Responsive CV Blog: Latest Articles

8 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get the Job

Like a bad breakup, an unsuccessful job interview can leave you feeling broken and rejected, wondering why you never got a call back. While a recruiter will rarely tell you why you were bypassed, the truth is, most rejections are due to the same basic issues. Occasionally the situation is simply out of your control, but sometimes you have to recognize that they’re just not that into you. Here are eight possible reasons why: 1. You didn’t have chemistry. As frustratingly simple as this explanation is, sometimes it’s true—you and the interviewer just didn’t click. This could happen for a… Read more »

How to apply for a job when you don’t meet all the requirements

Are you Are you ready for one of the best-kept secrets of the job search process? Unless the person doing the hiring has previously worked in the exact role he’s trying to fill, a fair amount of the job description is guesswork. Think about it: Hiring managers have to write a description that will simultaneously entice people to apply and ward off those who wouldn’t qualify for an interview. Also, haven’t you heard stories of a person who “met all of the qualifications” being passed over in the final stages for someone who “seemed like a better fit?” Probably so… Read more »

12 Ways to Mess Up a Job Interview—and 12 Ways to Ace It

Congratulations! You’ve been diligent about finding a new job, and you’ve finally landed an interview. What happens next? You’ve got to prepare—carefully. Because it’s not OK just to show up. One or two missteps can disqualify you as a candidate, even if you have the right experience and skills. If you really want to be considered for the position, to get hired, know what not to do, and, instead, what you should do, before and during the interview. 1. DON’T: Ask what the company does and how it’s organized. The message: You’re just looking for a pay-check and don’t care… Read more »

What Not to Wear to an Interview

I have hired hundreds of employees right out of school over the years as the founder and CEO of a Silicon Valley-based manufacturing company. However qualified—and they’re all highly educated and extremely talented—one of the most common mistakes I see is wardrobe choice, and this is true for both women and men. It’s a shame, because no matter how good you look on paper, how you present yourself makes the most impact with a potential employer or new client. As cliché as it might sound, you have to learn to dress for success. Here are six tips: 1. Do your… Read more »

5 habits that can turn interviewers against you

Having spent the last decade recruiting, I’ve had many a conversation with hiring managers after a candidate exits the interview. And, while I always hope for exceptional feedback, sometimes the news is not so glowing. Sometimes, the candidate has done something so annoying to the interviewer that, at best, she is now questioning her interest in keeping this person in the running. What are the things that drive interviewers the most crazy? Listen and learn. 1. You arrive super early Everybody knows that you’re an idiot if you show up late for an interview. It’s completely disrespectful of the interviewer’s… Read more »

7 Ways To Be One Of The Best Job Applicants

Applying for jobs can be nerve-wracking. You want to present yourself in the best possible way without sounding like a braggart and you want to do what you can to get the job. How do you show yourself to be the best candidate without saying things like, “I’m amazing”? The single best way to show a potential employer that you are the best applicant is to genuinely want the job and act accordingly. Sound excited for the position and be ready to show why you want it. Here are some ways to prepare yourself before the interview and look great… Read more »

8 Important Things Recruiters Notice About Your Resume at First Glance

When recruiters look through a stack of resumes for candidate screening, what is the vital information they focus upon? Answer by Ambra Benjamin, engineering recruiter at Facebook, previously LivingSocial, Google and Expedia. I think this varies from recruiter to recruiter and also depends on the role for which you’re applying. For one, I don’t look through stacks of resumes anymore. I hate paper. I do everything online. But I’ll highlight briefly how I personally absorb a resume. I should preface this by saying that I primarily recruit for senior-level individuals. In my past life, I was a campus recruiter and you… Read more »

9 Simple Reasons Why your resume is Ignored

A lot of people want jobs in marketing, which is great news for those of us currently hiring. However, after a decade of screening, interviewing and onboarding marketers, there are still some mistakes that I constantly see. Here are examples of some mistakes you should avoid. 1. You use a Hotmail or AOL email address Marketers should see into the future, not live in the past, so unless you’re applying for a job as a historian for 1999, I would suggest updating your email address, perhaps to a Gmail address. Bonus points if you use an email address associated with… Read more »