Why Your Resume Isn’t Getting You Noticed (Plus 5 Tips For Success)

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

The story is all too common: you’ve sent hundreds of resumes for hundreds of job vacancies, but you’re getting nowhere fast. Job market competitions can mean it’s difficult to make your resume stand out. While estimates vary, it’s not unusual to need to send more than 100 resumes before you achieve that coveted job offer.

So, if most resumes result in failure, what are the key mistakes that mean your resume isn’t making an impact, and what can you do to tip the odds in your favor? Let’s take a look at the top reasons most resumes fail, and what you can do to change your fortunes.

Top 5 reasons most resumes fail

Here are some of the most common resume mistakes, that can see you overlooked for job openings even when you’re well-qualified:

Not targeting the employer

Employers will want to see that you’ve thought long and hard about the role, and the organization, and that’s why you’re applying. If you’re sending out resumes by the dozen, they’re inevitably going to feel generic and lack the tailoring and personalization needed to really make a strong impression on the reader.

Getting decision-makers onside requires a bespoke approach that shows you’ve weighed up your options and decided this is the role for you, and that you’ve created a resume from this starting point. Being overly generic about your motivations, failing to focus on skills that match the job description and lacking a targeted approach that mentions the employer by name are all easy mistakes to make when you’re sending out countless resumes. However, these are very likely holding you back from success.

Use old-fashioned resume conventions

Ignoring current resume conventions, formats and structures is a surefire way to show you’re not up-to-speed with what employers are looking for in a modern employee. This might include:

 

• Producing a resume that’s unnecessarily long (typically one page is long enough, while for senior, executive positions you might want to lengthen it).
• Opting for a skills-focused resume when a traditional chronological format might be more effective, or vice-versa.
• Writing in paragraphs or long sentences using the third person, or in the first person using “I” statements.
• Adding outdated resume sections, such as references, a long career profile, a personal photo or too many personal details.

Not optimized for ATS

When you write a resume, it’s important to keep in mind that it’ll be read by both humans and machines. Recruiters and employers will routinely use automated systems to screen your resume. If you’re not optimizing your resume for ATS screening, your resume may not even make it to the stage where a human reads it. This means using keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, and producing your resume in a clear, easily scannable format without text boxes or too many images.

Focus on responsibilities

One of the all-time classic resume errors is listing responsibilities and duties from previous jobs rather than outlining your career achievements. If the aim is to make yourself stand out from other candidates, listing basic job duties and tasks will do the complete opposite. Every candidate who’s followed a traditional career path will have completed the same tasks and responsibilities as you in previous roles. Simply telling the employer you can complete tasks is no way to stand out and show your unique qualities.

Reliance on AI

AI is entering the mainstream when it comes to job search activities. AI was once widely condemned, then frowned upon, but is now broadly accepted as a tool in the job application process. Selective use of AI can help finesse your resume and make it appear more professional, but relying on it too much can be your downfall. Employers may be more open to receiving applications that have used AI, but they’ll be able to spot a resume that’s been wholly, or largely generated by algorithms.

Top 5 tips for resume success

These simple fixes can ensure your resume overcomes the most common shortcomings and failures, putting you in a strong position to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process:

Personalize every resume

The most powerful thing you can do to improve your chances of job application success is to create a bespoke resume for each application. The level to which you tailor your resume is up to you, but generally, the more tailored to a specific role, the more effective your resume will be.

If you’re working from a master resume, remove any previous roles, skills or qualifications that don’t match up with the job description. If you’re writing your resume from scratch, make sure every job, skill and achievement, either in work or education, is of relevance to the role. Write a bespoke resume summary that clearly outlines what makes you a strong candidate, and explains how the role and organization match your career stage, values and priorities. Finally, ensure your resume contains keywords that match those used in the job description, to maximize your chances of passing the ATS screening stage.

Highlight your achievements

The best way to move away from a generic resume that focuses on tasks and responsibilities is to focus on achievements. Recruiters will want to see the value you added in previous roles. This could mean referencing revenue you added, or costs you saved for a previous employer, new initiatives you spearheaded, awards you won or career milestones you surpassed. Link each achievement to a skill, so the reader can assess the impact you’ve made in your career to date, and how you might apply that in this new role and organization.

Apply more selectively

Though it might seem counterintuitive, if you’re sending dozens of resumes and online applications and seeing no progress, you might need to reduce the number you send. Using a scattergun approach to your job applications can feel productive, but it might be harming your chances of success because you’re unable to spend the required time on each individual application to make it stand out to the reader.

Being more selective in your applications could mean waiting until you’re really certain the job is a good fit before applying, or dedicating more time to expanding your network of contacts via LinkedIn or industry events. Then, when the right vacancy comes along, you’ll be better positioned to send a suitable resume in application.

Use AI sparingly

The vast majority of your resume should be your own work. It’s never a good idea to send a resume with whole sections written by AI tools. Using AI to generate work experience, relevant skills or qualifications that don’t reflect your actual experience can also be more than harmful to your chances of success—it can even be considered fraud. However, there are certain benefits to using AI to enhance your resume before you send it.

 

Using your tailored, personalized resume as a starting point, AI tools can offer suggestions to make it a better fit for the job description, or to improve the language used to make it appear more professional. Just make sure you always check AI-suggested improvements closely before you implement them, and be careful not to mislead the reader, or offer any false information.

Use a professional resume design

If your resume lacks an engaging design and layout, it can easily fade into the background. Thankfully, you can easily access professional templates and build a resume in minutes with resume maker apps like Jobseeker. The templates are ready-made, but can be customized to fit your requirements. They’ve also been created in a way that’s optimized for ATS systems, which should ensure you pass the initial screening stage of the recruitment process.

Final thoughts

Landing the right job offer can require persistence, and it’s understandable if you might not want to spend too long tailoring your resume for each individual application. However, this is likely holding you back from success, creating a loop that’s difficult to break out of. Only by taking the time to tailor your resume to each specific application can you truly appeal to the hiring manager and show you’re a good fit for the role and organization.

 

Focusing on quality over quantity is a great way to improve your chances of success. Try dedicating more of your job search time to tailoring your resume for the roles you’re most suited for, and spend less time sending bulk, generic applications in the hope one will stick. Taking the time to avoid the most common resume pitfalls and produce a resume that showcases your best qualities and matches the requirements of the job description, will put you in the best possible position for success.