It’s especially aggravating when you meet nearly every job requirement, and all you hear is radio silence. This happens more often than it should.
But it doesn’t have to happen to you.
As an agency software sales recruiter, I’m privy to the reasons why you’re not getting called back. Today, I’m going to share the most common reasons why you’re not getting all the interviews you should when you meet nearly all of the job requirements.
Reason#1: Your LinkedIn Profile Doesn’t Match Your Resume
When your resume lists one thing and your profile states another, it’s difficult for employers to know which one is correct.
Their first thought is confusion. Their second thought is, I don’t have time to figure this out. Next!
Your profile should match your resume. Hiring managers are more apt to reference your LinkedIn profile over your resume because your profile is public-facing, and there is only one version of your LinkedIn profile.
A frequent exception to this is listing a college degree on your profile but not on your resume.
Ask yourself these questions:
Does my degree on my resume match my LinkedIn profile?
Are there jobs listed on my profile that aren’t on my resume?
Are there date inconsistencies on my profile and my resume, i.e., dates of employment?
Reason #2. Your Resume is a Mess—You Don’t Think So, But Employers Do
If I were to take your resume, put it up on the big screen in front of 1,000 people, do you think you’d be confident about how it looks and what it says?
Would you be comfortable presenting to the audience with your resume as your only slide?
Chances are, your resume could be better.
Your resume matters more than you think. Even if you’ve looked at your resume 1000 times, odds are you have a few typos and/or formatting errors.
Writing a resume showcases your experience. It serves as your record of job performance, history, and credentials.
It’s a formal written document that showcases your written communication skills. Don’t miss out on interviews because you’ve rushed the resume writing process.
If you need extra help or find the process tedious, think about using a certified resume writer.
“The first impression you give is the “right” one and it shapes how everything else about you is perceived.” — Heidi Grant Halvorson
Reason #3. Your LinkedIn Profile is Inactive
If you’re a Director of Finance and your LinkedIn profile is inactive, no one will care too much. But LinkedIn is a sales tool.
That means as a sales professional, if you’re not using it to prospect and introduce yourself to new people, something’s wrong.
Would you expect to hire a carpenter who pulled up to your house in a VW Bug?
You’d wonder how the materials would get to your home and if this person knows how to build anything. Today’s employers expect you to use technology to develop new business, stay in touch with your network, and stay up to date on trigger events.
Using LinkedIn is an important tool for any sales professional. Invest some time weekly in managing your LinkedIn profile and keeping it up to date.
Reason #4. Your LinkedIn Picture is Repelling Instead of Attracting Professional Attention
There’s a time to stand out, and a time to conform. Save your creativity and personal life for TikTok. When you post your picture on LinkedIn, don’t wear sunglasses. Don’t show off your new car. Don’t put your beautiful new baby’s face up there instead of yours. Employers want to see you.
They should be able to see your eyes.
More than 97% of recruiters and employers will check out your LinkedIn profile before they contact you about a new sales role.
They want to see a current professional picture on your profile.
When you walk into their office for a meeting, they want to instantly recognize you from your photo. So keep your LinkedIn picture up to date and relevant to the LinkedIn platform.
Reason #5. Your Resume Isn’t Highlighting the Right Skills or Achievements
Sales resumes should be heavily numbers-based and outcome-driven. They shouldn’t read like a job description detailing your responsibilities and job duties.
All that matters in sales is who you called on, what you sold, what size companies you sold to, deal size, and if you made your numbers.
If you forgo putting your sales numbers on your resume, it could easily be skipped.
If you have the skills to do a job, don’t let your professional marketing materials (e.g., resume, LinkedIn profile) stand in your way of meeting with the hiring manager.
Look at your materials.
Are you managing your first impression correctly?
Have you detailed the relevant information on your resume?
Fix your resume, update your LinkedIn picture/profile, and make sure you’ve got everything in order so you can compete for the job you deserve.
Remember, if you don’t know what’s wrong with your resume or LinkedIn profile, consult a credentialed professional, such as a certified professional resume writer (CPRW).
Moving Forward With Your Job Search
The US Department of Labor finds the average person changes jobs 10-12 times during their career. For career sales professionals, that number might be low. But don’t waste a move. Use these five tips to start competing for the best sales jobs available.
Related Reading: 5 Mistakes That Kill Your Early Stage SaaS Interview
