Resume is not getting shortlisted even after applying to multiple jobs? It can be irritating when you know you have skills as well as experience, but still don’t hear back from employers. The truth is, your resume is not performing as you expect. Today’s world is very competitive, and organizations receive hundreds of resumes for a single role.
Your resume can be rejected in the first screening for sure, if it’s not created properly, with proper keywords, structure, and clarity. Understanding what’s going wrong and how to resolve it is the initial step towards that interview.
Also Read: 7 Reasons Why You Are Facing Resume Rejections
Common reasons why resumes get rejected
Before you go online to check for a solution or connect to a professional writer, you need to understand where you are going wrong with your resume. Without understanding the mistakes in resume, you cannot address the points where you need improvement. Even if you hire a pro-writer, understanding the mistakes and pointing them out is important.
To make you task of finding out the probable loopholes in the resume, here are some of the common mistakes to note. Read the following pointers and compare them with your resume to figure out the mistakes.
1. Location Issue
Another common reason why your resume is not getting shortlisted is due to your current location. If you’re applying for a job in a city that is far away from city living, recruiters may reject your application earlier. Most employers prefer candidates who are closer to the job location for quicker joining. Always mention clearly in your resume that you’re willing to relocate if required in order to avoid rejection. It shows flexibility and improves your chances of being considered.
2. Lack of Experience Level
Lack of relevant experience could be a major obstacle to getting your resume shortlisted. A wide range of employers prioritize candidates with specific experience for their roles. For freshers or those with limited experience, securing a job can be tough, as recruiters are more likely to favour candidates who can immediately contribute.
When it comes to experienced professionals who are looking to switch, they also may face challenges if their experience doesn’t match the needs of the job. So, it’s crucial to tailor your resume in order to highlight transferable skills as well as any relevant experience.
3. Generic Format
As a job seeker, you have to understand that a recruiter goes through hundreds of resumes in a day. A resume that follows a generic content pattern and template can never catch the attention of the resume screener. For getting noticed at the first screening session, your resume needs to be better than the rest. The writing has to be crisp and informative in a compact way without any errors. A professional writer can give you tips on making the resume unique.
4. resume is too long
Most job seekers think that including every detail of your academic and professional achievement in a resume makes it more impressive to the recruiter. But it is a completely wrong idea! Yes, you must mention every relevant academic and professional achievement in the resume, but making it a descriptive one is a big no! A long-composed resume does not make it to the shortlist or increase your chance to land an interview call. Make it compact and informative wisely.
5. Your Resume Didn’t Pass the ATS Scan
One of the most common reasons why your resume is not getting shortlisted is that it didn’t pass through the ATS (Application Tracking System). This software is utilized by most employers in order to scan and filter resumes before even looking at them. Your resume could automatically be rejected if it’s not optimized for ATS.
The reason? This can happen due to improper formatting, missing keywords, or using graphics as well as tables that systems can’t read. When it comes to creating an ATS-friendly resume, it includes relevant, job-specific keywords, a simple structure, and clear headings. In order to improve your chances, you need to make sure that your resume aligns closely with the job description and avoid any complex formatting.
6. Having Irrelevant Tons of Subjective Skills
Having hundreds of skills does not always make you fit for a job role. For example, you are applying for the job of an accountant. If you mention your skills in programming in the resume and job application, will it be helpful? Resume-making needs to have a clear perspective of the job you are applying for. Thus, before sending it to the recruiter, ensure that you highlight the relevant skills for the specific job to increase your chances.
7. Not Mentioning Accomplishments
Those who have been working for multiple years, often boast about their professional achievements. It is good to mention your career-related acclaims but only stressing on them will not make a good impact. Instead, mentioning the job roles and responsibilities helps in the process. The recruiter gets a fair idea about your capabilities by going through your previous job roles, and thus you reduce your chances of getting rejected.
8. Employment Gap
Career breaks and gaps are a big reason why a job application rejected immediately. Especially with this covid ridden situation, companies prefer hiring experienced candidates. Also, if you are a fresher but have a gap in your academic profile, it is a drawback for your resume.
Thus, even if you have a gap in your career or academics, ensure to mention the valid reason behind it. With a proper and valid explanation supporting the gap, there are chances that the recruiter may not reject it right away.
9. Missing Updated Information Can Cost You the Job
Mentioning the contact details or failing to include recent work experience can be a major reason why your resume is not getting shortlisted. Recruiters depend on accurate as well as information in order to evaluate and contact candidates.
Don’t mention the phone number that’s inactive and don’t keep your experience section empty, it can create a very poor impression. When you keep your resume up to date, it shows professionalism and ensures you don’t miss out on potential opportunities.
10. You Did Not Proof Read Your Application
Many job seekers who hire a professional writer to write their resume do not check, proofread the final resume and send it right away. Even if you have connected to a professional writer, the responsibility is yours to check the content thoroughly. Without proofreading the resume, you can never figure out if there is any wrong information in the resume.
11. Having Spelling And Grammar Errors
Before thinking about why my resume is not getting shortlisted, have you checked for the grammar errors in the resume? Spelling mistakes and grammar errors in the resume content are some of the greatest drawbacks. It not only annoys the recruiter but also makes you appear careless. Do not convey this image to the recruiter and make a smart decision by checking it through grammar-checking software.
12. Additional Resume Mistakes That Lead to Rejection
Apart from the major issues already discussed, here are some other common resume mistakes that can hurt your chances:
- Using the outdated or confusing “functional” format.
- Having a negative or unprofessional online presence.
- Lying about qualifications or experience.
- Listing jobs in the wrong chronological order.
- Including too much personal information.
Writing in the third person instead of the first person or using bullet points.
How Writrox can help you?
Writrox, offers professional resume writing services, is your one-stop solution to avoid all these mistakes in the resume. With the highly proficient writers of the company, you get a well-composed resume that can capture the attention of the recruiter. With a well-written resume with correct information in it, you increase your chances of landing the interview call. Perform better than your competitors with the right resume material crafted by professional writers. Connect to them and watch your career elevate.
