wondering why your dream employer does not reach back to you. You already have a professional perfectly crafted resume and still no response. Waiting is painful, so here you go, the most common reasons why recruiters do not call you back. Identifying these might give some clues to your worry over no call. 

You are not qualified for the job 

The most simple reason for not getting a call back from a recruiter is that you are not qualified enough for the position you are applying. It can be that your skills written in your resume are not enough. This is especially true if you are applying for a senior position. 

For example, you are applying for a “key accounts manager” with a past work history as an accountant. You also cited that you are a graduate with marketing experience. Albeit it sounds great for you, don’t expect a call back from the recruiter. Why? Because “key account manager” is a senior position that requires more than your qualifications now.  

See also: What Should You Prepare for a Walk-in-Interview? 

The job ad does not hire external candidates 

Job openings on some platforms that you know are probably there only for formality. This is the reason why recruiter does not call you after your application. Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, an executive resume writer at Career Trend, said that employers often have policies that require them to post job openings to the public. In reality, there is not effectively a position available because that job openings will be filled by current employees. 

You apply to an old job ad 

One of the most common mistake job seekers does is that they do not review the job posting date before applying. Some employers do not take down their job postings after being posted. The reason is simple because employers have posted many job ads and do not remember where their old job postings are. So, it is advisable for job seekers to see the job ads date before applying. 

ATS does not recognise you 

Nowadays, hiring managers rely on robot ATS (application tracking system) to easily shortlist candidate’s resumes and CVs. And ATS is tricky for job seekers. You need to perfectly write your resume in order to get shortlisted by the machine. You need to be careful with your keywords richness and resume format. 

Unprofessionalism in your resume 

Another common thing recruiter prefers to hold the call is that you do not write your resume professionally. To illustrate, you are in need of a job and you apply for several jobs with the same resume. You forgot to change the employer’s name and you do not proofread your resume. What do you think will happen? There are 2 possibilities. First, recruiters might think that you are not serious applying. Second, recruiters might disqualify you for your fatal mistake like spelling wrong company name. 

That said, it is always good to re-write your resume for different application, especially if you are applying for different roles. Second, always proofread your resume and ask someone to proofread it after you. 

See also: What to Do When You Send Wrong Application to a Recruiter

Multiple applications

You have applied to X company in the last three months. You got a job interview but failed. X company puts a job opening again in a different role. Because you really want to work for the company, you apply for the second time. This time you are extra careful with your resume as to not make a mistake. However, they do not even call you for your second application. Why is that? 

The reason is your interview feedback from past applications is likely to be considered to determine whether you should be contacted or not. If you are flooding the same company with your resume, the employer will think that you are not serious in a specific role, leading to disqualification of your application. 

Changing of the hiring plan 

In the game of business, everything can change pretty fast. Projects get rebooted. Teams get cut. Or, recruitment gets postponed for the later date. When this happens and you apply from a recruitment agency, they might tell you about the cancellation. But oftentimes, an employer does not inform this to job applicants. 

Piece of advice

It is always better to move on after a week without a call from a recruiter. There might be many reasons and you cannot know exactly why the employer you are applying doesn’t call you back. Another way, you can call the recruiter/employer for clarification. Or, if you know that the company uses ATS, you better understand how their ATS works and create better resumes for the next application. 

Next read: What Makes Recruitment Consultant Choose You Over Other Candidates?