Not Hearing Back from a Graduate Jobs Employer? Here’s Why…

There’s nothing more frustrating than applying for graduate jobs and not getting a reply as to whether you have either been accepted for an interview or rejected from the application process.

It is a frustrating period, as you are left waiting around for weeks on end without an answer, but unfortunately, it is just part and parcel of the job application process.

Many aspects can make you appear to be the wrong candidate to employers, but in this blog, we’re going to look at some of the key reasons why you may not be hearing back from an employer and what you can do to improve your chances:

The graduate jobs employer doesn’t have the time

One of the main reasons why you may not be hearing back after sending a graduate jobs application is that the employer simply hasn’t got the time to answer every candidate.

Only 20% of applicants are invited to interview and the remainder are often ignored. Don’t take it personally though, as many recruiters simply don’t acknowledge the unsuccessful candidates due to lack of time.

To boost your chances of getting acknowledged, apply as soon as possible by receiving job alerts through your email.

Your CV is too long

While it’s important to include all of the information you can to show off your skills, experiences and abilities, a never-ending CV could be extremely off-putting to employers.

Recruiters aim to find the vital information swiftly to decide whether the candidate could be suitable for the role – therefore, keeping it as concise and in line with the job advert as possible is key. If you believe your CV is a little long-winded, re-evaluate what isn’t relevant to the job to make it snappy, succinct and interesting.

You’re not following instructions when applying for graduate jobs

Some job adverts require you to follow certain instructions during the application process, however, if overlooked, it could put you at a real disadvantage of getting hired.

A cover letter, for example, may be required or to submit your CV in a word document instead of a PDF. These factors may be irrelevant to you but are often in place to test your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions (especially if you have noted down that you’re a stickler for detail).

You’re asking for too high a salary

In some circumstances, employers ask candidates about their current salary and the amount they expect for the position they’re applying for. It can be uncomfortable to discuss wages with a new potential employer -especially if you feel you may be cutting yourself short or asking for too high a pay rise. If your requirement is far above what the company is willing to pay a new employee, it may not even get to the recruiter’s desk, therefore, it may be worth carrying out research to determine the salary of a job role at the level you’re applying for.

However, sometimes in recruitment things just go wrong. If you haven’t heard back from an employer for a few days don’t panic. Send a follow-up email and be patient – things could still work out for you!

If you have applied for several job roles without a reply, we hope that this blog comes in useful to boost your chances of being acknowledged by the employer and hopefully- getting hired!

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in sourcing candidates for all internships and graduate jobs in the UK. To hire graduates, gain career advice or browse graduate jobs in the UK, visit our website.