Why You're Not Getting Job Offers

As negatively demonstrated by earlier comments, the ability to correctly construct a simple written sentence is paramount, as is correct spelling. Furthermore, avoid using an academic degree as a designation, unless you seek work in academia or your education is specifically relevant for the employment you are seeking. Otherwise, you will appear to be ostentatious. This is especially true of those who list MBA behind their names. List actual designations only if they require continuing education to maintain. Hiring managers can easily sift out applicants’ meaningless designations.

Shane of KS 2:23PM January 04, 2013

Very informative !!! I think I've seen all the tips before, but Allison explains them in a way that makes them very relateable. Great article.......

Richard E. Turner, MBA of VA 5:34AM September 14, 2012

This is all fine and good, but your #1 reason is not all the helpful for many cases. Many younger candidates may not have any relevant "achievements" worth mentioning due to a lack of experience, and no specific academic "achievements" either.

Many candidates may have cobbled together numerous part-time jobs to make ends meet, and went to night school to gain necessary skills for the permanent job being applied for, but have no real "achievements" worth highlighting of late. Some candidates may be switching careers, and the "achievements" of the past may in no way be relevant to the vacancy for which they are applying.

Basically, the main problem with your #1 reason is that many people do not have the kind of experience which lends itself to easily documented accounts of special project completion, problem resolution, and the like. I may be in a particularly bad spot, but I think this is not too uncommon. I became a financial advisor after college at one firm, then left to go to another, then I left when I couldn't make any money and worked several part-time jobs, then finally got another full-time job as a financial analyst (only to lose that job due to a very unfortunate illness). Now I'm hunting again, and so far, to no avail.

What's worse, I majored in history, rather than accounting, economics, or finance, so my academic background is not exactly conducive to getting noticed or even considered for the career path I've outlined for myself.

I think that yours is a good point for some, but it does not really apply to those applying for entry level positions, because more than likely they will not have any specific projects, etc. to highlight. Personally, I've realized that I simply need more education and better certifications/qualifications, so I am a CFA level 1 candidate now, and looking to begin a graduate program sometime next year. I feel like I'm trying to be use alchemy with my current resume, when what I really need to do is go out and earn some actual gold to really help me shine in employers' eyes.

Ben of VA 6:35PM May 25, 2012