It can be really frustrating when as a job seeker, you take the time to research, prepare and submit a job application, only to not hear back from the employer as to why your application was unsuccessful.
It's frustrating because we get our heart set on the position, We update our resume, tailor the cover letter and hit the submit button, eager to find out as soon as possible if we got the job, and if not, why and what can we do to improve our application and thereby increase our chances to secure gainful employment. Especially made all the more frustrating if you have had your resume and cover letter professionally written by our team here at Client Centric Executive Employment Solutions.
I have written on this in the past, in particular my article on what really are employers looking for in a suitable candidate, which can provide you with some glimpse into the eyes and mind of the employer.
If you do receive an emailed response from the employer saying that you were unsuccessful, well that is better then not hearing from the employer at all.
Most generic replies from employers (same goes for some recruiters) goes something like this:
We thank you for your application, however at this time we regret to inform you that you were unsuccessful and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Very sincere huh? (I'm being sarcastic).
More often than not, from my experience I believe that there are three major reasons as to why a candidate was not shortlisted for the position:
1. Not enough experience, or the right experience that they're looking for.
2. Not enough skills to do the job that they can see from your resume.
3. Your resume is not detailed enough and cover letter is too generic.
Firstly, if you feel your CV and cover letter are not detailed enough, theres a past blog I wrote on this topic, entitled "How detailed should your resume be?".
And you may genuinely not have enough experience or the right experience that they are looking for.
But you may think then, well can't they just say that?
Imagine you're in the employer's shoes. You advertise a position and receive anywhere from 400 to 1000 applications. To respond to every application and state exact reasons why they were not successful is time consuming, especially if the job seeker replies wanting further clarification. It's too much for an employer to deal with.
I hope this article has helped in some way to alleviate your concerns or answer your question as to why you didn't hear back from an employer after submitting your application and not being successful.