If you have sent out half a dozen CVs and still haven’t scored an interview, it is time to dig deep and reveal why resumes get rejected.
You need to realize that something is holding you back and can only be tackled when you know exactly where the problem lies. Hence, you must find out the common slip-ups and make effective changes to improve your chances of getting hired.
When you finally address the issues, your writing will get better, and the employers will start to notice you. Furthermore, it will also be possible to land your dream job.
Dropping Truth Bombs about Resumes Getting Tossed
Picture an employer going through a mountain of random CVs that were sent to him. He has around 180+ applications, and he cannot do them all day. So, what he does is use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to scan for keywords specific to the job role. If your resume doesn’t have these keywords, it gets filtered out immediately.
Now, he is just left with the remaining number of resumes, which can still be at least more than a hundred. However, as he is short of time, he quickly skims through the rest, looking for any obvious mistakes. The recruiters take these inconsistencies very seriously and might not even give these a read.
After the second round of filtration, a few more CVs are tossed aside. At this point, the hiring manager genuinely starts speed-reading the professional summaries. If they are convincing, they stay on the table; if not, then they are discarded. Hence, to get noticed, working with a professional resume-service Vancouver is important.
Now, Here is Something That The Recruiter Will Never Tell You
Your CV Lacked ATS-Friendly Formatting
One of the biggest reasons your resumes gets rejected is that most recruiters use ATS to streamline the hiring process. Thus, if your CV is not formatted to be ATS-friendly, it may never ever reach a human.
To Fix This:
To save your employee record from going into the trash, make sure you use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. Besides this, you should avoid images and graphics and properly use headings and bullet points. In addition, try to ensure that your document is saved as a PDF.
The Entire Document Was Too Generic
If the hiring manager finds your document not outstanding enough, it might get discarded. They want to see candidates who align specifically and perfectly with the role. So, a generic CV will always be tossed out of the scene.
To Fix This:
You need to make a difference by hiring a resume help Canada and making sure that your resume is tailored for each job application. The document should highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements to demonstrate your suitability.
You Missed Mentioning Crucial Keywords
Next, what a hiring manager will never tell you is that they reject resumes for not having relevant keywords. It is a common practice taught to students that the employment record must include keywords from the job description. Anyone who fails to do so has set up himself for negative responses.
To Fix This:
You must customize your resume for the job by identifying important keywords from the job description, such as skills, job title, and specific qualifications. Then, use them in the writing process to show the recruiter that you have relevant experience.
There Were Unexplained Employment Gaps
If your resume has gaps and you are unsuccessful in addressing them, then you seem like a red flag already. They will never want to speak to you because the gaps concern them about your reliability.
Employment gaps can be a red flag if not addressed properly. Recruiters might not inform you that these gaps are a concern, but providing brief explanations can ease their worries and improve your chances.
To Fix This:
Instead of crying out, ‘I keep getting rejected by jobs’, now that you know why, try to provide a brief explanation and improve your chances of selection. However, do not mention a vague or irrelevant reason. Stay strictly professional and transparent throughout.
Your Resume Was Full of Typographical Errors
Typos and grammatical errors in the document can seriously undermine your professionalism. Such mistakes can lead to immediate reaction because this hints at a non-serious attitude.
To Fix This:
You should hire the best resume builder and get your resume proofread multiple times. You can also use tools like Grammarly or ask a mentor to review it for you.
The Quantifiable Achievements were Absent
Lastly, recruiters want to see evidence of your accomplishments. Hence, without quantifiable achievements, it is hard for them to gauge your impact.
To Fix This:
In short, numbers are important, at least more than you thought. So, you must include specific numbers and metrics to quantify your achievements. This is your concrete evidence to leave an impact on the hiring manager and get your CV selected.
The Frequently Asked Questions of a Job Seeker
Q. Is a page resume best, or can it be longer?
A page of your resumes might be great for clarity, but two pages are also acceptable if you have significant experience. So, while writing, just make sure every word counts and is easy to read.
Q. Should I add references or say they’re available upon request?
You can mention ‘references available upon request’ and believe us, it is enough. This is a wise idea because providing actual references takes up valuable space and can be shared later. This also gives the candidates an edge in getting into a conversation with the recruiter.
Q. Do I need a cover letter with every resume?
Yes, including a cover letter is generally a good practice. It gives you an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills and express your enthusiasm for the role. As a result, you set yourself apart from the other candidates.
Q. How should I update and maintain my CV?
You should regularly update your resume with new skills, experiences, and achievements. You can also customize it for each job application. This helps align the document with the job description and includes the relevant keywords.
Summarizing the Fine Points of Resume Rejection
CVs are often tossed for reasons that the hiring manager may not explicitly share with the candidates. However, the common pitfalls are as discussed above.
A lack of ATS-friendly formatting is the biggest reason why your resume is getting rejected repeatedly. Apart from this, the CV won’t pass the initial screenings if it is overly generic, does not have relevant keywords, or carries unexplained employment gaps.
Additionally, your document will be considered a red flag in the absence of quantifiable achievements and in the presence of typographical errors. Therefore, if you want to receive an interview call, take the necessary measures, and the results will be evident.