Why You Aren’t Hearing Back From Jobs After Applying For a Job

If you’ve applied for jobs and gone on interviews and still don’t have an answer, you might be wondering why you aren’t hearing back from employers.

There are a number of reasons why this might be happening and by knowing what you’re up against throughout the job application, interview, and hiring process, you can navigate your job search more effectively.

Why don’t employers let applicants know they didn’t get the job?

There can be any number of reasons but the most common answer is simply that employers can get hundreds or even thousands of applications and don’t have the time to respond to every applicant individually.

Additionally, many companies are increasingly relying on automated systems for filtering out unsuitable applicants, which means that you may not even receive a response if you don’t meet the requirements for the job.

Why you don’t hear back from employers after applying for a job?

There are several reasons why you might not hear back, including: your resume or cover letter isn’t tailored to the job, you don’t meet the qualifications, and/or your resume being too long or sloppy.

As experienced talent solutions experts and recruiters, let’s break down the most common reasons:

Your resume isn’t tailored to the job

Your resume is your opportunity to really showcase why you’re the right person for the job.

Make sure to review the job description, do your research on the company and its mission, and spotlight the areas of your expertise that will have the biggest impact on each particular role you’re applying for.

Your cover letter isn’t tailored to the job

Just like your resume, employers want to see that you’ve taken the time to write a tailored cover letter.

Demonstrate why you’re the perfect fit for the job and why you’re passionate about it, otherwise, they may not even bother getting to your resume.

You don’t meet the qualifications for the job

Employers will specify the qualifications they’re looking for in a job posting.

If your skills and experience don’t match exactly what they’ve listed, there’s a chance the person reviewing your resume and application may think you’re not a good fit and won’t go out of their way to tell you so.

Your resume is too long

Hiring managers don’t have time to read through a long, rambling resume.

Make sure that you’re keeping your resume concise and only include relevant information. If it’s too long or filled with irrelevant details, odds are it won’t make it past the first review.

Your resume is sloppy

Before submitting, make sure to read through your resume to check for typos and grammatical errors, as these could be a major red flags for the person reviewing your application.

Also, make sure you’re using simple and easy-to-read formatting for your resume and cover letter.

Your application was incomplete

If you didn’t follow directions properly — even if the instructions are something as simple as filling out an online form — the employer might assume you won’t be able to follow directions if they hired you.

Make sure all of your application materials are complete and neat and double-check that everything is filled in correctly before submitting it.

Your application didn’t include the right keywords

If you’re applying online, make sure that your resume and cover letter include keywords that are related to the role you’re applying for.

This is especially important for automated systems that scan applications for relevant terms.

If your application doesn’t contain the right words or phrases, there’s a good chance it won’t even be seen by a human so be sure to do your research and match the keywords in your resume to the job description.

Why aren’t you hearing back from employers after a job interview?

Most commonly, you don’t hear back from an employer after interviewing for a job because they are still interviewing other candidates, they might have already chosen another candidate, or you’re not a good fit for the role.

The employer is still interviewing other candidates

The employer might just not be finished interviewing and won’t make a decision until they’ve seen more people.

That’s why it’s important to follow up after applying and keep checking back in with the employer — you don’t want them to forget about you!

The employer has already chosen a candidate

The job might have already been filled by the time you got to the interview stage but some employers like to complete any pending interviews to keep their options open in the event their first choice doesn’t work out.

It’s always important to keep looking for other opportunities while you’re in the middle of an application and interviewing process, just in case something else comes up that you’d be interested in applying for.

You’re not a good fit for the role

While the right thing to do is to let someone know one way or another if they got a job or not, this unfortunately is not always the case.

If you’re not hearing back from employers after applying and interviewing for jobs, it could be that the employer doesn’t think you’re a good fit for the role and has decided to focus their time and energy on finding someone else.

What to do if you don’t hear back about a job

Follow up with the employer

Send a polite follow-up email to the employer and ask if they’ve made a decision yet.

Your email should be professional, friendly, and brief — don’t be overly pushy or demanding as this could make them less likely to want to hire you.

Keep looking for other jobs

While you wait to hear back from the employer, be sure to keep looking for other opportunities that come up.

You never know when something else might come along and it’s important to stay active in your job search so you don’t miss out on an opportunity.

Be patient and wait it out

This may be the most difficult thing to do when you’re eager to land a job but oftentimes hiring is not a one-person decision and there might be several stakeholders involved in the process.

It can take time for everyone to review applications and make a decision, so try to be patient and wait it out if you don’t hear back right away.

When you don’t hear back about a job interview

At the end of the day, if you’re not hearing back from employers after applying and interviewing for jobs, it could be due to a variety of reasons.

Make sure all of your application materials are complete and relevant, follow up with the employer, stay active in your job search, and always remain patient — you never know when the right opportunity will come along.

---

For a complete breakdown of all top salaries, download our 2023 Salary Guide across Tech, Creative & Digital Marketing.

More articles about job searching and industry trends:

• What’s the Best & Worst Time of Year to Find a Job?
• How to Best Explain Having a ‘Gap’ on Your Resume
• Top 7 Industries Hiring Digital Marketing Jobs
• Best Remote STEM Jobs, with Salary Ranges
• Cliche Interview Answers to Avoid & What to Say Instead
• 7 Things to Never Say to a Recruiter When Looking for a Job
• The 9 Workplace Soft Skills Most Valued By Employers
• Best Questions to Ask to Impress Hiring Managers