Sending Out Resumes and Hearing Nothing Back? 5 Reasons Why & How to Fix It
New to the job market? This guide is packed with practical tips — from crafting your first resume to nailing interviews — to help fresh grads land their first full-time role in Singapore, even with zero experience.
LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME JOB?
You spend hours searching for the perfect job. You find one that seems like a great fit.
You carefully update your resume. You craft a thoughtful cover letter. You fill out the long online application form, attach your documents, and click “submit.”
And then… you wait.
A day goes by. Then a week. Then two. And all you hear is silence. It feels like your application has vanished into a giant black hole.
It is one of the most frustrating feelings in the world. You start to doubt yourself. “Am I not good enough? Am I not qualified?”
Here’s the truth: most of the time, the problem isn’t you. It’s your application strategy.
In today’s competitive job market, your amazing skills and experience can be completely invisible if your application doesn’t get past the first few filters.
This guide will help you troubleshoot your job search. We’ll look at the 5 most common mistakes that cause good candidates to be ignored, and we’ll show you exactly how to fix them.
Mistake #1: Your Resume Isn’t “Robot-Friendly” (The ATS is Rejecting You)
Before a human recruiter ever sees your resume, it first has to pass a test set by a robot.
Most medium and large companies in Singapore use a software called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Think of it as a bouncer at the door of a club. Its job is to scan every resume and only let the most relevant ones through to the human hiring manager.
This robot bouncer is smart, but it can also be easily confused.
The Problem:
- Fancy Formatting: Your beautiful, creative resume with lots of columns, tables, graphics, and funky fonts might look great to you, but it can completely confuse the ATS. The robot can’t read it properly, so it just rejects it.
- Wrong Keywords: The ATS is programmed to look for specific keywords from the job description. If the job requires “project management” and “data analysis,” and your resume doesn’t contain those exact phrases, the robot will assume you’re not a good match.
The Fix:
- Keep It Simple: Use a clean, simple, single-column format for your resume. Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Save it as a PDF or Word document.
- Tailor for Every Job: This is crucial. Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and requirements. Make sure those exact keywords are present in your resume (as long as you genuinely have those skills, of course).
Mistake #2: You’re Using the “Spray and Pray” Approach
Job hunting can feel like a numbers game. It’s tempting to think that if you apply for more jobs, you’ll have a better chance of success. So you take your one generic resume and you “spray” it out to 50 different job openings a day, and then you “pray” that someone replies.
This is a very common strategy. It is also a very ineffective one.
The Problem:
A generic resume doesn’t speak to any specific job. It doesn’t show the hiring manager that you have read their job description or that you are genuinely interested in their company. It makes you look lazy and desperate.
The Fix:
Shift your mindset from quantity to quality.
Instead of sending 50 generic applications, aim to send just 2 or 3 excellent, highly-tailored applications per day.
Spend that extra time doing what we discussed in Mistake #1: carefully customising your resume and cover letter for each specific role. An application that is 90% relevant is a hundred times more powerful than one that is only 50% relevant.
Mistake #3: Your LinkedIn Profile is a Ghost Town
So, you’ve submitted a great, tailored resume. The recruiter is interested. What’s the very next thing they are going to do?
They are going to search for you on LinkedIn.
The Problem:
If they click on your LinkedIn profile and find that it’s empty, outdated, has an unprofessional party photo, or even worse, it contradicts the information on your resume, it creates doubt and confusion. It makes you look less credible.
The Fix:
Your LinkedIn profile must be a strong, professional support for your resume. It’s your personal branding website.
- Get a Professional Headshot: Just a simple, clear photo of you smiling, against a plain background. No selfies, no holiday pictures.
- Write a Compelling Headline: Don’t just put your job title. Tell people what you do. Instead of “Marketing Manager,” try “Digital Marketing Manager Specialising in SEO & Content Strategy.”
- Fill Out the “About” Section: This is your chance to tell your professional story in a few short paragraphs.
- Match it to Your Resume: Make sure your work history and dates on LinkedIn match what’s on your resume. Consistency is key.
Mistake #4: You’re Skipping the Cover Letter (or Writing a Boring One)
“Does anyone even read cover letters anymore?”
Yes, they do. Many people think a cover letter is optional, so they don’t bother writing one. This is a missed opportunity. A great cover letter can be the tie-breaker that gets you the interview.
However, a bad, generic cover letter is even worse than no cover letter at all.
The Problem:
Hiring managers have seen this a thousand times: “Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position I saw advertised on [Job Portal]…”
This is boring and tells them nothing. It gets deleted immediately.
The Fix:
Your cover letter should be short, sharp, and impactful. It should be a direct bridge between your experience and the company’s needs. Follow a simple 3-paragraph structure:
- Paragraph 1: The Hook. State the job you’re applying for and express your genuine enthusiasm for the company. Mention something specific you admire about them.
- Paragraph 2: The Proof. This is the most important part. Pick 2 or 3 key requirements from the job description and give a specific example of how you have demonstrated those skills.
- Paragraph 3: The Close. Reiterate your interest and end with a clear call to action. “I am confident my skills can bring value to your team and I look forward to discussing my application further.”
Mistake #5: You’re Only Using the “Front Door”
When you click the “Apply Now” button on a job portal, you are using the “front door.” It’s the official way in. But the problem is, hundreds of other people are lining up at that same door.
The smartest job seekers also try to use the “back door.”
The Problem:
Your application is just one of many in a giant, faceless pile. It’s passive. You are waiting for someone to notice you.
The Fix:
Be proactive. Take one extra step after you apply.
- Go to LinkedIn.
- Search for the company you applied to.
- Try to find the hiring manager for the role, or someone who is already on that team.
- Send them a short, polite, and professional connection request or message.
Example:
“Hi [Name], I hope this message finds you well. I’ve just applied for the [Job Title] role at [Company], and I’m very excited about the opportunity. My experience in [Specific Skill Mentioned in the Job Ad] seems to align well with the team’s needs. I look forward to hearing from the recruitment team. Thank you for your time.”
This simple action can move your resume from the bottom of the pile to the top. It shows initiative and makes you stand out from the 99% of applicants who don’t bother.
Conclusion: It’s Not You, It’s Your Strategy
If you’ve been sending out resumes and hearing nothing back, please don’t lose hope. It’s almost certainly not a reflection of your worth or your skills. It’s usually just a sign that your job search strategy is broken.
So, this week, try a new approach.
Instead of sending out 50 generic applications, focus on just 5.
But for those 5 applications, do it right.
- Tailor your resume with the right keywords.
- Write a short, impactful cover letter.
- Find one person at the company to connect with on LinkedIn.
It might feel like more work per application, but the quality of your effort will lead to a much better result. You might be very surprised by who finally replies.