Why You're Not Hearing Back (And What to Do About It)
You've sent out dozens of applications.
Your resume looks good.
You're qualified.
So why is your inbox empty?
The silence is frustrating, but it's also diagnostic.
If you're not getting responses, something in your approach needs adjustment.
Here are the most common culprits.
1.
Your Resume Isn't Getting Past ATS
Applicant Tracking Systems filter resumes before humans see them.
If your formatting is off or your keywords don't match, you're out before you've started.
Fix it: Use clean formatting (no tables, graphics, or unusual fonts).
Mirror the language from job descriptions.
Include both spelled-out terms and acronyms.
2.
You're Applying to Roles That Don't Fit
Casting a wide net sounds efficient, but applying to roles where you meet less than half the requirements wastes time — yours and theirs.
Fix it: Focus on roles where you meet at least 60-70% of the requirements.
Quality of fit matters more than quantity of applications.
3.
Your Resume Doesn't Speak to the Role
A generic resume that lists everything you've ever done doesn't tell recruiters why you're right for this specific job.
Fix it: Tailor your resume for each application.
Lead with relevant experience.
Match your skills section to what they're asking for.
4.
Your Online Presence Hurts You
Recruiters Google candidates and check LinkedIn.
If your profile is empty, inconsistent with your resume, or professionally questionable, it raises flags.
Fix it: Audit your LinkedIn.
Make sure it aligns with your resume.
Google yourself and address anything problematic.
5.
The Competition Is Fierce
For popular roles at well-known companies, hundreds of qualified candidates apply.
Sometimes you do everything right and still don't advance.
Fix it: Expand your search to include smaller companies, adjacent roles, and industries where your skills transfer but competition is lower.
When to Change Strategy
If you've sent 50+ tailored applications with less than a 5% response rate, something systemic needs to change.
Consider:
- Having someone else review your resume
- Targeting different types of roles or companies
- Investing more in networking and referrals
- Reassessing whether your expectations match the market
The job search is a feedback loop.
No responses is feedback.
Use it.
hrvstr analyzes your fit for each role and optimizes your resume accordingly — so you're not guessing why you're not hearing back. [See your match scores →]