Apply, Apply, Apply, Apply….and for what? Nothing. No phone call and no email. Not even a rejection email most of the time. You want to pull your hair out! I know because I have been there.  The first question that you ask yourself is what am I doing wrong? If you don’t have any experience, education, or transferrable skills for the opportunities you are applying for, you don’t even have to read the rest – this is the reason.
For those who have experience, educations, or transferable skills for the position they desire, I have 5 possible reasons hiring managers are not calling you. To some, these things might seem like common sense, but maybe it is not. I have seen these things many times, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to address them.

1. You resume reads like your biography. I have seen so many resumes written like it is the person’s life story. For instance, I read a resume once that said something like this:​  Once I finished my training I applied for a job at ABC Company. I did a good job for them. I did their inspections. They didn’t want to give me a raise so I left that company and went to XYZ Company. This is not acceptable for your resume. Your resume should be highlights of your accomplishments for each employer, not just a sequence of events. If you search Google, there countless resume samples, templates, and articles online.  Make sure that you search for resume samples for the current year. You can also ask a mentor or a peer that you look up to for a copy of their resume to use as a template.  Don’t steal their accomplishments – this should only be a guide. If you are still lost, hire a resume writer to revise your resume for you.  Don’t you think if you get the job of your dreams, it would be a good investment?
2. The objective on your resume is for a completely different industry and/or your cover letter is addressed to the wrong person.  Make sure that you take the extra few minutes to make sure that you are not making this mistake. Proofreading is key people. There are some hiring managers in this world that are sticklers for careless mistakes and addressing your cover letter to a person that is associated with a totally different organization than which you are applying is a careless mistake.  Luckily for you, most hiring managers feel that cover letters are a waste of time anyway so it might be best to ditch it all together.  Matter of fact, objectives are outdated as well.  Use this section to highlight your years of experience and strengths that you offer to your desired position.  Make sure to read the job description and tailor your resume to the specific job posting that you are applying – every time.  
3. Your social media presence wouldn’t necessarily be described as putting your best foot forward.  I know what you are thinking. Employers are not supposed to be looking at your social media to make hiring decisions. Welcome to the 21st century.  If you tell or show it to the social media universe, then it could possibly be seen by your future employer.  If you tend to live on the wild side in your personal life, try making your social media pages private so that those not connected to you are not able to see your content.
4. You did get a call, you just didn’t answer the phone because it was private and/or your voice mailbox was not set up.  Next time you seen an unknown number, answer the phone. It could just be your next opportunity on the line. If it is a telemarketer or a bill collector, then just hang up the phone. Just kidding! Another thing I noticed that voice mailboxes are often not set up or are full. Make sure that you set up your voice mailbox and regularly clear old messages to leave room for your future boss to leave you a message about your next opportunity.
5. You still have a ringback tone.  First of all; why?  Seriously.  If you are not familiar with what a ringback tone is for some reason; it is when a caller hears a song (instead of the normal ring) when they dial your phone number.  This came out in the mid 2000s which is where it belongs. It should be a memory.  No one wants to listen to music anymore when they call someone.  Dare I say that it is unprofessional to blast the hiring manager’s eardrums with song that YOU like.  Stick with a normal ring please. I promise everyone will like it. 

Hiring new employees can be stressful and time consuming, whether your Human Resources Department is a one person show, or more robust. Partnering with a staffing agency allows organization to quickly arrive at narrowed down list of the best candidates for the jobs available and and alleviates the stress that the hiring process can cause. According to Huffington Post, $11 billion is lost because of employee turnover each year. That is crazy! Fortunately, choosing the right recruitment and staffing firm can help your organization ensure that you make the right hiring decision so that turnover will not be a problem in your organization. 

With that in mind, here are 5 things to consider when choosing a staffing firm:

What kind of positions need be filled? 
Are you seeking temporary employees for a short-term project? Or, maybe the project is more long-term? Could it be that you are seeking a direct-hire employee? Look for an agency that offer the services that you are looking for so that they can address your needs. 

What industry are you in? 
Industry is a very important thing to consider when choosing a staffing agency. If you are seeking assistance with staffing operators for the manufacturing floor, you wouldn't want to work with an agency that specializes in placing clerical staff in non-manufacturing settings. 

Flexibility and Partnership
Figure out what you want out of the relationship with your staffing agency and be ready to share your opinions and views on the process. The agency that will be a good fit for you will want to partner with you and incorporate your ideas into their strategy in order to find the best people for your company. 

Screening and Testing
Find out if the staffing firm conducts screening and/or testing to evaluate if the candidate is a good fit for your organization. Some agencies do skills assessments, background test, and drug testing. This can be a cost savings to your company if there is no additional cost to you! 

Find out the Process
Learning what the staffing firm's process entails can uncover whether their techniques are passive, active, or a combination of both. Also, by asking questions, you can also find out if they are able to attract the type of talent that is desired in your organization.