Do you suspect you're being ghosted by recruiters? In the context of job searching, being ghosted by recruiters can involve submitting an application or attending an interview and then never hearing back.
Ghosting is one of the most frustrating job search phenomena. It leaves job seekers in a state of uncertainty, unsure of what went wrong or how to improve their chances in the future.
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Don't let ghosting hold back your job search
If you feel like your CV is going into a black hole then read on! I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to do to make sure your CV not only gets read, but also gets you interviews.
These tips will help you put an end to being ghosted by recruiters today! Let's get started.
Send your CV to the right people
Let’s face it, your skills and experience are not a fit for every role advertised. In fact, all you need to be successful is one application that leads to a job offer. The biggest mistake I see people make is that they are not targeted enough in their job search.
Don't waste time applying to roles, without understanding exactly what the job requires. Firing of your CV to recruiters and hiring managers without doing your research is pointless.
Recruiters and hiring managers get overwhelmed with the volume of CVs they receive. They only have time to make direct contact with candidates that they can help find a role.
What should you do instead?
Focus on quality over quantity
• Use LinkedIn to find the HR managers working in the companies where you want to work. Send them a personal invitation to connect and get their email address. Don't take any chances, make sure your CV goes to the right person first time.
• Look for the recruiters in your city that specialise in your industry. These are the people who will want to read your CV and the people who can help you.
• Find job descriptions for roles that best match your skills and experience. Your CV stands a much better chance of actually getting read.
Applying for a role for which you meet fewer than 75% of requirements is a complete waste of time. It will likely end up on the desk of the wrong recruitment agent.
Make it easy for the reader to see your relevance at a glance
We’ve all heard the statistic the recruiters only spend 7 seconds reviewing each CV. In my experience, this is partly true, but not the whole story.
When a recruiter opens a CV, they will often spend a few seconds on an initial review. In these seconds, they are deciding if your CV might be a match for the role they are recruiting for.
If ‘yes’ they’ll review the document more closely to decide whether to add your details to their shortlist. If ‘no’ the CV gets rejected. If you have relevant experience, but it’s buried in a sea of irrelevant details, you won't get past that initial scan.
How can you fix this?
Make your value proposition obvious
There are two easy ways to do this.
Add a headline to your CV
Include your target job title and either a value proposition tagline or some important keywords.
Here are some examples:
Include a ‘Career Highlights’ section on your CV
This is especially helpful if your most relevant experience was early in your career. The first page of your CV is the most important. Featuring key information here is a great way to ensure it gets noticed.
More isn’t always more. Too many keywords, pages, or bullet points bury important details. Only include information which is relevant to the role you are applying for. This may mean taking time to review and adapt your CV for each application.
