10 Signs Your Résumé Isn't Working

When it comes to job hunting, it's a lot of work. Not only is it very nerve-racking, but you literally have to impress anyone who's looking for employees to fill in a position. You have to pretty much have good experience to acquire the position you're interested in, write a killer résumé, and if you get requested for an interview, you have to show up on time and look presentable. You basically have to show them that you're the most perfect fit for that position.

However, there are times when we're getting zero callbacks. And when we start applying to random jobs out of frustration, the jobs that we're not even interested in responds back to us... Want to know why? Perhaps your résumé isn't working. Perhaps you're not putting enough on your résumé, you're not being specific, or you're writing everything out in paragraphs rather than a bulleted list. If you're starting to think that it could be your resume that's not getting you any responses, check out these accurate signs your résumé isn't working.

You're being interviewed for a completely different position than you expected.

When you applied for a position that you believed would work out for you, and your interview is completely different from what you expected... then this can be one of the signs your résumé isn't working. You probably briefly read through the job's description and assumed that it would be a great fit for you. But then you're being interviewed and the questions they're asking you have nothing to do with what you had in mind.

You're literally just sitting there, utterly confused by the random questions that don't make sense for the position. However, there's a huge possibility that you applied for a position that you wanted, yet your résumé looked like it can be fit for a different position, and that's what they're interviewing you for. You should definitely be more clear on your résumé and your objective!

They ask you, "What do you do exactly?"

The worst is when they email you or when speaking on the phone with you and they ask, "what do you do exactly?" It's like a punch right in the gut. You believed so well that your résumé would cover that question, but now you have to fully explain it.

Your résumé should be able to answer that question without them asking. Your résumé should show the basics of what you do, your skills, and everything else. The recruiter is supposed to ask you more in-depth question rather than something so broad. And if you're not what they're looking for, then they won't hire you.

You're not getting inquiries by jobs you're interested in.

From the signs your résumé isn't working, you're not getting any inquiries by jobs you're most interested in. This one is probably the biggest sign from this list. The reason no one is getting back to you is because your résumé isn't organized at all. It's possible that you might be a great fit for the position, but recruiters aren't able to see that you are because your résumé is formatted through paragraphs and not through bulleted lists.

Always keep it simple on your résumé. Never be overwhelming and never keep it too light. Recruiters will get back to you if they can fully see that your skills and experience is right for the position through a very organized résumé.

You're using your résumé to apply for all different types of jobs.

At this point, you're frustrated. You're starting to apply to literally every job position through job searching websites. However, you're getting interview requests by positions that you're not even interested in. You simply applied for them because you were running out of options.

If your résumé isn't working for the positions that you want, but are for the ones that you don't want, then you want to completely change up your résumé formatting. You're giving off totally different signals. And if you do have the ideal experience for the positions that you're most interested in, properly show it on your résumé!

You apply for jobs that perfectly match your skills, but you don't hear back from them at all.

When all you're doing is applying to jobs that you know perfectly well matches your skills and you're not hearing back from them, then that's among the signs your résumé isn't working. Why would they not get back to you at all if your skills and experience perfectly matches the position's descriptions?

Maybe it's because your résumé isn't showing that you're the perfect match. Since all of your skills and experience are cluttered into giant paragraphs that goes on and on, recruiters don't even bother looking at it, because it's wasting their time. They want to see clear and precise formatting that just shows your skills and experience. They don't care about the little extras in your experience, just the basics. They'll definitely get back to you once you've cleaned up those paragraphs into bulleted lists.

You're not customizing your résumé for specific jobs.

From the obvious signs your résumé isn't working, you're not customizing your résumé for specific jobs. Your objective, skill list, experience list, and everything else should be perfectly matched with whatever position you're interested in. You have to make it seem like you're going to be their best sales man just by showing it through your résumé.

Also, whatever skills and experience a salesman is supposed to have, if you have it, include it! Make sure that details from your résumé summary ideally matches the position's descriptions. This way, recruiters will certainly consider you for an interview.

You give your résumé to family and friends, but you don't hear back from them, either.

Even when you're giving your résumé to family and friends to give to their employers, and you're not hearing back from them, then this is one of the signs your résumé isn't working. Your family and friends usually boast about you to their employers. However, if your résumé isn't looking as great as they say you are, then you're not going to be hearing back from them.

Consider asking for some tips and advice from family and friends to write a more professional résumé. If you're unsure how to properly format your resume, definitely asking around will give you a hand.

Recruiters can't connect your experience with the job position.

Like I've mentioned before, your résumé has to fit perfectly with the job's descriptions. This means be clear with your skills and experience and never clutter everything into paragraphs. Recruiters want to precisely compare your résumé to the description. While the description is perfectly listed in bulleted form, and your résumé is in paragraph form, the comparison would be tough for them.

So, when they can't connect a person's résumé to the job position, they won't consider them. This is one of the signs your résumé isn't working. Organization is key! Customize your résumé to perfectly match the exact position you want. This way, an interview is sure to come your way.

You're wasting time talking over the phone and communicating via email with recruiters.

When a recruiter sees that you're fit for a position that you're not interested in, they'll request for an interview and ask you questions that you're nowhere near interested in. At this point, they're wasting your time and you're wasting theirs. And this shouldn't happen when being interviewed for a position.

To avoid being interviewed by the most random questions, be more clear on your résumé! This a great sign showing that you're not being clear and precise on your résumé at all. If you're constantly getting interviewed by recruiters who see you fit for a completely different job, you need to organize your résumé.

The employer is constantly asking you questions about what you do for a living.

Finally, from the real signs your résumé isn't working, your employer is constantly asking you questions about what you're doing for a living. Your résumé should already answer that question so you don't have to. Recruiters usually go deeper into what you're doing rather than being confused as a whole.

This goes to show that your résumé isn't being clear with your past experiences and skills. To prevent a recruiter asking you what you're doing for a living entirely, properly format what you do. Sometimes, when you do tell them, you might not even be fit for the position and they won't consider you.