“I sent my résumé in weeks ago and haven’t heard anything back. What’s going on?”

For many job seekers, this frustrating question is all too familiar. You researched the company, found a position that seemed perfect, customized your résumé, wrote a thoughtful cover letter, and sent everything off with confidence. You expected a response—maybe an interview invitation—within a week or two. Instead, you hear nothing at all.

While you can’t control a company’s hiring timeline or internal decision-making process, you can control how you present yourself. By making smart, strategic choices during the application process, you significantly increase your chances of being contacted for an interview. And without an interview, there’s no opportunity to prove you’re the right candidate.

Let’s explore some of the most common reasons qualified applicants never get that call.

1. You Sent Your Résumé as an Attachment When You Shouldn’t Have

This is one of the biggest frustrations for Human Resources professionals. If a job posting specifically instructs candidates to paste their résumé into the body of an email, sending it as an attachment instead can immediately disqualify you.

Why? Email attachments pose security risks due to viruses and malware, and many corporate email systems automatically block or delete them. Large files also clog inboxes, especially when recruiters receive hundreds of applications. In many cases, your résumé may never even be opened.

Always follow the submission instructions exactly. Ignoring them sends the message that you don’t pay attention to details—something employers rarely tolerate.

2. You Failed to Include Salary Information

Salary expectations can be a sensitive topic, but avoiding it altogether can hurt your chances. While opinions differ among HR professionals, many employers expect candidates to provide at least a salary range.

Saying “salary negotiable” or “I’ll discuss this in the interview” may sound flexible, but it doesn’t actually provide useful information. Employers use salary ranges to quickly determine whether a candidate is a realistic fit. If your expectations are far outside their budget, both sides waste time.

Providing a range (for example, €45,000–€58,000 annually) communicates flexibility while still setting boundaries. It also protects you from accepting interviews for roles that won’t meet your financial needs.

3. Your Résumé Is Incomplete or Contains Errors

It’s surprising how often résumés are missing basic information. No email address. No phone number. Outdated contact details. These mistakes alone can prevent a recruiter from contacting you—even if they like your experience.

Other common issues include:

• Typographical and grammatical errors
• Poor formatting that makes the résumé difficult to scan
• An unclear or damaging objective statement
• Listing what you want instead of what you offer the employer

A résumé is a marketing document, not a biography. Employers want to know how your skills solve their problems—not what you hope to gain from them.

4. You Included Too Much (or Irrelevant) Information

More is not always better. Résumés that go back more than ten years, include high school graduation dates, or list every job you’ve ever had can work against you. Including your graduation year—especially if it was decades ago—can unintentionally expose you to age bias.

Similarly, unrelated job experience, excessive personal details, or listing references when they weren’t requested can clutter your résumé and distract from your strongest qualifications.

If you’re unsure how to refine your résumé, consider hiring a professional or asking a trusted mentor to review it. A polished résumé is often the difference between silence and an interview.

5. You Didn’t Follow Directions Exactly

Employers frequently include specific instructions in job postings to screen candidates. Failing to follow them—by submitting extra documents, ignoring format requirements, or contacting the company when asked not to—can cost you the opportunity.

While cover letters are effective when sent via traditional mail, they can create issues in email applications, especially if sent as attachments. If the employer doesn’t ask for one, don’t include it unless you are certain it adds value.

Final Thoughts

Finding work is competitive, and small mistakes can have big consequences. The most qualified candidate doesn’t always get the interview—the most prepared one does.

Follow instructions carefully. Present yourself clearly and professionally. Respect the employer’s process. And remember: knowing someone inside the company who can personally recommend you remains one of the most effective ways to get hired.

Your résumé opens the door—but only if you give it the best possible chance.