If you’re not getting called for interviews, check for ‘fit’

When you’ve been applying for jobs, it can be frustrating when you aren’t getting called for interviews. If this is happening to you, don’t give up. Instead, take a short “time out” to analyze the reasons why you’re not making it to the next round in the hiring process.

First, look at how much of a “fit” you are for the jobs to which you’ve been applying. Read through one job posting, and as you read each requirement, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I meet the minimum level of experience?
• Do I meet the minimum level of education or certifications?
• Do I have most of the required skills?

For each requirement, write down whether you meet, partially meet or don’t meet that requirement. Once you’ve done this for the first job posting, look at what you’ve written. Do you meet the majority of the requirements?

Then, go through this process for several other jobs for which you’ve applied. Do you see a pattern? The most common reason why people don’t get telephone or in-person interviews is that there are other candidates who are a better “fit” (more qualified) for the job.

As a hiring manager, I look for candidates who meet at least 80 percent of the job requirements. One reason you aren’t making it to the interview round might be because hiring managers don’t see you as qualified enough for the position. If you believe this may be your issue, look for ways you can obtain the education, certifications, skills or experience required. That way, you’ll be a better fit in the near future.

Some people have a tendency to apply for higher-level positions than they’re qualified for, which is why they don’t get called for interviews. In this situation, try looking for lower-level jobs that are the stepping stones to get you to those higher-level jobs you’d like to have in the future – and apply for those.

Another common issue is when someone does have the relevant skills, experience or education, but forgot to include them on their resume. For each requirement in the job posting that you meet, include that information somewhere in your resume. Because if you aren’t customizing your resume to include the appropriate information, then your resume won’t get the attention it deserves from recruiters and hiring managers – and you won’t get as many calls for job interviews.

Lisa Quast is the founder of Career Woman, Inc., and the author of the book Secrets of a Hiring Manager Turned Career Coach. Email her at lquast@careerwomaninc.com.