Why recruiters don't respond to every job application (and what to do next)

The reality is that recruiters aren't able to personally respond to every application, and in many cases, candidates may only receive an automated update. While that can be frustrating, it's important not to see it as a reflection of your skills, experience or potential fit for a role. There are many reasons an application may not move forward. If you're curious about what recruiter silence can mean and, more importantly, how to increase your chances of getting noticed, keep reading.

Why qualified candidates don't get chosen

1. It's not the right fit (at least not right now)

"Not receiving a response doesn't mean you're unqualified; it just means the timing or match may not be right for that particular role.” –Legare Settle, Senior Managing Consultant, Beacon Hill Associates

You might be wondering, "What do recruiters notice in the first 30 seconds of reviewing a resume?" 30 seconds is generous if you are applying to a company that receives large amounts of applications. It's more like seven or eight. That being said, they look at formatting (for scannability), work relevance, required education and possibly accomplishments, if they get that far.¹

Pro-tip: If you do get a recruiter's attention, supplying an online portfolio or website link can deepen their interest in you as a candidate.

2. The job posting isn't valid anymore

If you've ever asked, "How do you verify if a job posting is still active?" you're not alone! Online communities like LinkedIn and platforms like Indeed have insights we agree with.

Go to the source: It's always smart to see if the role is listed on the actual company's website or LinkedIn page and that emails aren't coming from generic Gmail or Outlook domains. Legitimacy is important.⁴

Trust your instincts: If you feel that a job description, salary or other details are strange ... if you notice that the "recruiter" is seeking information of a sensitive nature from you ... basically, if anything feels off, don't apply.

Check in with other humans: Current employees of your target company or hiring managers connected to the job listing are great people to talk to about posting validity.⁴

Consider how long the role has been up: According to Indeed, "even when a job posting seems active, it's possible the hiring manager just hasn't noted that the role has been filled."⁵ Use some of the methods above to sleuth out whether it's worth applying to.

Speaking of long-running job postings, you may also wonder, "How old is too old for a job posting?" The consensus seems to be older than one to two weeks.⁵ After that, you need to do your due diligence.

Note: You can still apply for jobs after the ideal window has closed, but make sure to check that it isn't just being scraped from another service that is serving outdated information.

3. The volume is enormous

“One of the hardest parts of recruiting is knowing there are talented people behind every application. We wish we could personally respond to each one, but with the volume of applicants we receive, our focus has to be on the candidates who are the strongest fit for the position per our clients’ requirements." –Legare

Candidates are busy applying to a certain number of jobs per week, using the advice that, "It's often beneficial to apply to ten to fifteen different jobs each week, or two to three jobs per day."⁶ So busy that it's easy to forget hiring managers and recruiters get blown away by hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for every role they post. Replying to all of them in a personal way? Not possible.

What you can do to make your resume more marketable to hiring managers and recruiters

1. Improve your resume's organization

Prioritize what matters most: Whatever you do, put vital details at the top of your resume. Like website users, people (including recruiters) have limited bandwidth, and above the fold is best.²

Tell a story: Make sure the narrative makes logical sense as a career and address gaps proactively. This means tailoring when it makes sense.

Use keywords:⁶ When you can, use keywords to improve your odds of being elevated by ATSs.

2. Edit, edit, edit

While it isn't always the first thing recruiters may notice, once they do invest time in you, recruiters and hiring managers will begin catching grammar and spelling errors.³ Don't give them a reason to pick someone else.

3. Make a connection

Find someone who works at your target company, and ask them how they like working for said company. If they respond positively, mention that you spoke with them in your cover letter, and they said good things about the company. They don't need to refer you to help elevate your standing with a hiring manager. Your candidacy rating can be boosted by other tools like a cover letter, so use every one you have.

4. Just keep going

Don't get discouraged. Talent communities and job alerts exist for a reason. Sign up and apply frequently, trying different methods to engage recruiters. Someday, it's going to work out.

So why do hiring managers and recruiters reject candidates? All kinds of reasons! Some are within your control, and others aren't. The best thing you can do is keep applying and trying to establish long-term relationships with recruiters and other insiders who can help put you forward for the right position when it becomes available.

If you want to pair up with someone who can help get you in front of the right companies, apply for a role through Beacon Hill. If a match exists, we have a recruiter who can find it.

Sources and inspiration

1. How Long Do Hiring Managers Look at a Resume?
2. This Is The Part Of Your Resume That Recruiters Look At First
3. How to Read an Applicant Resume: Resume Review Tips
4. Tips for Identifying Ghost Job Postings
5. Q&A: How Long Do Job Postings Stay Up?
6. FAQ: How Many Applications Does It Take To Get a Job?

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