POV: You’ve been applying for jobs for 3+ months. You have years of professional experience, you’re using “keywords” in your resume, and you’re confident that you’ve got the high-quality skills to land that dream job.

But you still haven’t had the job interview.

You’re spiraling. You’re wondering:

Why can’t I get an interview despite having experience?

Am I the problem?

Why am I not getting job interviews?!

I’ll be the first to tell you (as an HR professional of 17 years) that it’s not you.

It’s the market.

But there are a few things you can do to help you land more job interviews.

Why am I not getting interviews?

The reason you might be having a tough time landing interviews could be because:

1. Your resume isn’t making it past the recruiters or the ATS.
2. The jobs you’re applying for are ultra-competitive.
3. You’re aiming for roles that aren’t the right fit for your skills or experience.

I know, I know: This seems obvious, but there’s some nuance here:

Job hunting is like solving a tricky math problem. One small misstep (like forgetting to carry the one) and suddenly you’re filling in the test bubble for the answer that kinda, sorta, maybe looks right but is actually way off.

You don’t want to bubble in the wrong answer in your job search. So, let’s break down where your calculations might be off.

RELATED: 9 High-Income Skills To Learn for FREE and Without a Degree

Reason #1: Your resume is confusing.

There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there about resumes.

Let me tell you what I look for in resumes as a recruiter:

Your resume should NOT:

• Look the same from application to application. 
• Have only a list of measurable results.
• Overlook things like job gaps or short employment stints.
• Be stuffed with keywords from the job description (seriously, stop falling for this one).

Your resume SHOULD:

• Exist as multiple templates so you can easily tailor your resume for different jobs without rewriting it every time.
• Tell a story about your career. Recruiters only spend 6-7 seconds looking over resumes. How you were able to raise conversions by 44% is a lot more impressive to recruiters than a line that says “Raised conversions by 44%.” Here’s an example of what a story-based resume should look like.
• Explain your job gap. Recruiters aren’t scared of a gap if you can explain it. Did you take a sabbatical to learn a new skill or care for family? Great — say so. Even better, frame it as a period of personal or professional growth.
• Be optimized for ATS by using hard skill keywords that match the job description, like “Adobe Illustrator,” instead of vague soft skills like “creative illustrator.”

Reason #2: The job market is wild right now.

If it’s been over 6 months of you applying for new jobs every day (yes, I said every day — it’s easy if you know how to manage your time during your job hunt), and you still hear crickets, it might not be you.

I entered the workforce in 2008, so I can tell you with complete confidence that…

The current (2025) job market is nothing like 2008. 

It’s worse!

It’s not that companies can’t afford to hire like in 2008 or that you’re not qualified.

The problem is that so many people are applying for the same job that your resume (that you’ve hopefully tailored correctly) is a needle in a bottomless internet haystack. 

Here’s what you can do to stand out:

• Find HR or the Hiring Manager: If there’s a job you really want, go after it — period. Not by attending a local networking group, but by engaging the company’s employees (HR or members of the team you want to join) on LinkedIn and commenting on their posts before sliding into their DMs.
• Step Ahead: Sure, you can get a job interview by treating your job search like a full-time job and applying to anything and everything out of pure stress. Or you can take all that industry-level knowledge that I know is clogging up every crevice of your brain and start posting on LinkedIn. Speaking as a former HR professional, we’re going to look at your LinkedIn.
• Ask for referrals: Sometimes (okay, most of the time) it really is who you know. Don’t be shy about reaching out to friends, former colleagues, or even acquaintances in your industry. A personal referral can go a long way in getting you past the “apply to everything and pray” phase.

RELATED: 7 Things To Include in a Resume: Skills, Dos, and DONTS

Reason #3: You’re applying for the WRONG jobs.

If you’re wondering, “Why am I not getting job interviews?”, one big reason could be that your skills aren’t matching up with the roles you’re going after (like applying for a graphic designer job when your resume is all about admin skills).

You wouldn’t believe how many resumes I’ve read where the applicant’s skills and experience don’t align with the job they’re applying for.

You want to make sure you:

Check Your Skills Match

If you’re applying for a social media manager role but your resume only lists experience in administrative tasks (like calendar management or data entry), it’s not a match.

Tailor your resume to highlight skills like content creation, engagement strategies, and analytics.

Showcase Your Expertise

Don’t just apply for general marketing roles; look for positions that require specific skills like SEO, PPC campaigns, or email marketing.

For instance, if you specialize in PPC advertising, seek roles specifically titled “Paid Search Specialist” or “SEM Manager.”

Target the Right Roles

If you’re applying for entry-level roles but have several years of experience and industry-specific skills, the job might not be a good fit.

Or, if a job requires specific certifications that you don’t have yet, it’s not going to be a match.

RELATED: What Jobs Am I Qualified For? Find Out Using My Goldilocks Method

TLDR; Why am I not getting job interviews?

1. Your resume isn’t getting past recruiters because it’s boring.
2. The job market is competitive, and just applying doesn’t work anymore.
3. You’re applying for the wrong jobs because you’re overqualified or need aligned credentials.

Now what? Here’s how to land the interview:

1. Rewrite Your Resume: Ask for feedback from a trusted friend or career coach to review your resume for effectiveness.
2. Look for Connections: Engage with industry professionals on LinkedIn — comment on their posts, join relevant groups, and make genuine connections.
3. Do a Mock Interview: Practice your answers with an HR professional (like me) or use resources like InterviewStream to build confidence and improve your interview skills.

Are you sick of trying to put all these pieces together on your own? My 1:1 career coaching services will help you get confidence in your abilities (for the job AND the interview).

About the Author:

Hey, I’m Rayla! Let’s digitally shake hands…

I’m a Career Coach and HR Professional who is living for the chance to show you how to develop the tools you need to get a new job or promotion quickly and with confidence.

If you liked these tips and are impatient for more, here’s how we can connect:

Connect with me on LinkedIn! I’m spilling all the hiring (and firing) secrets that HR doesn’t want you to know.  

Binge-read my blog. If you need help with job search strategy, personal branding, resumes, career change, interview prep, or building confidence… grab a cup of coffee; you’ll be here awhile.

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Anything else? Fill out my contact form or email me at hello@rayla.co.