Getting that first interview is usually the most exciting part of the job application process. You’ve done your research and spent days, sometimes even weeks perfecting your CV and cover letter. And then, the waiting game.

But have you ever found yourself lacking a flurry of recruiters or employers trying to knock down your door to get to you? Yes, we’ve all been there. It can be so frustrating after filling out countless application forms and tailoring your personal documents to suit the role you are applying for, to find that you didn’t even get a call back!

Having been in managerial roles for the last 5 years and hiring my own team members, I wanted to share the top 3 reasons why you might not be getting call backs for interviews.

You made a mistake on your CV

The number 1 pet peeve of any hiring manager is usually grammatical errors. There’s nothing more annoying than seeing a spelling error on a CV. In fact, I have known hiring managers to immediately trash a CV if they spot an error on it, regardless of how suitable the candidate may have been.

You should realise that even before you’ve reached the interview stage, you’re making your first impression through your CV. And to make a mistake at this first stage potentially makes you look lazy and careless.

Be sure to always double and triple check your CV, and even after that, check it again! I also recommend getting someone else to have a look over your documents. Getting a second opinion may uncover other aspects you may have forgotten.

Your CV doesn’t match your LinkedIn

The first thing I do once I’ve whittled down prospective candidates is check out their profiles on LinkedIn. It’s an immediate red flag if I see that their dates or job details don’t match.

This can cause hiring managers to believe you have exaggerated on your CV or deliberately tried to hide something. In most cases, I look for gaps in people’s careers. So if I noticed that a candidate left a company and had a 6 month gap, I’d usually call this out in an interview and asked what they did within that period. However, I have had instances where candidates “stretch” their working dates on the CV that they send through which then doesn’t match their dates on their LinkedIn profile.

It could be an honest mistake and you’ve just mixed up your dates. However, this little mistake could come at a huge cost and impact your chance of even getting a call back.

You’re applying for the wrong roles

Lastly, it could simply be due to the fact that you are applying for a role that you are just not suited to. It often baffles me when I receive applications from candidates that clearly have no relevance to my industry or even relevant experience to suggest that they would be suited to the role.

This leads hiring managers to believe that you have simply “bulk” applied for various roles and haven’t been considerate in your application process. And ultimately could cost you your chance of being considered for any potential roles.

All in all, you need to make sure you’re always honest and accurate on your CV and application. And ultimately don’t be disheartened if you haven’t received any interview opportunities yet. The application process can be a long one, so hang in there. In the meantime, why not brush up on your interview skills?