A Recruiter’s Tips On Getting A Call Back

Are you getting a lot of responses to your resume but not getting called back? Maybe several phone interviews with recruiters but never making it to a meeting with the hiring leader? The problem might be your soft skills. You can work on a few things that will increase your interview success.

The first easy fix is to do some research on the company you’ve applied to. Not only will this help you decide later if they offer you the role, but it also shows initiative. Employers and recruiters want to know that you’re interested in them. It’s kind of like dating. You wouldn’t agree to go out with someone if you haven’t sufficiently looked at their social media profiles and asked mutual friends their opinion on the person. So put the same effort into researching your potential employer. Read their About Us section, Press Room section and their blog if they have one. The more you know, the better you’ll do.

Along that same theme, ask great questions. The more interest that you show in the role and company, the better chance you have of making it to the next stage. It also creates a better conversation where both parties can be engaged. If a recruiter or hiring leader enjoyed the conversation, even if you’re lacking a skill, they might move you forward. Try asking about current goals that the team has, or what projects they’re working on. Ask the interviewer what they like about working there. Just be curious.

When I’m interviewing someone for the first time, I want to know a few things: Do they match most of the skills I’m looking for? Does this person show initiative? Will they try to solve their own problems? Are they committed to making this change?

Skills are typically easy to assess, but the other questions require more digging. Some examples you could have ready to share might be: a challenge that you overcame at work, a time that you handled a difficult customer in a positive manner and what you did when a project derailed. It’s important to share why you’re looking to change jobs and why you’re interested in this company. Most recruiters and hiring leaders want to get to know you better, and they just need to be interested enough to call you back for the next stage.

If you’re not getting many calls at all, check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Also make sure to include your full name, a phone number and an email in the body of your resume because some application systems don’t read information placed in the header of a document. If you’re actively looking for a new job, check your spam email folder regularly and answer calls from unfamiliar numbers. You don’t want to miss any opportunity for a conversation!

Interviewing really is like dating. You must take chances, be ready for anything and talk to lots of people before you find the right one.