Why your resume isn't getting interviews (and how to fix it)

If you've been applying for roles and hearing nothing back, I want to say this first: it's almost never about you not being good enough for the job.

It's almost always about the resume.

I've reviewed thousands of resumes over almost 20 years of recruiting. The same patterns come up again and again - and the good news is they're all fixable.

Here's what's usually going wrong.

Your resume is being filtered out before a human sees it

Most medium to large companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen resumes before they reach a recruiter or hiring manager. These systems scan for keywords from the job ad. If your resume doesn't contain the right words - even if you have the right experience - it gets filtered out automatically.

The fix is simple but requires discipline: read the job ad carefully, identify the key skills and phrases it uses, and make sure those exact words appear in your resume. Not paraphrased. The actual words.

Your summary isn't doing its job

The first 3-4 lines of your resume are the most read. If your summary is generic ("results-driven professional with a passion for excellence") a recruiter will skim past it in seconds.

Your summary needs to answer one question immediately: why are you right for this specific type of role? Mention your years of experience, your specialist area, and one or two things you're known for. Make it easy for the reader to quickly understand where you fit.

You're listing responsibilities instead of outcomes

This is the most common mistake I see. Resumes full of "responsible for managing X" or "duties included Y" tell me what your job description said. They don't tell me what you actually did or achieved.

Swap responsibilities for outcomes wherever you can. Instead of "managed the email marketing program", try "grew email revenue from 18% to 34% of total channel revenue over 12 months." Numbers don't have to be exact — approximate is fine. But outcomes are what make a resume memorable.

Your formatting is working against you

Creative formatting, tables, columns, and graphics might look great on screen but often break when passed through an ATS. Stick to a clean, single-column format. Use standard fonts. Keep it to two pages maximum for most roles.

And please - check your contact details are current and correct. You would be surprised how many resumes I've received with an old phone number or email address.

Your resume isn't tailored to the role

I know tailoring every application is time-consuming. But sending a generic resume to every role is why generic resumes get generic results.

You don't need to rewrite from scratch each time. Keep a master resume with everything on it, then create a tailored version for each application that emphasises the most relevant experience and uses the language of that specific job ad.

It takes an extra 20 minutes per application. It makes a significant difference.

One honest thing

Sometimes the issue isn't the resume at all - it's the roles you're applying for. If you're applying for positions where you genuinely don't meet the core requirements, even a perfect resume won't help. Be honest with yourself about where you're a realistic candidate, and focus your energy there.

If you've addressed all of the above and you're still not getting traction, it might be worth having someone with recruitment experience look at your resume with fresh eyes. Sometimes you're too close to it to see what's missing.

If you want a step-by-step system for overhauling your resume - including templates and scripted examples — Career Kit covers this in detail. It's the same advice I give to candidates I'm actively representing. You can access it at careerkit.com.au.