Are you feeling disheartened by the recruiter’s silence?

Haven’t heard back from a recruiter after the interview or application process? Feeling disheartened? Taking it personally?

Remember, it’s not always a reflection of you. From my experience being in a different position as the head of recruitment for 10+ years, I have realised that there is often a bigger picture to consider.

When you’re left wondering why the responses aren’t pouring in, it’s not solely about your CV not fitting the mould (although that can be a piece of the puzzle). There’s a myriad of reasons at play.

Recruiter silence? Why you might not be hearing back

Top 5 reasons and untold stories:

• Sometimes, the timing isn’t right: they might not be actively hiring, or the position could already be filled.
• Occasionally, there’s an internal candidate in the mix.
• It’s also possible that the recruiter is new to the scene and getting to know the ropes, which might delay the response you’re hoping for.
• Ever come across roles that claim to be “open to any location,” but in reality, they’re focused on a specific city? That’s a prime example of how the puzzle pieces don’t always align perfectly.
• Remember the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that might rank you lower than expected. Sometimes, referrals take precedence over direct applications.

And here’s a nifty trick from the playbook: some companies might keep roles open for months or even keep reposting them to appear active when they’re under a hiring freeze!

So, do yourself a favour with these quick tips.

So, do yourself a favour with these quick tips.

• Look at how long a job has been open. LinkedIn’s got your back on this one, showing you the “Time posted” info on job listings.
• Review the number of applicants (where possible), it’s like a secret formula to save you time and energy.
• Do a LinkedIn search to see if anyone has joined the company recently (are they hiring)
• Maximise your network to find out the current appetite for hiring
• Regularly tweak your CV to fit the company, role, industry

Job applications strategy

Why waste your precious resources on roles that might not be in play anymore?

By gauging the time open and the applicant count, you’ll make more intelligent decisions about where to invest your efforts.

Stay smart in your job search and focus on opportunities that are genuinely on the table.

Your resume matters

Finally, remember to continue to review and tweak your resume. LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor all provide helpful content tips, and you can use a free tool like Resume.Io to update your CV.

Recommended Reading

Career Progress Blog

Why Being a Silver Medalist in Job Interviews Could Be Your Winning Strategy

Get your CV noticed – navigating the ATS Maze (keyword optimisation)