Reasons You Aren't Getting Job Interviews

Here's a familiar story you've probably experienced.  It's been weeks since you last heard back from an employer for a job interview.  The economy is obviously in a rough state, but shouldn't you be hearing back?  The thoughts rush through your head: "My resume must not be good enough."  "Obviously I'm just not fit to be employed."  "Maybe I should start doing some major restructuring to the way I present myself."  Stop right there.  There are times when you should consider changing up your resume to get job interviews.  Before you start doing that, however, you should determine if that really is the problem. 

• Are you applying to the right positions?  In the rush to get a job, we can run into bad habits.  One of these is not reading job descriptions carefully enough.  Skimming may be faster, but you can miss important details that might make you realize you aren't a great fit for the organization.
• Online job boards are a fantastic tool for job searching, but they shouldn't be your only source.  Use social media, traditional networking, or other sources in addition.  We call resources like these the hidden job market.  Remember, not every job is publicly advertised.  If you do a little research, you might find opportunities you didn't expect.
• I've said it before and I'll say it again: Don't hold out for your dream job.  It's good to have high standards, but that shouldn't prevent you from applying to jobs that might not be exactly what you want to do.  As long as the position in question matches your level of expertise, there is no reason you shouldn't try it out.  Limiting your options only decreases the chances you will hear back.

These are just some of the things you should be keeping in mind if you aren't getting job interviews.  If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.