As a candidate, getting useful feedback during the job search process is difficult. Even after closely reading the job description and researching the organization, you don’t know the nuances of what employers are looking for and how they might interpret your skills and experience.

And when you are not selected, no one tells you why. Did an insider get the job? Did someone misinterpret your background? Or were you competing with ten people with experience the employer found more relevant? It can feel like you are wandering in the dark.

The good news is that you can increase your chances of landing the position you want by evaluating your results at each stage of the process, focusing on how your skills and experience apply to the role’s responsibilities and align with the organization’s goals. Here are our team’s suggestions for how to analyze and improve your job search results.

When You’re Not Getting Interviews

If you are applying to jobs you are qualified for and aren’t hearing back, review your resume and LinkedIn profile. How are you presenting your skills, experience, and career story?

➞ Read this for a deeper dive into how to take your resume from good to great.

  • Organize your resume with the most relevant information first and align it with the job description. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see your career progression in chronological order with dates. Include only relevant experience and list previous organizations by name. If education is listed as a top qualification in the job posting, highlight that toward the top. If it isn’t, move it to the bottom.
  • Use the language of your target organization, industry, or functional area to describe your achievements. Do your research. Study the job description, similar job postings, and the LinkedIn profiles of professionals with similar titles in peer organizations. Look for common keywords to describe your skills. The person reading your resume will be scanning for key terms and concepts.
  • Add easy contact links to your resume. Include links to your LinkedIn profile, email, and personal website or portfolio. Most recruiters or hiring managers will click to learn more if they are interested.
  • Update your LinkedIn profile to tell your career story. While your resume should be concise and results-driven, LinkedIn allows you to share more context and detail. Share your career narrative, including the challenges you like to solve and the work environments where you thrive.

“If I am reviewing a candidate’s resume and am not sure they are a great match for the job, I look at their LinkedIn to see if I can find the missing pieces. On LinkedIn, I’m looking for more detail, context about key projects and outcomes, and why you do what you do. Take advantage of the format and provide details in the about me section. Show your passion vs. just experience.”

— Staffing Advisors Project Director Lilly Khan

When You Don’t Advance Past the Screening Call or First Interview

If you aren’t getting callbacks, practice how you verbally present your skills, experience, and career story. Particularly if you have something uncomfortable to talk about (a gap in employment or a job that you held for a short time), rehearse your answers to be direct, factual, and brief—without drama or backstories.

➞ Read more about how to explain resume gaps and career changes here.

  • Develop an example for each key skill in the job posting. Use the CAR method: Context (the situation you were in), action (the actions you took), and result (the impact of your actions). Keep your answers concise. Provide just enough detail to address the question, then pause to allow for follow-up.
  • Let your interviewer guide the conversation. Stick to answering the questions asked. Avoid offering extra details or going off on tangents. If they want to know more, they will ask follow-up questions.
  • Research to fully understand the job and organization. Read their strategic plan, any relevant news articles, and their mission. Carefully review the job posting. When responding to questions, stay focused on achievements that are relevant to the role. Find more tips on how to research a job here.
  • Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse in the mirror or with a friend. Practice enough so that even when nerves strike, you can confidently talk about how your skills can benefit the organzation.

“Nerves are real—even the most experienced executives sometimes bomb an interview—so preparation and practice are so important. Even if the interviewer lacks experience, you can guide the conversation toward focusing on the right things, make a great impression, and demonstrate why your skills are a good match for the job.”

— Staffing Advisors Vice President of Client Engagement Aileen Hedden

When You Don’t Advance Past Panel Interviews or One-On-Ones with Top Executives

  • For panel interviews, emphasize how you collaborate with and support others across departments. Panel interviews typically involve colleagues you will work with. Prepare relevant examples of how you communicate across teams, keep stakeholders informed, and ensure everyone’s needs are met.
  • For interviews with top-level executives, leverage your relationship with the hiring manager or recruiter. You likely have a rapport with your main hiring contact at this point in the process. Ask if they have any guidance on what the CEO may be looking for. Most have topics they typically explore with every candidate. During the interview, follow the same CAR method, focus on measurable outcomes and impact, and keep your responses meaningful and brief.

➞ Read more guidance on how to present well in an interview with a CEO here.