How many applications does it take to get an interview?

On average, it takes 100-200 applications to get one interview. However, with an optimized resume targeting relevant jobs, this can drop to 20-50 applications per interview.

Why is my resume being rejected?

Common reasons include: ATS rejection due to formatting issues (75% of resumes), missing keywords from job description, poor placement of key information, lack of quantified achievements, or applying to jobs you're not qualified for.

Do recruiters actually read resumes?

Eye-tracking studies show recruiters spend 6-30 seconds on initial resume screening, focusing on just 6 areas: name, current title, company, dates, previous role, and education. 80% of your resume content may never be seen.

THE SILENT REJECTION

Why Am I Not Getting Interviews?
7 Resume Problems Killing Your Chances

You've sent 50, 100, maybe 200 applications. Radio silence. The problem isn't the job market — it's what happens to your resume in the first 7 seconds.

75%

of resumes are rejected before a human ever sees them

Here's the uncomfortable truth: your resume is probably being rejected automatically. Between ATS filters and the 6-second recruiter scan, most of your carefully written content never gets read.

We analyzed eye-tracking research and ATS data to identify the 7 most common reasons resumes fail — and exactly how to fix each one.

Your Resume Can't Pass ATS Parsing

Affects 75% of applicants

Applicant Tracking Systems scan your resume before any human sees it. If your formatting confuses the parser — tables, columns, headers in images, unusual fonts — your resume gets garbled or rejected outright.

✓ The Fix:

Use a single-column layout, standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills), and avoid tables or text boxes. Save as PDF from a word processor, not a design tool.

Missing Keywords from the Job Description

Affects 60% of applicants

ATS systems rank candidates by keyword match. If the job asks for "project management" and you wrote "coordinated initiatives," the system doesn't see a match — even if you have the exact experience they want.

✓ The Fix:

Mirror exact phrases from the job description. If they say "Python," don't just write "programming languages." Include the specific tools, methodologies, and skills mentioned in the posting.

Critical Info Is in the Wrong Place

80% of resume content is never seen

Eye-tracking research shows recruiters scan in an F-pattern, focusing on the top-left and first few lines. Your best achievements buried on page 2? They might as well not exist.

✓ The Fix:

Put your most impressive, relevant experience in the top third of page one. Lead each bullet with quantified impact, not job descriptions. Name, title, and current role must be immediately visible.

No Quantified Achievements

Resumes with numbers get 40% more interviews

"Managed team projects" tells recruiters nothing. "Led 8-person team to deliver $2M product launch 3 weeks ahead of schedule" tells them exactly what you can do for them.

✓ The Fix:

Add numbers to at least 50% of your bullets. Revenue, percentages, team sizes, time saved, users impacted — any metric that proves your impact. See our guide →

Generic Summary / Objective Statement

Recruiters skip these in 2 seconds

"Results-driven professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." Recruiters have read this sentence 10,000 times. It wastes prime real estate at the top of your resume.

✓ The Fix:

Either remove it entirely, or make it hyper-specific: "Product Manager with 6 years scaling B2B SaaS from $1M to $15M ARR. Led teams of 12 across 3 product lines." Summary guide →

Applying to Jobs You're Not Qualified For

Most common mistake

"Senior" roles typically require 5-7+ years of relevant experience. If you have 2 years, your resume is auto-rejected — not because it's bad, but because you're not the target candidate.

✓ The Fix:

Apply to roles where you meet 70-80% of requirements. Focus on titles one level up from your current role, not two or three levels up. Quality over quantity.

Your Resume Looks Like Everyone Else's

250+ applications per job opening

When recruiters see 250 nearly identical resumes, they're looking for reasons to say no, not yes. A forgettable resume gets forgotten.

✓ The Fix:

Lead with your unique differentiator. What's your "spike"? A specific industry expertise, an unusual career path, a measurable achievement that stands out? Put it front and center.

Quick Diagnostic Checklist

Ask yourself these questions:

Can I copy-paste my resume into plain text without it getting scrambled?
Does my resume include 5+ exact keywords from the target job description?
Is my most impressive achievement visible in the first 3 seconds?
Do at least half my bullet points contain numbers?
Am I targeting jobs where I meet 70%+ of requirements?

If you answered "no" to any of these, that's likely where your resume is failing.

Stop Guessing. See the Problem.

Our heat map shows you exactly what recruiters see on your resume — and what they completely miss. Free, instant, no signup.

Diagnose My Resume Free

Results in 30 seconds. Your resume is deleted after analysis.

Related Resources

Eye-Tracking Research How recruiters actually read resumes ATS Checker Guide Beat the applicant tracking systems Quantify Achievements Add numbers that prove impact