Why Your Resume Doesn’t Get Your Attention (5 More Tips for Success)
By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
This story is all too common: You’ve sent out hundreds of resumes for hundreds of job openings, and you’ve gotten nothing. Competition in the job market can mean it’s difficult to make your resume stand out. Although estimates vary, it’s not uncommon to need to send over 100 resumes before landing a coveted job offer.
So, if most resumes fail, what are the key mistakes that keep your resume from making an impact? What can you do to turn things around? Let’s take a look at the main reasons why most resumes fail, and what you can do to change your fortunes.
5 reasons why most resumes fail
Here are some of the most common resume mistakes that can cause you to be overlooked for job openings, even if you are well qualified:
Not directed at the employer
Employers will want to see that you have thought long and hard about the position and the organization, which is why you are applying. If you send out resumes by the dozen, they will inevitably feel generic and lack the customization and personalization needed to truly impress your readers.
Gaining buy-in from decision makers requires a customized approach that shows you’ve weighed your options and decided this position is right for you, and that you’ve created a resume using that as a starting point. Being too general about your motivations, failing to focus on skills that match the job description, and lacking a targeted approach to mentioning the employer’s name are all easy mistakes to make when you’re sending out countless resumes. However, these are likely to hinder your success.
Use old-fashioned resume conventions
Ignoring current resume conventions, formatting, and structure is a sure sign that you don’t understand what employers are looking for in the modern employee. This may include:
- Create an unnecessarily long resume (usually one page is long enough, whereas for senior management positions you may need to extend it).
- Choose a skills-focused resume when a traditional chronological format might be more effective, and vice versa.
- Write paragraphs or long sentences in the third person, or in the first person using “I” statements.
- Add outdated resume sections such as references, long professional profiles, personal photos, or too many personal details.
Not optimized for ATS
When you write your resume, it’s important to remember that it will be read by humans and machines. Recruiters and employers often use automated systems to screen your resume. If you don’t optimize your resume for ATS screening, your resume may not even make it to the stage where people will read it. This means using keywords throughout your resume that match the job description and crafting your resume in a clear, easy-to-scan format without text boxes or too many images.
Focus on responsibility
One of the most classic resume mistakes in history is listing the responsibilities and duties of previous jobs instead of outlining your career achievements. If the goal is to differentiate yourself from other candidates, listing essential job responsibilities and tasks will do the exact opposite. Every candidate following a traditional career path will perform the same tasks and responsibilities as in your previous position. Simply telling an employer that you can get the job done doesn’t do much to stand out and showcase your unique qualities.
Dependence on artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is entering the mainstream when it comes to job search activities. Artificial intelligence, once widely condemned and then frowned upon, is now widely accepted as a tool in the job application process. Selective use of AI can help you polish your resume and make it appear more professional, but relying too much on it could lead to your downfall. Employers may be more willing to accept applications that use artificial intelligence, but they will be able to spot resumes that are entirely or mostly algorithm-generated.
5 Tips for a Successful Resume
These simple fixes can ensure your resume overcomes the most common shortcomings and failures, putting you in a strong position to advance to the next stage of the recruitment process:
Personalize every resume
The most effective thing you can do to improve your chances of a successful job application is to create a customized resume for each application. It’s up to you how much you want to customize your resume, but generally speaking, the more appropriate it is for a specific position, the more effective your resume will be.
If you’re working from a master resume, remove any previous roles, skills, or qualifications that don’t match the job description. If you’re writing your resume from scratch, make sure every job, skill, and accomplishment, whether in work or education, is relevant to the position. Write a customized resume summary that clearly outlines what makes you a strong candidate and explains how the position and organization fit with your career stage, values, and priorities. Finally, make sure your resume contains keywords that match those used in the job description to maximize your chances of passing the ATS screening stage.
Highlight your achievements
The best way to move away from a generic resume that focuses on tasks and responsibilities is to focus on accomplishments. Recruiters want to see the value you added in your previous roles. This could mean referencing your increased revenue, or the cost savings you made for your previous employer, the new initiatives you spearheaded, the awards you won, or the career milestones you surpassed. Tie each accomplishment to a skill so readers can evaluate the impact you have had so far in your career and how you can apply that to this new role and organization.
Apply more selectively
Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you’re sending out dozens of resumes and online applications and not seeing any progress, you may want to reduce the number you send. Using a fragmented approach to applying for jobs may feel productive, but it may hurt your chances of success because you won’t be able to spend the time needed on each individual application to make it stand out to your readers.
Being more selective in your applications may mean waiting to apply until you’re truly sure the job is a good fit, or spending more time expanding your network of contacts through LinkedIn or industry events. Then, when the right job openings come up, you’ll be better able to send the right resume with your application.
Use AI with caution
The vast majority of your resume should be your own work. It’s never a good idea to send a resume that contains an entire section written by an AI tool. Using AI to generate work experience, relevant skills or qualifications that do not reflect your actual experience may also harm your chances of success and may even be considered fraudulent. However, there are certain benefits to using AI to enhance your resume before sending it out.
Using your tailored, personalized resume as a starting point, AI tools can provide suggestions to make it better fit the job description, or improve the language used to appear more professional. Just make sure to always double-check AI-recommended improvements before implementing them, and be careful not to mislead readers or provide any false information.
Use a professional resume design
If your resume lacks engaging design and layout, it can easily fade into the background. Thankfully, you can easily access professional templates and build a resume in minutes using resume builder apps, such as job seeker. Templates are ready-made but can be customized as per your requirements. They are also created in a way that is optimized for ATS systems, which should ensure that you pass the initial screening stage of the recruitment process.
final thoughts
Landing the right job opportunities requires persistence, which is understandable if you don’t want to spend too long customizing your resume for each individual application. However, this can hinder your success, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. Only by taking the time to tailor your resume to each specific application can you truly attract hiring managers and show that you are a good fit for the position and organization.
Focusing on quality rather than quantity is a great way to increase your chances of success. Try spending more of your job search time tailoring your resume to best fit your position and less time sending out tons of generic applications in the hope of sticking around. Taking the time to avoid the most common resume pitfalls and craft a resume that showcases your best qualities and fits the job description will put you in the best position to succeed.
