No one calls. . .
I am assuming that you continue to modify your resume to fit the position. Remember to use keywords off the job posting, so you have a greater chance when your resume scanned that it will be chosen. If you post on Monster and others, make sure it open to agencies, that it is where most of the good jobs at. More and more agencies are now calling for permanent..
The resume services that blast your resume to 1000s of hiring manager are useless. I did this back in February, should have kept the money. Sending your resume nationwide is like throwing it in a bottle the ocean. Get better hits with the agencies calling up and not trying to do anything.
Don't get depressed, 130 applications, you need many more than that if you been looking for a month or more. Unemployment only requires you one application a week, that is when you could walk into HR across the street where you left and get hired.
Even agencies don't call, sometimes you have to call them up. That is their business, remember not to stick with one, worse thing you can do to yourself. Use as many as possible, it is legal.
HR does not think it is their job anymore, to even send a email (rarely they do). If you haven't got the job in two weeks, forget it. HR will call, don't call me I am busy getting rid of old & disabled workers who need our medical insurance. We are also busy lying to everyone, so the employer is not sued. That is if there is a HR. Before the internet, rejecting letters were like Christmas cards.
Your doing better then most, you are real good if you get more than one hit for every 100 resumes. I hope this free consulation advice makes you see that it rough for many people looking. The delays in getting any kind of answer is horrible!!
What is going here? I had no idea finding a decent job would be this hard! I am finishing school at a well known university with a great reputation worldwide and yet I get NO calls. I have no clue what I am doing wrong. I mention the exact qualities and requirements the company lists in the job ad and still NOTHING.
I am depressed and feel like I'm wasting time that I just don't have...how do you even get a good job these days? HR is a joke. I'm not really sure what they do these days...
It's been pretty quiet here as well. I think HR ought to be changed to CYA. I think a lot of what they do is legal damage control. Are we really equal opportunity? is anyone being discriminated or sexually harassed? How can we get the best qualified people for the smallest possible wage? Not to mention all the BS that must be associated with insurance plans, sick days, etc. At any rate, common courtesy is clearly much lower on the list of responsibilities.
After my rejection on Friday, I've added another 29 job applications. (159 total)
You mentioned that you had several interviews but no callbacks -- that could be a result of your interviewing skills rather than your resume. Interviews are getting more and more challenging for job seekers, and sometimes the job will go to the best interviewee and not necessarily the most qualified candidate. Check out Monster's Interview Center for tips on how to ace the interview!
Also, as DisabilityBuster suggested, it's better to send fewer resumes and built quality relationships with hiring managers than to send 100+ resumes and wait for the phone to ring.
I'm pasting an article that has more information about following up. I hope your job search picks up, and please keep us posted on your progress.
Best wishes,
Kim Isaacs
The Resume Expert
Get the Interview: Be Proactive Before and After You Send Your Resume
by Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert
You find a promising job listing online. Excited, you send awell-crafted cover letter and resume and wait for a response. Six weekslater, you're still waiting, your enthusiasm has waned, and you'veconcluded your resume has fallen into a black hole.
A proactive approach to your job search can improve your chances oflanding interviews. These six tips will help maximize your success.
Make Contact Before Sending Your Resume
Unless you're responding to an ad that requests "no phone calls,"try to contact the hiring manager before you send your resume. Even ifyou don't know the name of the person handling the search, you can do abit of investigation to locate the correct person, if you know theemployer.
Once you get the person on the phone, be brief. The purpose of yourcall is to express enthusiasm about the opportunity, and that you canpositively contribute to the team. Be prepared with a short pitch aboutyour qualifications and the ways you could benefit the employer. Keepthe focus on the employer, not you.
If you don't get to speak with the hiring manager, find out who therecruiter is in charge of hiring for the position as well as thecorrect spelling of his name.
End Your Cover Letter with a Promise of Action
Conclude your letter with something like, "I will follow up with youin a few days to discuss the possibility of an interview. In themeantime, please feel free to contact me at ______." If you say youwill follow up, make sure you do.
Follow Up Quickly on All Resumes You Send
Follow up within three to five business days. You can follow up byphone, or by email if replying to a blind ad or the ad specifies nocalls.
When following up by phone, try saying something like, "Hi, my nameis ______ and I submitted my resume for your ______ opening. I'mextremely interested in this opportunity, and I just wanted to touchbase with you on how I can benefit your operation..."
If you are following up by email, your message should be brief. Here's an example:
Dear Name (or "Hiring Manager" if name is unknown):
I recently applied for your ______ opening, and I just wanted tofollow up to make sure my resume was received. My strong background in______, ______ and ______ appears to be an excellent match to thequalifications you are seeking, and I am very interested in youropportunity. I realize you may not yet be at the interview stage, but Iam more than happy to answer any preliminary questions you may have,and I can be reached at ______. Thank you for your time and kindconsideration.
Sincerely,
_______
Be Purposeful in Your Subsequent Follow-Up Contacts
If several weeks pass after your initial follow-up without word fromthe employer, initiate another call or email. Your purpose forfollowing up could be to find out if a timeline has been establishedfor interviews or to leave an alternate contact number if you will betraveling. As always, be polite, professional and respectful.
Keep a Contact Log
Your follow-up attempts will be much easier if you keep a contactlog of all positions to which you apply. Your log should include a copyof the ad for the position (don't rely on a job posting URL, as jobscan be removed from the Web), the file name of the resume and coverletter you sent, contact dates, names of hiring managers and a summaryof information you gleaned during your contact with them.
Don't Be a Pest
Repeated follow-ups are tricky. Unless you are confident that youcan walk the fine line between being persistent and becoming a pest,exercise restraint after your third or fourth follow-up contact. Don'tgive up hope if your follow-up efforts don't yield immediate results.Depending on the employer, industry, specific job and number ofresponses, the time between the application closing date and the dayinterview invitations are issued can be as long as several months.