4 Easy Ways to Get a Recruiter to Respond to Your Job Applications

We’ve all been there. Or at least most of us have. You send in a job application in the hope of getting the interview, but you don’t hear back. Recruiters don’t call to tell you if you were successful or not, and they don’t email. So you are left wondering what happened.

The reality is, a lot of things could have happened. But the bottom-line is; the recruiter didn’t find your job application to be that impressive. They didn’t think you were well qualified for the position and your CV didn’t have the direct experience they were looking for.

Not getting a response from recruiters can be annoying and frustrating. But it doesn’t have to be so. In this post, you will learn of 4 ways you can draw the recruiter to your job application and guarantee feedback. 

How to Get Recruiters to Respond to Your Job Applications

1. Make a Point of Knowing Who the Recruiter is

This can be a little difficult, but it’s not impossible. You know how you are advised to learn the name of the hiring manager so you can apply directly to them? The reason you are told to this is because it appeals to the good side of the hiring manager.

The same will apply when trying to get feedback on your job application. Your research on the name can start with the job advert. Look at the email address provided and if it includes a contact person. Then move on to LinkedIn and the company website. This is where you are most likely to find out who the recruiter is.

Read Also >>> My Proven Trick to Get Recruiter to Send You Job Opportunities on LinkedIn

2. Build a Relationship with the Recruiter

Remember you are not waiting until 2 weeks to find out if the recruiter will email or not. The essence of this post is to ensure you get a response, no matter the outcome. After identifying who the recruiter in charge of the position you want is, it is time to reach out to them.

You can do this through email, phone call or LinkedIn message. All these are considered professional and will, almost always, lead to a response. When you reach out, avoid sending a generic email or message. You want to appeal to their good side and so whatever you say must be personal.

The message to convey: You have seen an advertisement for an opportunity you are interested in and wanted to confirm if it’s still available, so you can submit an application for consideration. Since job scams are becoming the norm, a recruiter will understand why you called or emailed and some will already take you seriously. Express your gratitude for their response, and add that you look forward to a further interaction about the position.

Remember to introduce yourself officially. It helps when they want to look up your CV at a later time. If you are reaching out on email, DON’T send your CV unless it is requested. However, you can CC them when you are making the actual application.

3. Don’t Allow Your Personal Opinion to Take Charge

Before applying for a job opening, I want to believe that you go through the job description and decide that you are qualified. But what does the recruiter think? Do they share the same opinion as you do?

In an earlier post here,  we mentioned how your best is not necessarily the recruiter’s best. Just because you believe you are qualified for a position does not actually mean that you are. So when a recruiter tells you that you are not what they are looking for, don’t fight them about it. Instead, ask what it is that you lack.

Remember that recruiters work directly with employers and understand the type of candidate an open position seeks. By asking what you lack, it shows you are ready to learn more about your shortcomings and do something about it. This will make you likable to the recruiter, who could recommend you for future positions.

4. Embrace being Different

Sometimes embracing your uniqueness and not being afraid to show it, no matter what people say, is what counts. I’ll share with you a little secret.

A while back, Corporate Staffing Services was recruiting for a graphic designer and asked candidates to send their CVs alongside some samples. One candidate decided to do more than sending in samples. He sent in a CV that was written, edited and designed to match the job in question.

While others sent generic CVs with attached samples, he decided to go the extra mile. The outcome? A job interview and a job application that has not been forgotten to date.

Need help writing your professional CV? Click here for details on how we can assist.

In the End…

The secret to getting a response for every job application you make is to do more than sending your CV. You need to make a recruiter remember you. Everyone sends their CV to be considered, but what else can you do to constantly ring a bell in the recruiter’s mind? 

The writer, Selipha Kihagi, is a Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Email:selipha@corporatestaffing.co.ke 

For any queries, leave a comment below. 

22 Comments

  3. Hello Selipha,

    Thanks for the piece of advice,i have been applying for jobs but i get no feedback.Or could the problem be my CV presentation and Cover letter.

  4. Hello Eric,

    If you have the years of experience required, you can still make an application and include in your CV the Degree programme you are undertaking. Just write the degree and state (undergoing) or (in progress).

    Most employers will not disqualify you for lacking a Degree qualification. They are more concerned about your experience. And since you are already enrolled, this will be taken positively as it shows you are willing to do what you must to grow in your career.

  6. Dear Selipha.
    Thanks for the insight.
    How should I go about it when I do not have a degree yet but have more than 6 years of experience. I am currently enrolled for a degree programme 2nd year at the University of Nairobi.
    How can I apply for jobs that require a minimum Bachelor’s degree.
    Regards
    Eric

  7. Hello Evalyn,

    I’m glad the articles here are proving helpful.

    About your question, every job opening is unique in its requirements. But one thing that is common, paying jobs will always ask that you have a certain amount of experience. This is because employers don’t want to train employees from zero.

    As a fresh graduate (if I got that correctly), you should focus on internships, graduate trainee programs, and volunteer opportunities. These are the three areas you can get an opportunity to learn and gain experience. Then once you have the experience required, you can apply for the jobs demanding experience.

  8. Hello,

    Thank you very much for your kind comments.

    We just posted a new job in Finance this morning, not sure if you have seen it. Kindly visit the link below to see if you meet qualifications for the role and submit your updated CV for consideration.

  9. Hello Selipha

    Good job you are doing. I love it. Learning something new from you every single day. Keep it up. Have a question though, how can you advice me on the fact that all the job applications I get requires someone with either one year of experience or two and a fresh graduate from university.. At times am really discouraged. Please assist.

    Thank you

  10. Good morning Selipha

    A job well done. Your advice is very good and will go along way to improve job seeker’s first impression..

    Corporate staffing is doing a very good job and I personally got a job through the firm a year ago. I left the job one month ago and I am still on the lookout for a suitable opening in finance I have 14 years experience CPA K and Bcom Finance 2nd class upper.
    Blessed day .

  15. Hello Miriam,

    Yes, we usually do, but not as often. Most of the positions we usually have do require a certain amount of experience for you to be considered.

  17. Hellow, am Steven Odhiambo
    Am happy for the work you are doing, indeed you are making many to know the job opening through out the country and even in the diaspora. Congratulations.
    But i would like to kindly seek your help on the recent advertised job-Distributor Sales Representative Kisumu region. I would kindly wish if you can consider me for this since i basically understand that region well though currently i don’t stay in Kisumu. It is well of my wish that i can improve and handle sales in that locality, i have also been planning to locate to that region.
    Thanks a lot look forward to your reply.

  18. Thanks so much for what you are doing, my question is do you also recruit fresh people from colleges or universities or you only recruit those with experience only

  19. Selipha thanks for this advice and am huge fan of your articles. Am looking forward to finding an opening soon through company.

  20. Hello William,

    You don’t need to have registered. When you see a new opening that you qualify, submit your CV to the email provided for consideration.

  21. Good morning. I have always wondered whether you only shortlist candidates whose CVs match word-for-word the job requirements.

    In the real world this is not realistic unless the vacancies are meant for predetermined candidates.

  22. Selipha thanks I have aquestion an I need your advice plz.when applying job at your company should I registerd my cv so that I can be invited for the interview?

Comments are closed.