4 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Job Offers – and How to Fix It
Tips for landing senior-level management positions
Job hunting for management positions is different than entry or mid-level roles. It requires the ability to market yourself as a leader and an analytical thinker, more than selling your potential employer on your skills and experience. If you’ve been applying for senior-level management positions but are not getting any interest, let’s explore 4 reasons why you’re not getting job offers, and how to fix them.
TalentSource Pro Tip: If you have no idea what your UVP or personal brand is, the talented recruiters at TalentSource can help!
4 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Job Offers – and How to Fin It
- Your Resume is Too Much
In a LinkedIn article, Caroline DeKempe says, “Brilliant people (are) applying for jobs all the time, and they have the skills and experience that is required and yet time and time again, they get no callbacks, no feedback, no invites to an interview, nothing…”. As a senior level manager, you may tell a team that isn’t meeting goals, “if what you are doing isn’t working, change it.” It is time for you to take your good advice.
- Your resume is too long and too detailed. According to Indeed, hiring managers spend an average of 6 seconds scanning resumes. Don’t list everything you’ve ever done. Check out How Long Should an Executive Resume Be.
- Remember, your resume is a pitch letter. What is your UVP (unique value proposition), and what are the 3 ways YOU are better than the competition? This is the story your resume should tell.
- Keep the language in your resume strategic and consistent with your personal brand.
“According to the CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates during the hiring process.”
- Your Social Media Doesn’t Reflect Your Brand
The Harvard Business Review noted that 70% of Hiring Managers use social media for reviewing candidates. In 2024, 94% of recruiters used LinkedIn (and other social media platforms) to vet candidates, especially for senior roles.
Look closely at your social media presence across all platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn). Make sure you present a professional and non-controversial image. For senior-level positions, the organization is looking at you as the face of the company. They need to be sure that you align with their values. According to a recent Career Builder survey of over 1,000 hiring managers and human resources professionals, employers are looking for the following when they search for you on social media:
- Information that shows your qualifications for the role: 58%
- A professional online presence: 50%
- Posts about you by other people: 34%
- A reason not to hire you: 22%.
Resource: LinkedIn’s Career Explorer tool can help identify gaps in your profile.
Not being online can hurt you.
We’ve heard you say, “I’ll just delete my social media while I am looking for a job.” That might not be a promising idea. According to the CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates during the hiring process. The survey showed that 47% of employers say that if they can’t find a candidate online, they’re less likely to ask them for an interview. 28% of employers use social media to gather information about the candidate before an interview and 20% are suspicious when they can’t find a candidate online.
Resource: Check out this article on CareerBuilder about maximizing your job search.
TalentSource Pro Tip: Companies will find a position for the right candidate. These hidden job opportunities are the biggest benefit of collaborating with us. We also wrote a blog post about the benefits and challenges of networking here.
- You’re Not Networking Effectively
Networking accounts for 70-80% of job placements. Become known within your professional community. The easiest way to do this is through networking. Are you actively involved with the following networking opportunities?
- Industry associations, conferences, and webinars
- LinkedIn is a great tool to reach out to target companies you are interested in working for and connect with key decision-makers.
- Connecting with a professional recruiter. You’d be surprised how many openings aren’t publicly advertised, which is why working with (networking with) professional talent acquisition firms like TalentSource are key.
Resources: Websites like Meetup and Eventbrite can help you find networking events in your industry.
- You’re Not Acing the Interview
Senior-level interviews are often multi-stage processes that assess your strategic thinking, leadership style, and problem-solving abilities. If you’re not showing up with a perfect first impression, and displaying your executive presence, it could cost you the job.
We get feedback from hiring managers when they interview any of our candidates. This information is like gold for you as you navigate a career change. We have heard from those interviewing for senior-level positions (the candidate) “talked too much about the past, and didn’t have much to say about the future.” Hiring managers may be impressed with your accomplishments, but what worked back then, doesn’t necessarily apply to today.
Also, as cliché as it sounds, what did you wear to the interview? According to image consultant, Kathy Friend, “if you walk into an interview and don’t visually appear to match the corporate culture, you will not be asked back for a second interview”. 70% of employers say they consider appearance when making hiring decisions. Do research about the ethos of the organization. Kathy adds, “Not wearing the right thing, or wearing something ill-fitting not only kills your first impression but also breaks down your confidence.” So, yes, what you wear matters.
According to Tiffany Cheng in an article for LinkedIn, focusing on the role you are applying for works when you are interviewing for a middle management position, however, it falls short for executive roles. Instead of focusing on the specifics of your role and responsibilities based on the job description you should ensure that everything you discuss is within the broader context of the organization.
- Prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Practice delivering concise and compelling answers that highlight your leadership impact.
- Ask insightful questions about the company’s strategy, challenges, and goals to demonstrate your interest and understanding.
Resources: Still not nailing that interview? Add these not-to-be-missed skills to your resume, and check out the background checks employers may use before hiring you.
Landing a senior-level management position is not just about your skills and experience but how you position yourself as a leader and problem-solver. By polishing your social media presence, networking effectively, preparing for interviews, and targeting the right roles, your chances of getting an offer will increase.
Connecting the dots between what you can do and what you have done is what we can help you with. Tap into our professional recruiter’s knowledge. Check out how we can partner with you on your job search here, and see the careers we are currently recruiting for.