Why do I not get invited to interviews if I have all the skills?

Question

Even when my profile fits ALL the hard skills mentioned in the job description I don't get invited to interviews. Can someone tell me what could be the reason?

D_Bone_Steak · Accepted Answer

1) In education or in experience? Experience always trumps education.

2) How are you looking for these jobs? There is a really bad rash of these companies putting out ads where they're looking for wage slaves, but they have no intention of hiring, interviewing, et cetera. I forget the exact reasons why this is... but basically the interviewers/employment are doing it for numbers reasons. It's a fairly new phenomenon from what I understand.

3) Another new phenomenon... feminism, wokeism, and to harken back to my #1, if you're fresh out of education (they're programmed)... You're nothing but red flags thanks to the previously mentioned social movements. I mean is a cursory search through your Twitter/blue sky going to make me see an imminent shitty working environment with possible lawsuits? You know... you look like a woke feminist? The identitarian communism is literally a threat to a capitalist employer, but if none of that applies... ignore this one.

The best way to get a job is not going to be this interview bullshit... You got to know people or be in that business already. I wasted years of my own life getting a BS in Accounting... Thanks to my wife's job I have to move around a lot, and that people aspect of getting the hookup with a job through friends just never happened. I was lucky I could fall back on my veterans' benefits and I wish I just did trade training or something... anything else. I get jobs by having beers with people at the VA clubs... not interviews. I've tried that "interview" route and it was sucking shit to be completely honest.

That's all my input... probably didn't help much, but that's what I skimmed off the top of my head as possible reasons.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

It could be a lot of things.

1) If they hired someone else, obviously they thought the other person was more qualified regardless of how many boxes you checked.

2) You didn't give it long enough. The hiring process can take a long time. With some companies it can take a few months. I've seen it go over a year.

3) They aren't really hiring in the first place. They are just collecting resumes to have on file for future use. This is pretty common.

4) There really is an opening, but they plan on hiring internally. They open it to the public because it's policy, or even a legal requirement. This is even more true with government jobs.

5) Are you applying for advertised jobs? If so that is the worst way to job hunt. Those are the jobs everyone else is applying for. Apply at companies that are NOT advertising. Most job openings are not advertised. On top of that, a lot of companies don't even have an opening, but will hire someone who applies if their resume looks good.

6) Did you follow up after you applied?

7) Skills listed in job requirements are very often not the skills they are really looking for. In truth, a lot of hiring managers and others involved in the hiring process don't even know what they are looking for other than a very crude idea. But they know it when they see it.

TsundereMatrix · Accepted Answer

I’m in the same boat. Sometimes you may have all the skills they are looking for but in my experience some places only care about the work experience or schooling you may have and if you don’t have those either along with the skills you have then they don’t want you. Many HR departments are very picky like that and it’s so annoying!

Simslover92 · Accepted Answer

To be honest, it's all about who you know to get your foot in the door with an interview. I've been trying for months to get a decent interview in my field and just got one by knowing the right people. I don't think I would have gotten it if I didn't know the right people.

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

It's important to remember that having the necessary skills is just one part of the equation. Consider polishing your resume and cover letter to better reflect your skills and experiences. Tailor each application to the specific job description, ensuring you're showcasing relevant achievements and how they connect to the role. Networking can also be crucial; connections within the industry may increase your chances. Additionally, some candidates are screened out due to applicant tracking systems, so use keywords effectively. Keep refining your approach and seek feedback from peers or mentors.

MrOracle · Answer

Skills are good to have, but experience is often even more important. Does your resume talk about the value you have brought to your previous employers?

For example, I used to manage a Help Desk at an international bank with 18,000 employees. My resume mentioned the number of trouble tickets handled per year and the first-call-resolution percentage. Just two quick stats, but it shows that I understand that the reason I was hired was to bring value to the company (rather than just to collect a paycheck and benefits) and that I was aware of my role in the company's bottom line.

You will have to figure out what are the most relevant factors that made you valuable to your previous employers, and get those on your resume. Keep it brief on the resume, but be prepared to speak in more detail about them in the interview.

Many people have skills on paper, but this shows that you can apply your skills in a real-world situation, and today, that is considered more important. Too many people have degrees but don't actually know anything useful in the real world, so you need to stand out as someone who does.

Anonymous · Answer

I’ll be blunt, I think we’re in a recession and we will hit another Great Depression. Politicians on the right and left are lying about the economy growing blah blah blah. Jerome Powell said that inflation still exists and that caused panic on wall street recently because Wall Streeters thought the economy will be rising but it isn’t and if people are in debt and not spending then companies and businesses won’t get their money/profits. Everything is intertwined. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Even baby boomers who should retire continue to work because cost of living has sky rocketed which f**ks the younger generation, us. Hopefully you land a proper job but be mindful of your spending and look into other areas to grow money.

glennos89 · Answer

I never send them a picture off me when I'm applying for a job. The reason for that is that they can't judge me based on how I look before inviting me. They only know my name, my gender and the story I tell them about myself and I get invited in 80% of the applies I send.

You could try that perhaps. If that doesn't change a thing it has to got something to do with the story you tell them

Unit1 · Answer

I Even count 2 times, where i answered all interview questions correctly and still not receiving a job offer. Their lies with ''we found someone with more matching criteria'' is not only bollocks but a terrible way to recent an applicant. The recruiter told me they're still looking.

Don't sweat it. *If* they like you unrelated to your skills, they'll consider hiring you.

ProbablyClueless · Answer

A lot of HR departments use AI to filter out applications. Maybe there's some experiential requirement that they're looking for that you need to embedding into your applications.

For example, if the HR robot is looking for at least 5 years of experience, maybe you find a way to work "5 years" into your applications and letters.

Danny_dan92 · Answer

What is on your resume? How old is the job listing? (Could be that either A. The company went down under.  B. The position has already been filled but they haven’t taken down the listing yet.)

UrsulaY · Answer

I applied for a job at a company six times. But was offered a job on the same companies floor twice simply displaying my real life in the moment skills and personality.
I kindly rejected both just because it pissed me off.

EmmaMary · Answer

They probably feel you maybe too over qualified for the vacant position.

katiesmuff · Answer

Because you Anonymous and they don't know who you are!

Anonymous · Answer

There are way too many people applying for way too few jobs, and AI is doing the first round of screening out candidates.

exitseven · Answer

If you are over 50 you might as well forget it.

David5668 · Answer

Sometimes jobs are ring-fenced and the interview process is just to satisfy a HR policy.

In_Trance · Answer

There must be key words that are missing from your resume

Anonymous · Answer

Maybe your resume is not resonating with them. Maybe you have a lot of competition.

TheStaleMarshmellow · Answer

DEI is a priority over skills

Why do I not get invited to interviews if I have all the skills?

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