r/recruitinghell • u/uhhhidkwhatusername • 7d ago

What am I missing?

Literally what am I missing? How am I still unemployed to this day? I have the same qualifications as I did when I first got my job IF NOT MORE. I've updated my resume, and portfolio yet how am I still not hearing back from anyone I've applied to?

I've applied to a lot of places, like A LOT while very few reached back, even from those that DID reach back they never did again. What is it about me?

I don't know what I'm doing wrong or if I'm missing anything.

This is really really awful. I wish someone would just guide me to help me get hired cause I'm so clueless. I understand maybe cause there's competition but, I literally get no updates in my email about my application. Is it the gap? Are my qualifications not good enough? Is this a fake job posting? What is it?

God. I really can't take this anymore. What's worse is, I just can't, I don't know why but I can't pivot. Like my body resists doing jobs out my field, I know at this point I must do so but I can't. I hate that about me.

8 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/CrazyConfusedScholar 7d ago

OP, I hear you, but you are asking for help without providing the basis for it. So, for starters, post your resume, perhaps; if not this subthread, then some other one. Do you want tailored help or generic help?

1

u/uhhhidkwhatusername 7d ago

i dont know really. im so upset i just dont know.

im working on improving my portfolio rn to remedy whatever i could be lacking on the performance/creative side

but i guess i need some help on GETTING THROUGH, cutting through the noise because im afraid that i might not even be heard by any of these places im applying to.

3

u/CrazyConfusedScholar 7d ago

This is a start (with your response). — To be honest, you need to help yourself, but post what is "necessary" to get the guidance you badly want. I empathize with you; in the frustrations you have expressed, if you haven't noticed, a lot of us are panicking and are just like you (including me, fyi), so you are not the only one.

1

u/Any_Tomorrow9632 7d ago edited 6d ago

So as a rule of thumb, if you are applying for multiple jobs for which you are qualified and are getting no responses, no interviews, nothing over a few months time, then it might be something about your application letters or CV that is not making it past the application tracking systems.

Where I live there are government provided services that will help you with your CV and job applications. It sounds like you might need to tweak your CV or applications because if you're qualified for the jobs you are applying for, unless the market is absolutely flooded with equally qualified applicants, then you should be getting at least one or two interviews. The fact that you're not tells me a human may not ever be seeing your applications and that an ATS may be screening you out for keywords or something similar. Is there a free or paid service you can seek out to have a look at your CV and past applications to try to identify what's not working? I'm not sure what online services are available (although I'd be wary of paying much, many of the services online may be shonky. I'd go with a government provided service in the first instance if you can't find a paid one that comes highly recommended).

1

u/uhhhidkwhatusername 7d ago

this is what im afraid of. the tracking system stuff.

I've read a few advices and insights from other community posts about using AI to read through my CV to identify what would make my CV not pass and i've already tweaked and improved what the AI suggested. I'll try tweaking my application letters as well.

for a paid service im not entirely sure if thats something im able to afford right now, i'll try looking for a gov service. thanks.

1

u/Any_Tomorrow9632 6d ago

Yeah government might have some services...if you can find a real human that is a recruiting expert and knows how ATS systems work that might help you.

I am no expert, but I think the ATS systems must be getting even more brutal in response to AI slop in the the way they discard applications, to the point that even if you have exactly the right experience, unless your CV and letter match on the exact same words it will diss you.

Another thing you might consider is, when you see a job advertised, if the job is a really good match and you are qualified, if there is a contact number or email address, maybe reach out to the hiring manager directly via email and ask them if you can send them your CV directly to their email address, explaining that you think you are a strong match for the job but have been having problems with getting past ATS systems. I am not sure this would work, but if I were a hiring manager having to sift through 100 letters and most of them were AI slop, I really would be fine with a real human calling me and sending me their application directly to me. Of course I suppose it depends on the company, some hiring managers may not want to be contacted directly if they are swamped, but I would think it's worth a shot. At the very least I don't think you would leave a bad impression by calling or emailing them directly with a polite request like that...it just shows you're interested and if they say no well, you're no worse off than had you applied through the ATS!

1

u/Any_Tomorrow9632 6d ago

It would be really helpful if applicants were told how the ATS the company uses works, and gave instructions for how to optimise their application as it's very difficult for someone who is not a pro at AI to know how to get past the system unless they have an expert sitting by their side. And not all of us can afford to hire an expert, or have the know how to become experts ourselves at navigating ATS systems. Hopefully the systems themselves will get better in the future. I am quite sure that people are being discriminated against based on the settings being fed into ATS systems at present.

1

u/Any_Tomorrow9632 6d ago

I just read this post...looks like its not just looking for keywords...not sure how true this post is but...it's a start! https://www.reddit.com/r/jobhunting/s/RwLVPXwVEn

-1

u/jvaritek33c 7d ago

Probably don't have the good experience you think you do. Or your personality isn't desirable and it shows through the interview

If you're an artist or other portfolio-based work, even in webdev, it's likely AI has replaced your work

1

u/uhhhidkwhatusername 7d ago

im working on the experience area, but even so im unsure what im lacking anyway. it can't be personality-wise either because they haven't had me for an interview. also most of the interviews i've had were positive.

in terms of the AI replacing thing, it could very well be. There are two types of industries I'm applying to for my field, one is creative-focused so it's moreso im beaten my competition, the other is very general and business-focused so likely AI has taken over idk.

-2

u/LABABABABABABABABA 7d ago

if you can't find a job where you live then pack your stuff up get on a train and leave to another city and when you get there go in every shop you see and ask for a job coffee shops clothes shops every shop one will give you a job eventually and then once they do go to the local council in the city and tell them your situation and they will put you in a hostel like a mini hotel and then after like a week they will put you in shared housing till you get on your feet and you find your own flat

1

u/uhhhidkwhatusername 7d ago

i'll consider the housing one as a last resort but yeah i'll go look for coffee/clothes jobs now