Job Doc

Many resumes to job posts, but no responses

Pattie Hunt Sinacole offers job hunting tips to a frustrated job hunter

Ask the Job Doc. Boston.com

August 12, 2024

3 minutes to read

Q: I was laid off in May, 2024. I have sent out resumes to almost every job posting I have seen. I never hear back, and it is getting very frustrating. My savings account is getting low and I need to find work soon. I see these companies posting, re-posting and then posting it again. Then I don’t hear from them. I am not sure if they are fake posting, on LinkedIn, or real ones.

A: Job hunting can be exhausting and frustrating. Let’s learn from your experience. You have been submitting applications online “to almost every job posting I have seen.” We know that this is approach has not been effective. It may be worth considering a different tactic.

I have some recommendations on how to think about your job hunt going forward:

Network, network, network. A robust network is the best insurance for unemployment. Or maybe I should say NETWORK. A strong and healthy network is essential. Several years ago, I met with a job hunter who landed a new job very quickly, as I saw his updated LinkedIn profile, which showed a new role and company. When I emailed a quick congratulations note, I asked him how he found out about the new role. He explained that he never stopped networking. After a job loss about five years ago, he said that his network was always a source of the best connections. Since that event, he learned that a vibrant and engaged professional network was the best defense against unemployment. And I believe him! Never stop networking, even when you are working in your ideal job! Offer to meet a former co-worker for coffee. Reach out to a neighbor who is in the tech industry. Head to the dog park on Saturday mornings when other professionals might be there too. Join a pickle ball group in your town. There are possible additions to your network everywhere!

Think about contacts in your industry. Job seekers still learn about most roles through a contact, whether it be a former co-worker, a family member or a college roommate. Share with others that you are looking for a new role.

If you are not on LinkedIn, this is the time. Invest time and energy in building a strong LinkedIn profile. Recruiters scour LinkedIn for candidates. You want to be one of the candidates they find quickly and easily. Make sure that your profile is complete and contains keywords that are relevant to your experience. Not only do you want your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect your past experience, but also your new role. When you envision the ideal next role, what keywords might apply? Always, always, always be honest, but think about how to highlight your experience that might be required in a new opportunity.

Fake posts are unlikely on LinkedIn. The posts can get pricy, so that cost would be billed back to the employer or the staffing firm.

Have a trusted friend or colleague review your resume. Is it outdated? Is the formatting off? Does it include typos? Does it accurately reflect your work experience in the most positive way? A fresh set of eyes almost always is helpful.

As you have discovered, applying to hundreds of roles online is not the best use of your time. Be selective. Who might know at a particular company? This is where recommendation #3 comes in again. Networking can often help you reach roles that you may not otherwise know about. Ideally, it is advantageous to learn about roles before they are posted. Once a role is posted, you are competing with others, sometimes hundreds of others.

Prepare for a Zoom interview. A Zoom interview is often the first step of the selectin process. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and you have a quiet place with a non-distracting background. You can blur your background, or select one of the other backgrounds available online, but the quiet is important. Thank the interviewer for their time, even if you don’t get a job offer. Hiring professionals remember who sent a note and who didn’t.

Don’t bash your former employer. It may reflect poorly on you. You don’t want to be perceived as negative or angry.

Don’t sit behind your computer, as most introverts like to do. Your new job is looking for a job on a full-time basis. Start now!