Why You’re Not Getting Hired (And What To Do About It)
I get it—the job market is tough right now. And I don’t doubt that you’ve been applying long and hard for as many jobs as you can. But when I hear someone say they’ve submitted hundreds of applications and still haven’t landed a job, it’s time to pause and reassess.
Here’s the hard truth: it’s not about how many jobs you’re applying to—it’s about how well you’re applying. When it comes to actually getting hired, quality matters more than quantity. A dozen thoughtful, tailored applications will get you further than a hundred rushed ones. But in order to apply well, you need to know where your job search is getting stuck.
1. You Don’t Know What To Apply For
The Problem: Confusion on direction (or burnout)
The Solution: Clarify your core values
I see this a lot: people come to me fed up with their current job and career, but they have no idea what they want to do. The problem here is a lack of clarity (and sometimes just being burnt out). If burnout might be part of the problem for you, taking a vacation and setting up some work-life boundaries is going to be an important first step to get out of the confusion.
Beyond that, doing some soul searching to clarify your core values, what’s most important to you will work wonders for finding your direction in life. People tend to try to focus on their strengths, what they’re good at, but it’s only part of the picture; core values are like a compass to point you toward a career that will fulfil you and the mission that you’re made for.
Learn more about how to start job searching when you don’t know where to start here.
2. You Can’t Apply For The Jobs You Want
The Problem: Your qualifications (or confidence)
The Solution: Learn more and get your hands dirty
If you see jobs you want to apply for but are quickly realizing you don’t fit the expectations of those roles, the problem is your qualifications or your confidence. Either way, increasing your skills and experience is the key to getting over this hurdle.
Find a way to volunteer or freelance in the field you want to move into. Hands-on work gives you something to put on your resume and helps you learn in real time—increasing your experience and confidence all at once. Look for certification programs or degrees you can start pursuing in that field. Once you begin a program, you can throw it on your resume with your “estimated graduation date” listed.
The next step is to just apply for some of those “stretch” jobs that you’re not quite qualified for. Employers are often more willing to hire a confident go-getter with promise than to wait around for the perfect candidate. Be aware that your salary expectations might not be met while you’re working your way into a new career, but you have to start somewhere!
3. You’re Applying But Not Getting Interviews
The Problem: Your application
The Solution: Fix your resume and cover letters
If you keep applying but are only getting rejections, or worse, you’re getting ghosted, there’s probably a problem with your application. It’s time to have a few qualified people look at your resume and cover letter: either a career coach, recruiter, or senior-level mentor in the field you’re applying for. If you haven’t been sending cover letters at all, or if you haven’t been writing one specific to each job, that alone could be your problem.
Here are some things to ask yourself:
Are your resume and cover letter tailored to each job?
Are you using keywords from the job posting?
Are you highlighting results instead of duties?
Is your resume unfriendly, poorly formatted, or hard to read?
Check out my resume and cover letter guides for more help with your job application.
4. You’re Interviewing But Not Getting Offers
The Problem: Your interview skills
The Solution: Go in with confidence
If you’ve had 5–10 interviews with no offer, something’s probably happening in your interviews. If you get a rejection email, respond thanking them for their time and asking for any feedback they can give you. Most of the time, they won't respond, but the few times they do could be a helpful piece to the puzzle of what’s going wrong.
Common interview errors are not seeming interested in the job enough, not smiling and being friendly, or coming off in a way that shows a lack of confidence in your own abilities. These interview errors can be caused by insecurity, either in yourself or in the job.
Preparing ahead of time can help. Start by convincing yourself that you’re great for the role—because if you don’t believe it, they sure won’t! And pretend that the job is right for you, even if you’re not sure yet; you can always decide to reject an offer once you have one in hand. Here are some more tips to prepare you for your next interview.
If you’re not getting hired, take a pause and find out where in the process the problem is. Is it your lack of clarity, qualification, or confidence? Or is there a problem with your resume, cover letter, or interview skills? Once you can pinpoint the problem, you can find a solution.
You don’t have to keep spinning your wheels, and you don’t have to do it alone. I’d love to help you figure out what’s really holding you back and how to move forward with purpose. Schedule a free consultation to get started.
