Why I am not hearing back after I apply for jobs? It can be frustrating not getting a response after applying for a job. Understanding what exactly happens to your CV after you hit that “submit” button will help you get the full picture and will also help you know how to get your resume to reach more hiring managers. You can also take free mock interviews and personality tests to understand more about your personality and skills. You will get tips and feedback from artificial intelligence.
Online job portals have made it easier for candidates to apply for suitable jobs. These platforms list down all the hot jobs and people with the essential skill set and qualifications can apply. People can submit job applications to multiple positions each day.
Applicants are not aware of what happens after they have submitted their resumes for vacant job positions. Sometimes you get a response to your applications, sometimes you don’t.
This article discusses the steps your resume passes through after applying for a job. Understanding this can help you figure out why you are only receiving those fancy thank you for applying emails. This is important to make your CV reaches more hiring managers. It also mentions a few tips for a successful job application.
What Happens After a Resume Submission?
There is no definite process of scrutinizing applicants’ profiles when companies are hiring employees.
The process of recruiting new employees varies for different industries and job posts. The hiring process for some organizations lasts for a few days, for others, it’s expanded for up to six months.
Some companies follow a compact step-by-step procedure whereas others review candidates casually.
The basic steps each company performs during the hiring process are listed below:
- The software scans the system with relevant keywords.
- Recruiters review the candidates’ profiles.
- A manager reviews the shortlisted CVs.
- A questionnaire is sent to the applicants from the hiring team.
- The best-performing candidates are called for interviews.
Each step is elaborated in detail in the following paragraphs:
Software scans for keywords
It’s extremely tiresome and time-consuming to go through hundreds of job applications. Organizations have invested in various recruiting software to sort the CVs according to the requirements of the hiring team.
Note: The application tracking systems(ATS) are responsible for collecting, sorting, and managing all the applications received for open job positions.
The keywords mentioned in the job listings are compared with CVs in the application pool. The software also sorts results according to years of experience, relevant designation titles, and other additional skills. There is no fixed timeline of how long this initial phase lasts. It depends upon how urgent the new employees are needed. After a span of a few weeks, a large enough pool of relevant candidates is achieved.
Recommendations
The ATS filters resume based on the requirements for a job post. You must ensure that your cover letter and CV contain all the relevant keywords and expertise mentioned in the job posting. You must avoid over-optimization of your CV as it can be detected by some tracking systems and your resume can be excluded.
Preliminary candidate review by the recruiter
After the CVs are sorted by the application tracking system, the recruiting team takes over. This step can be different for various organizations depending upon the size of the hiring team and their job descriptions.
The hiring team reviews the sorted set of CVs and scrutinizes the information provided by the applicants. The factors they look into include:
- Educational background
- Soft skills
- Volunteer work
- Work history details
Note: Recruiters will discard profiles that do not fit their job description. This step also involves sorting the CVs according to the level of relevance.
Recommendations
The template of your resumes must be easy to read and uncomplicated. The language must be concise and clear. This will lead recruiters to a quick understanding of the relevant information. You must attach appropriate documents with your job application.
The resume gets reviewed by the hiring manager
The profiles of the most suitable applications are shared with direct managers. These applications are reviewed and the best ones are contacted for the further hiring process.
A list of alternate candidates is also prepared just in case no one is finalized from the first list. This process takes a few days and you must wait for a response instead of seeking other job opportunities.
A questionnaire is sent by the hiring team
After the first batch of candidates is finalized by the direct manager, the hiring team starts reaching out to them. A questionnaire or personality test is emailed to these candidates.
Note: The responses to the questions help recruiters in assessing the unique traits of the applicants.
Some organizations also mail questionnaires to judge your technical skills. Based on the level of expertise of the candidates, the recruiters narrow down the resumes for further analysis.
Top candidates are called for interviews
The best candidates are contacted for scheduling an interview via phone or email. The interview process is different for each organization depending on their work ethic and culture.
The candidates who perform well at the initial interview are called in for a second technical interview for further inspection. You can increase your chances of landing a job by preparing well for the interview.
What to Do After Submitting Your Resume?
Waiting for a response to your job application can be very stressful. You can perform the following steps for improved chances of getting hired for your dream job.
Track important updates or deadlines
You must read the job posting thoroughly and check the closing date for the job post. You must not expect a response until the end date of receiving job applications has arrived. Every company has a customized and unique recruiting procedure.
Some companies start reviewing applications as soon as they arrive while others wait for some time and review CVs after a large pool of applicants is gathered.
Investigate the company and future co-workers
Use this time in getting to know more about the company. You must also investigate the challenges faced by the company and the pace with which they have made progress in solving them.
This will help you in preparing well for the interview. You must also be aware of the people you are going to work with after you are hired. You must be aware of the professional specialties, educational background, and expertise of your probable colleagues.
Tip: Search for connections who can guide you during the recruiting process.
Contact your potential manager
Another way to stand out amongst all the applicants is to send an email to your potential manager. You must mention that you have applied for the designated job post and how excited you are about joining their organization.
Tip: Reaching out can help you get noticed by the recruiters and speed up your review process.
The content of the email must be precise and impressive. You must address them in a friendly manner and mention why you are a perfect fit for the job post.
Follow up if you don’t get a response
If you haven’t heard from the company you applied to for a few weeks, you must send a follow-up email. You can also drop a call to the recruiting department and inquire about the status of the job post.
Tip: Following up shows your level of enthusiasm and excitement to join the designated organization.
Prepare well for the interview
If you are a good fit for the job position, you will be called in for an interview. While preparing for the interview, you must conduct comprehensive research on the company culture and background.
You must be well-prepared to answer all the questions related to the requirements stated in the job posting for increased chances of getting hired.
Keep applying for other jobs
Applying to multiple jobs relevant to your skills and experience increases your chances of getting hired. It also helps you stay relaxed during the recruiting process as your focus is distributed among multiple opportunities.
If your job application was turned down by an organization, you must not feel disappointed and keep trying until you succeed.
Most people submit their job applications and leave the rest of the process to the recruiters. You must take the steps mentioned to keep in touch with the hiring team during the process.
If you need tips on how to write the best CV and get hired, take a look at this article.
Conclusion
Applying for a job post that matches your expertise and skillset is an important step toward your career growth. You must follow up on your progress during the hiring process and contact the recruiting team. Your resume must be customized according to the position you applied for. The information mentioned must resonate with the requirements mentioned in the job posting.
Sam Najar, MBA
MBA from the Australian Institute of business. Over a decade working for IBM Australia and Oracle Europe and the Middle East. Worked on Artificial Intelligence technology for many years and believes that technology can help everyone better understand his/her personality and find the job they deserve.
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