{"id":2782,"date":"2022-10-10T11:59:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T11:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/?p=2782"},"modified":"2023-06-26T06:58:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T06:58:38","slug":"why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is It So Hard To Get a Job (Solutions + Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Searching for a job can be soul crushing. Mostly, because you may spend a lot of time knocking on closed doors. But if you are getting frustrated with sending job applications and getting nothing in return, know that you are not alone. <strong>While you may be wondering if the problem is you, the chances are that it\u2019s not your fault<\/strong>. A lot of job seekers are experiencing the same frustrations \u2014 even though they technically shouldn\u2019t. So, why is it so hard to get a job?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/jolts.nr0.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, the demand for labor is now historically high. In January 2022 alone, the United States had 11.3 million job openings. And 678,000 more jobs were created in February. This has resulted in an exceptionally tight job market: for every 100 job openings in January, there were only 60 job seekers available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This leaves us with a conundrum: there are more jobs available, but job seekers are still having trouble finding work. Why is this happening?<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"builder-button\">  \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-resume\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your resume<\/a>\n    <\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img width=\"768\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Why Is It So Hard To Get a Job (Solutions + Tips)\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job.png 768w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-50x34.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e9470a0b895\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #2c1e39;color:#2c1e39\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e9470a0b895\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#Why_is_it_so_hard_to_get_a_job_possible_reasons\" >Why is it so hard to get a job: possible reasons&nbsp;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#1_Some_companies_are_overly_selective\" >1. Some companies are overly selective<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#2_Hiring_managers_often_use_Applicant_Tracking_Systems\" >2. Hiring managers often use Applicant Tracking Systems<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#2_Employees_may_not_be_paying_enough_attention_to_their_applications\" >2. Employees may not be paying enough attention to their applications<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#How_to_improve_your_odds_of_finding_work\" >How to improve your odds of finding work<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#First_take_a_look_at_your_resume\" >First, take a look at your resume<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#Apply_for_the_jobs_that_match_your_experience\" >Apply for the jobs that match your experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#Dont_miss_out_on_networking_opportunities\" >Don\u2019t miss out on networking opportunities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job-solutions-tips\/#Why_is_it_so_hard_to_get_a_job_tips_for_improving_your_application\" >Why is it so hard to get a job: tips for improving your application<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_it_so_hard_to_get_a_job_possible_reasons\"><\/span>Why is it so hard to get a job: possible reasons&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/peter-economy\/19-interesting-hiring-statistics-you-should-know.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inc.com<\/a>, typically, a job opening gets around 250 resumes \u2014 but only four out of six candidates will receive an interview invitation. Here are a few possibilities why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Some_companies_are_overly_selective\"><\/span>1. Some companies are overly selective<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of employers may be searching for the perfect employee. You may see a hint of this in the job description that will paint a picture of a highly educated, experienced expert with a variety of proven skills in different aspects of the job. Even if such a person exists and the offered salary matches their requirements, the availability of such people is very limited.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, these days, companies are trying to get a very quick return on their investment as they don\u2019t know how long you will be working for them. Decades before, employers could hope that they were hiring a candidate for life. Now, most employees stay in the workplace for just several years before moving on to a different position. This means that the company may invest in a new hire and training and then have you leave them once you\u2019ve perfected your skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/jobs-that-hire-at-15-years-old\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1579\">Jobs That Hire At 15 Years Old or Less<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Hiring_managers_often_use_Applicant_Tracking_Systems\"><\/span>2. Hiring managers often use Applicant Tracking Systems<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to recent data, over 90% of all employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS). This type of software is designed to scan a resume for keywords that have been pre-set by the hiring manager. This helps the employer go over large amounts of job applications and shortlist only the ones that they are interested in reviewing in person. Because of this, a lot of the applications sent to HR departments don\u2019t even make it to the actual HR manager.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, if you are not fluent in <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/applicant-tracking-system\/\">how an ATS screens a resume and how to make your application ATS-friendly<\/a>, you will be at a considerable disadvantage during the hiring process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Employees_may_not_be_paying_enough_attention_to_their_applications\"><\/span>2. Employees may not be paying enough attention to their applications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For some job seekers, the answer to why they are not being hired may be in their resumes. These days, employers are looking for applications that stand out and tell an engaging professional story. Relying on old resume formats and mass-sending the same application to different employers will most likely be working against you in today\u2019s job market.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you want to find a good job, you will need to take a second look at your resume and cover letter and make sure that they effectively showcase your value as an employee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"builder-banner-top\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__title\">\n            You'll Never Find a Good Job\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner-top__text\">\n            It\u2019s a job hunter\u2019s common fear, but we can help boost your chances!\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-resume\" class=\"builder-banner-top__a\">Click to use resume builder<\/a>\n    <\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_improve_your_odds_of_finding_work\"><\/span>How to improve your odds of finding work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-1024x495.png\" alt=\"why is it so hard to get a job\" class=\"wp-image-2784\" width=\"800\" height=\"387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-1024x495.png 1024w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-50x24.png 50w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_-938x453.png 938w, https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-job_.png 1057w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find yourself applying for jobs with no results, consider taking a closer look at what jobs you are applying for and how you are applying for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_take_a_look_at_your_resume\"><\/span>First, take a look at your resume<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, things are very simple. If you want to get a great job, you need a great resume.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your current resume could best be described as \u201cgood enough\u201d, you have very limited chances for landing the job of your dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several steps to improve your resume: from <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/top-resume-formats\/\">picking the right resume format<\/a> to selecting the right keywords to have your resume noticed by applicant tracking systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-modern-resume\/\">How to Write a Modern Resume in 2022<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apply_for_the_jobs_that_match_your_experience\"><\/span>Apply for the jobs that match your experience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider whether you are applying for the right job offers. Quite often, job seekers&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>fail to choose positions that best match their skill sets. Instead, they spend a lot of time and energy applying for all available positions \u2014 with very little KPI. Other times, job seekers may select the right positions \u2014 but fail to showcase their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, even if their applications make it through the applicant tracking systems, they don\u2019t catch the eye of the hiring manager and get tossed aside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_miss_out_on_networking_opportunities\"><\/span>Don\u2019t miss out on networking opportunities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to network. Contacts in your industry are invaluable resources that can help you learn about new openings, offer references and share advice on how to get the job you want. Leveraging these professional relationships is essential for staying ahead of the competition. What\u2019s more, you can now easily network online, expanding your reach to the international job market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_it_so_hard_to_get_a_job_tips_for_improving_your_application\"><\/span>Why is it so hard to get a job: tips for improving your application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Job search doesn\u2019t have to be an excruciating experience. You don\u2019t have to send out hundreds of applications into the universe and get nothing in return. All you may need to do is simply adjust your job seeking process. Let\u2019s review how your can do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Take a look at your resume. Make sure you\u2019ve chosen <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/top-resume-formats\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/top-resume-formats\/\">the right format<\/a> for your resume based on your experience, niche and skill set. Check if your resume includes relevant keywords \u2014 it\u2019s always a good idea to go over the job description again and add the keywords used in it to your application. Do your best to tailor your application to the position and company you are applying for. Sending the same application to multiple employers is often counterproductive and will only give you a false sense of accomplishment.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Filter out the job offers you apply to. Yes, it\u2019s generally a good idea to apply for many roles at the beginning of your job search so as to increase your chances of getting a reply. However, it\u2019s essential that you go through a selection process and only spend your time and energy on the jobs that you can actually do well and that you would really want to be selected for. This will give you more time to work on each job application and tweak your resume and cover letter to the position you are applying for.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Don\u2019t miss out on networking opportunities in your niche. These days, a lot of networking can be done online. This gives you lots of options for expanding your reach and even exploring job opportunities abroad. Keep your professional social media updated and make sure they are the best reflection of your skill set and professional achievements. By professional media we mean platforms such as LinkedIn, GitHub and others. Depending on the sphere you work in, you may also be able to use platforms such as Instagram or YouTube to showcase your work \u2014 for instance, if you work in design, video editing, social media and so on.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Finally, use the time when you are out of a job to work on your application, take up additional courses to improve your skills, expand your portfolio and more. Don\u2019t let the stress of not having a job get in the way of your personal and professional development. Use this time to become better. When you are working full time again, you will look back on this period and see it as either productive and useful or a stress induced waste of time.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/career-gap\/\">There Is Nothing Wrong With Having A Career Gap<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope that this has been helpful and you now have a clearer idea of what you can do to increase your chances of getting the job you want. The most important strategy to keep to is not giving up. Search for advice from fellow job seekers and successful professionals in your industry. Keep improving your skill set and your application \u2014 and you are sure to see the results of your work in the form of a lucrative job offer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/what-is-career-coaching-and-how-can-it-help-you\/\">What is Career Coaching and How Can It Help You?<\/a><\/p>\n    <div class=\"builder-banner\">\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__title\">\n            Build your perfect resume in&nbsp;a&nbsp;snap\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"builder-banner__text\">\n            Use templates created by HR pros to make your resume and cover letter catch the recruiter's eye.\n        <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"\/goapp\/new-resume\" class=\"builder-banner__a\">Create your resume<\/a>\n    <\/div><div style='text-align:left' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Searching for a job can be soul crushing. Mostly, because you may spend a lot of time knocking on closed doors. But if you are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":""},"categories":[8,3],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0,"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2782"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6173,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions\/6173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resumekit.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=2782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}