How do you get callbacks?

[tyciol]

I've been applying for dozens of jobs giving my resume out but haven't gotten called in for any interviews. I don't know if it's my appearance, my mannerism, or maybe my resume.

What do you guys try to do to become more hirable? I mean, some of these places I still see 'hiring' in the window so it's not even that I'm getting passed over for someone better, just passed over.

I think I need more experience, so how do you get that? Even willing to do it without pay I guess, I figure volunteering or some sort of apprenticeship, but it's weird finding that.

[aKiu]

Are you applying to part-time jobs or are you going for full-time?

In the part-time job:
1. What impression you give off is very important.
-ALWAYS ask to speak with the manager.
-You must impress the manager:
-Try not to speak in slang. Be formal.
-Firm handshake
-Very friendly, "easy to work with" appeal. Smile, don't be afraid to speak up, and maintain eye contact.
-Dress up and wear more than just your typical t-shirt / shorts combo. Something preppy.

-Next, your resume should be decent. I mean, ZERO spellin/grammar errors, a good summary of yorurself. Most places are looking for people who are team-oriented, very easy to work with, social, and very committed ppl. These are some of the most sought after soft skills.


Don't be discouraged with yourself. You have to bear in mind there are many other external factors possible that is why u didnt get the call back
1. there are several otehr ppl who applied ahead of u, if a manager was to look at 10 applications at say a fast food restaurant, odds are he wouldnt be too selective, n then ud have a 1/10 chance.
2. manager's too lazy to hire, or he'd rather do extra shifts for money himself.
3. you got unlucky n he tossed ur application away

either way, dont be discouraged, and just keep trying. Also, getting a job through references are very useful. ask around with freinds who can refer u

[Mulder and Scully]

I've been applying for dozens of jobs giving my resume out but haven't gotten called in for any interviews.

They really need to teach you people this in school or at the employment offices.

If you're getting a 5%+ response rate to jobs you've applied for which you are *qualified* then that's very good. If you're getting a 10%+ response rate then that's exceptional. The key here is whether or not you're *qualified* for the job to begin with because if you're an IT with only IT education and experience and you're applying for a job in AR/AP just because the position is open, of course you're not going to get a callback. I've been at interviews where I've asked them who else has applied and a few have told me that they receive all sorts of ridiculous resumes from people who don't even read the job description.

[tjbtg85]

I agree this is something that they should start covering in school because it is important to know, it lowers your expectations and you won't gt discouraged as fast. Apply in person and ask for a manager, wear nice clothes, NOT jeans or baggy clothes. Make sure your resume is immaculate, not folded, or any spelling errors, and maybe even a cover letter if you know how to do one of those.

Lastly, don't wait for them to call you back, CALL THEM... pretend just for a second that you are not the only person applying for this position, now picture 100 resumes on the recruiters desk, now imagine the pile of resumes and picture them getting a new one... they will throw it on top of the pile causing your resume to slowly get lost and smothered by other applicants.

CALL THEM and stand out, when you call them and say hi i'm John Smith, and I was just following up on an application I had dropped off a couple of weeks ago... "Ok let me check!" The person sifts through the pile and finds your resume and lets you know whats going on and potentially asks you for an interview or to call back in a week... But guess what... she takes your resume after looking at it and puts it back on the pile... on the TOP of the pile thus you are potentially the first resume someone looks at.

Good luck and I hope this has helped.

TJ

[cui5]

Let someone look through your resume, especially those who got interviews before or those who got a job. If you havent got any replies from the jobs you were appliying for, then its definitely your resume or coverletter. Make an ***** -kicking resume is the step-stone for getting a job. Even pay someone to polish your resume

good hunting out there

[tjbtg85]

There is a program on the internet called resume doctor... you email them your resume or they get a hold of it somehow through monster.ca and then they email you what they think you should change and then they offer to make the changes for a small fee.

Some examples of what they said to me was:

Don't put things on your resume like, Hard working, punctual, team leader. Never leave references on you resume... simply put that they are available upon request... always inform your references that they should be receiving a call to better prepared them and make sure that they aren't going to sabotage you and so on and so fourth.

Good luck,

TJ

[wasserkool]

I agree this is something that they should start covering in school because it is important to know, it lowers your expectations and you won't gt discouraged as fast. Apply in person and ask for a manager, wear nice clothes, NOT jeans or baggy clothes. Make sure your resume is immaculate, not folded, or any spelling errors, and maybe even a cover letter if you know how to do one of those.

Lastly, don't wait for them to call you back, CALL THEM... pretend just for a second that you are not the only person applying for this position, now picture 100 resumes on the recruiters desk, now imagine the pile of resumes and picture them getting a new one... they will throw it on top of the pile causing your resume to slowly get lost and smothered by other applicants.

CALL THEM and stand out, when you call them and say hi i'm John Smith, and I was just following up on an application I had dropped off a couple of weeks ago... "Ok let me check!" The person sifts through the pile and finds your resume and lets you know whats going on and potentially asks you for an interview or to call back in a week... But guess what... she takes your resume after looking at it and puts it back on the pile... on the TOP of the pile thus you are potentially the first resume someone looks at.

Good luck and I hope this has helped.

TJ

Calling to follow up after submission will only annoy the recruiter. Imagine if all 100 applicants or even 10 ~ 20% of them calling me. I will get annoyed. It will never work for big companies in the first place because all applications are done online and you will not even know who the hiring manager or recruiter is.

[tjbtg85]

Calling to follow up after submission will only annoy the recruiter. Imagine if all 100 applicants or even 10 ~ 20% of them calling me. I will get annoyed. It will never work for big companies in the first place because all applications are done online and you will not even know who the hiring manager or recruiter is,

Yes some will get annoyed... but in some cases it works. I applied to CN Rail which is a very large company and they didn't call me for months and then I called them and they told me that they would look into it which I thought was a lie, by loan behold I received a call about a week ago asking me to reapply which i did. I then waited another month and then showed up to their head office in a suit and tie with a resume in hand... the next day early in the morning I got a call asking me to come in for an aptitude test which was being held only three days later... I would have missed this date if it wasnt for my initiative. Sometimes initiative pays off and other times it doesn't im not saying it always works but I know that it has never failed me in the past.

Do what you will with my advice. My advice is based on my experience... others have had different things happen.

Good luck

TJ

[Nikita]

CALL THEM and stand out, when you call them and say hi i'm John Smith, and I was just following up on an application I had dropped off a couple of weeks ago... "Ok let me check!" The person sifts through the pile and finds your resume and lets you know whats going on and potentially asks you for an interview or to call back in a week... But guess what... she takes your resume after looking at it and puts it back on the pile... on the TOP of the pile thus you are potentially the first resume someone looks at.

Good luck and I hope this has helped.

TJ

Brilliant! Touche' TJ!

[Nikita]

Calling to follow up after submission will only annoy the recruiter. Imagine if all 100 applicants or even 10 ~ 20% of them calling me. I will get annoyed. It will never work for big companies in the first place because all applications are done online and you will not even know who the hiring manager or recruiter is.

First of all I've managed people my whole career and I can assure you that nowhere near 100% will call back, in fact only about 10 likely will. It does put you in that person's mind, definitely over a lot of other's in the pile of resumes. I think it speaks volumes about a person to do that. If 10% or even 15% call back, I find the few moments spared add a little something to the candidate.

[Sanhedralite]

Nikita,

Your advice please? Would you think it's ok to leave a message if you don't catch the interviewer live on the phone?

Tks.

[tjbtg85]

IMHO I do not think this is appropriate. But I have not done this all my life. I am probably younger than you but in my experience I have never received a call back. When you leave a message it gives that recruiter the option to ignore you or skip you message once they determine it isn't important. When you call them and you are speaking one on one in an actual conversation, they try to be polite and hear what you have to say and that is when you make the impression.

But no IMO leaving a message might work but actually speaking with them will be more effective.

TJ

[Mulder and Scully]

I still have to follow my original opinion on this.

If you're not really all that qualified to begin with then calling HR isn't going to do anything. Now they might be impressed enough by your effort to move your resume to the top of the pile, but once they read it over and find out you're not qualified or experienced then it makes no difference. But if there's a job you're qualified for and really want then by all means give it a try.

[tjbtg85]

Oh i don't think that I was aware that the OP wasn't qualified I am simply speaking in terms of grabbing a recruiters attention and letting them know you are there, willing and able to work.

TJ

[Nikita]

Nikita,

Your advice please? Would you think it's ok to leave a message if you don't catch the interviewer live on the phone?

Tks.

I have had prospective employees who, after an interview, will call back just to follow up. Yes there were a couple of times when they left a message basically saying this is so-and-so, we met blah blah blah, I'm just calling to follow up on the position, as I can't reach you at this time I will call back on *****day. Or something to that effect. I have no problem with that. Again, going an extra-step, IMO shows interest in THE job, not just A job. I've also had the situation where the message includes, if it is more convenient for you to contact me, please feel free to do so at any time. Again, shows interest in THE job and also respect for the employer's own time constraints and schedules. If by the second call, you still can't get them and they don't call back, I'd forget it. Anything further IMO indicates desperation and a lack of respect for the employer's own time and scheduling constraints. And likely beating a dead horse. Hope that's helpful, that's my own experience, I'm sure other's may have different opinions. Just don't be a stalker....lol.