Why You’re Not Hearing Back

This week, Jeff and I talked about the WORST part of the job search…the silence after you apply. It’s incredibly frustrating when you’re qualified for a role but just aren’t hearing back. If you’re feeling stuck or starting to take the lack of response personally, this episode we’re sharing exactly how to diagnose the silence, gain experience while unemployed, and the right way to follow up with a hiring manager.

We’re talking about:

• The “Success Rate” math for your resume
• How to tell if you have a “you” problem vs. a resume problem
• Identifying and closing your specific skill gaps
• Why “inflated” applicant numbers shouldn’t scare you
• How to gain experience while unemployed
• The exact script for following up with a hiring manager
• Why silence isn’t always a rejection
• Productive ways to handle the waiting period

Listen in to help us help you give yourself the best chance of landing your Next Job… NOW :)

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https://greglangstaff.kit.com/free-resources

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https://youtu.be/z9oEbG1GhqM?si=qOCB3yLLnETzFEJY

Greg’s Resume WRITING Services can be found here: 

https://greglangstaff.com/must-hire-packages  

Greg’s Resume REVIEW Services can be found here: 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I mean, you need to take into account the success rate of your applications. So if you're getting an interview like one every seven applications, you are a superstar. You're crushing it. You are better than anyone else who's applying to jobs. If you are getting like one in 12, you're fine. Nothing wrong with your resume. I would maybe just think about prepping for interviews. If you're not getting hearing back on like one in 20 applications, you have a serious problem.

SPEAKER_01 0:38

Welcome to Next Job Now. The podcast where we help you get your next job right now.

SPEAKER_00 0:53

Welcome to the podcast. I'm Greg Langstaff. I'm a certified resume strategist and career coach. I've written over 2,000 resumes, and I love helping people get new jobs.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

And I'm Jeff, and I have a lot of questions about job searching. Together, we're going to talk about everything you need to know about landing your next role. In this episode, we're talking about not hearing back. We're going to talk about what to do and why it happens and what do we do instead of waiting.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

So, Greg, answer the question we're all we all have. I'm qualified. Why am I not hearing back?

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Other people are more qualified. Or you have undersold yourself on your resume to a dramatic point that it does not look like you're qualified. How will I know? I mean, you need to take into account the success rate of your applications. So if you're getting an interview like one every seven applications, you are a superstar. You're crushing it. You are better than anyone else who's applying to jobs. If you are getting like one in 12, you're fine. Nothing wrong with your resume. I would maybe just think about prepping for interviews. If you're not getting hearing back on like one in 20 applications, you have a serious problem. It might be a resume problem, it might be a you problem, both of which need to be heavily considered.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

Let's assume it's a you problem, right? What what's our what are we doing? How do we fix ourselves? How do we fix our resume?

SPEAKER_00 2:30

Okay. You would want to look at the jobs you're applying to. Yeah. What are all the tasks they're describing that this person is going to have to do? What is the expertise this person needs to have? What are the technical skills, the software that they need to know how to use? Are you actually good at that stuff? Is there examples of you using those skills to achieve success in your resume? If the answer is no, it's action time. And it's so useful to figure out why you're not getting called back because then you have a little to-do list of things to get good at, of things to accomplish, so that you will start getting called back. So if that's the case, let's say we identified that we are not good at generating new leads for a sales role. We would want to do a few things: seek out books, courses, podcasts on lead generation, maybe attend a conference, a webinar on specific tactics within lead generation. Then we would want to step up our game at work, change how we're going about generating leads, try these new approaches, steadily improve over time, track our progress, and then put in the resume all the courses you took, all the all the training you did, and the measurable improvements in your lead generation. So we can say that we're now converting at like X percentage more than we did last year, or above target, or whatever it is, like that's the entire process to identify why you're not getting the job and then like improve yourself and then improve your resume.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

So we've identified that I'm not good at a task, lead generating.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

I go and do a bunch of PD, I get a certificate, I do these things. What if I'm unemployed and I can't do measurable things, but I want this job, and I've done all the like the development to get it, yeah. Is there a way to get that job, or am I not qualified for that job? Because I haven't done it. Yes, I studied it, but I have zero experience.

SPEAKER_00 4:48

Yeah. Well, two options for you. So if you if you have added a skill while unemployed, but you haven't had a chance to apply it in like a business setting, and that's an important skill for the jobs you want. One option is to apply to jobs that are a step down that might support someone doing that work, and then work your way in, and in that job, look to add that experience through like taking on additional responsibilities, angling for promotions, that kind of thing. Option two is start a business, start a consulting practice, start a side hustle, something where you can use that skill actively. Right. Because that after a few months is gonna start to carry some weight, especially if you find yourself succeeding in that work. And like starting a consulting practice isn't this thing, you don't have to like file and have an LLC. Like, go to your friend who started a business two years ago, ask if you can help for free, just for something to put on your resume. Like it can be that simple. Like, get out there and just get experience one way or another. It's gonna be awkward, it might be unpaid, but it will move the needle on the resume.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

So those are some like helpful ways to identify. There's other reasons for not hearing back.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

Oh, of course.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Right? Applicant volume. Yep. You're competing with hundreds of other qualified candidates.

SPEAKER_00 6:23

Uh, you're competing with hundreds of other candidates.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

What do you mean? They're not qualified. Oh, yeah, you're right, you're right.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

No, when there's when there you see like 200 people have applied to this job, like on LinkedIn tells you sometimes. There are not 200 qualified people who apply for that job. Don't be intimidated. Please still apply for that job because maximum 10, maybe 15 of them are qualified. Like it's about 5 to 7% of applicants for any given job are actually qualified. So just apply. Apply to the job.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Yeah, don't be don't be intimidated by the numbers. Because they're inflated.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Yeah. Now the thing is, and if you're thinking like, well, if no one's qualified, why aren't I getting interviews? If five people 5% of 200 applied are qualified, that's 10 people. They're not going to interview 10 people, they're going to interview their top four, maybe top three. So you need to be more than qualified. You need to be really, really impressive.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

There could, again, internal candidates. You might not be hearing back because of a decision delay. You don't know. Two months that could go by and you might hear back. Silence isn't always a rejection.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Yeah, my first job I got out of grad school was I got the yes a full month after the interview. Oh, easily. I've told this story before. The HR person quit shortly after our interview. They had to post the HR job, hire someone, and then train that person, and then that person stepped in and finished my hiring paperwork. So there's a lot of reasons you could not be hearing back that aren't your fault.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

When do you think it's okay to reach out?

SPEAKER_00 8:12

Oh, to like when can I ask? Like, hi, I applied to this job, I haven't heard anything back. I'm wondering if you have an update for me.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Yes, but also who gets to send that message? If you're a one in a hundred interview rate, I feel like you don't get to be that person.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Oh, great question.

SPEAKER_01 8:32

I think you get to ask for a follow-up when you're a one in seven. Am I bold on this take?

SPEAKER_00 8:39

If you are the type of person who is typically getting interviewed for the type of job that you applied to, and on this particular job you didn't hear back, yes, you can reach out to ask if you are uh if they can update you on next steps or if you've been passed over. The message to send to a hiring manager if you applied and you haven't heard back to win them over, to be polite, and to get some information is this. Hello, whoever. I recently applied to this blank job at your amazing company. Uh, I haven't heard back yet, and I had some questions regarding next steps and timeline. Um, I understand that this would have been a highly competitive applicant pool because this is a great opportunity at a fantastic company. So I understand if you have moved forward with other candidates. If that's the case, I would love if you could give me a little bit of feedback so I can improve myself for next time. If the process is still ongoing, I would love to get an idea of timeline because I do want to prioritize this job as it is the top of my uh list.

SPEAKER_01 9:53

Ooh. A little bit of flattery, yeah, a little bit of asking for follow-up and engaging to get a response.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Yeah, and you're like, also, I'm trying to get better. I'm the type of person who keeps getting better and better.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

And you're my number one. Yeah. Make them feel so special.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

You have to.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Um, okay, if we are gonna send a message, what's an appropriate amount of time to follow up to ask?

SPEAKER_00 10:23

I would say, like, you don't want to be annoying. Like, that's the underlying thing.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

And when is annoying?

SPEAKER_00 10:31

Okay, so annoying is twice. Like, you get one follow-up.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

This is a one-shot opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Yes. If you want to reach out and check in because you haven't heard back, once is the absolute maximum. If they ignore you, it's over. Back away, let her go.

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

If you want to reach out, when is a good time? Definitely not in the first week. Probably put you at like two weeks.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

Two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

Yeah. Say like a safe, safe amount, two weeks after you apply.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

You can do a thank you on the same day or next day.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Yeah, 24-hour limit, I'd say, for the thank you email.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Don't use a thank you email to follow up. Two days later.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Crane.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Thank you, Crane.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Oh, are you saying like uh what about after a job interview?

SPEAKER_01 11:21

Um, oh. Oh, yeah, that's a good point. But I I was just overall when to follow up, when is it an appropriate time to say, hey, wanted to check in on my application? That makes sense. If it's been two weeks since you've applied to a position, yeah, then if you got an interview and you haven't heard back, same rule applies. Yeah. One to two weeks, not within the first week, two weeks later.

SPEAKER_00 11:47

Yeah, let me let me sum up. Thank you. If you want to reach out to a company because you haven't heard back, here's the time frame. If you applied to the job, you wait two weeks after the application. Then you can send a follow-up to check in. If you interviewed for the job, you can ask after one week.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

Thank you. That was crisp and clear. Take it away. Perfect. Last bit of advice of what should I do during the silence to stay productive, continue to grow, and to maybe reflect on my not getting calls.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

So I basically had my first like near ulcer during uh this period of like waiting to hear back. Not not promised me a work visa, but they had said, if we hire you, work visa, no problem.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Right.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

Keep in mind, I'm out of money, I'm about to get kicked out of the country. I needed that job. Um, and like after I went there, like I got past the first round interview, I went there, they flew me in, I stayed a couple of nights in their fancy on-campus hotel, full day and a half of interviews. Was a lovely experience. And on me, I did not perform at my best, and I was not their choice. But in the week and a half after that uh interview, I was like frantically, panickedly checking my flip phone every two minutes for a call. Are they calling? Am I gonna find out? And I fell apart during that time. Like I was not me. And that's that happens. Some things I wish I had done and then integrated into like future similar waiting experiences. It's like what number one is the best thing just to apply to more jobs, like just to have less irons in the fire, or more irons in the fire, less invested in this job where everything's off the table already. Like you've done everything you can. Yeah, just start to mentally and literally move on. Other thing you can do if like if you're feeling self-conscious about like why you might not have been there, pick, start to take a deep, deep look inside. What are you not good enough at? What have you not achieved enough of? How can you better yourself? And then, of course, the third thing is like just keep working on that resume, keep practicing your interviews. Um, visit all of the social media platforms where we help you to do exactly that. Greg Langstaff um on TikTok, langstaff.greg on Instagram, Greg LangstaffCareer Coach on YouTube, and Greg Langstaff on LinkedIn as well. Greg Langstaff.com and Greg Langstaff.com. Check it out. And reach out. Like I'll help you. If you're if you're like, ah, nothing's working, like I'll help. I'll help.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

All right. Well, it's time for our unusual interviews.

SPEAKER_02 14:45

Hmm.

SPEAKER_01 14:47

Greg. Jeff. If you had to cook for yourself, what are you gonna make? I mean, you do cook for yourself, but you're alone. You have a night alone and you had to cook, what are you gonna make?

SPEAKER_00 14:58

I'm gonna just I'm I'm just gonna make like firstly, Ariana has been very diligent in like having me eat my veggies. Um, not that I don't, but like I come from a family where my mom, like, a couple months ago, I was visiting her, and she's like, I'm kind of off vegetables. And I was like, you don't get to be off vegetables, mom. Eat your vegetables.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

I'm off, I'm off it. I'm not interested in that, those vitamins.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

It's just like I, you know, it's like I'm trending away from vegetables right now. So replacing with what? Eggs and meat? No, she she can't have eggs. Um so just meat. But yeah, so I'd have a big a big old mess of vegetables, and then like my favorite thing to make, probably that's like super healthy, and I'm actually good at making, is like a shrimp salad.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

A shrimp salad?

SPEAKER_00 15:48

Yeah, I love a shrimp salad. I love shrimp. Any seafood, really.

SPEAKER_01 15:53

Really? Yeah. I didn't know you're a seafood guy.

SPEAKER_00 15:55

All right.

SPEAKER_01 15:56

This question was about being alone, cooking for yourself.

SPEAKER_00 15:58

Yeah, actually, yes. I'll say final answer, I'm gonna take a crack at the lobster mac and cheese.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Amazing.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Yeah. I had a different question, but I kind of want to know what you would make if you were home alone. Well, you are home alone more often than me for dinner, right?

SPEAKER_01 16:13

Uh, I'll wait. Yeah? Yeah, it's it's pretty rare. Because by the time my wife gets home, Liana, um it's like seven.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

That's late for dinner.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Well, I'll be like cooking.

SPEAKER_00 16:26

All right.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

I'll like get home and I'll usually try to have dinner ready for her when she gets off the train.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

Very, very beautiful of you.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

All right. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode. Join us next week where we're gonna talk about overcoming ageism, specifically on LinkedIn.

SPEAKER_00 16:43

How many weeks in a row have we talked about meat thermometers, guys?

SPEAKER_01 16:46

I think this is just week two. Oh. So go for gold.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

Okay. Anyway, we'll see you next week. Ageism on LinkedIn. Not a fun topic, but we we gotta be prepared.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

Thank you.