Your Resume Will Get You Only So Far
Understanding the Role of the Résumé in Your Job Application
The reason you're not getting responses to your applications isn't your résumé! Stop micro-optimizing it.
Over the past two months, I've reviewed hundreds of résumés from software engineers. Ninety percent of the folks who sent me their résumés already had great ones and didn't need to change a single character. Yet, ninety-nine percent of them were convinced that the reason they weren't being invited to interviews was because of their résumé.
What Résumés Are Really For
Your résumé serves two primary roles in your job application:
Initial Screening by Recruiters
Recruiters scan your résumé to see if your qualifications match the required criteria of the position. They then forward a select few résumés to the hiring manager for approval to start the interview process.
Verification by Hiring Managers
The hiring manager looks at your résumé to verify that you have the necessary experience and skills for the position they are hiring for.
There are other, less critical roles your résumé plays later in the process:
Interview Preparation
Some interviewers might glance at your résumé before the interview. Personally, I never looked at them to limit my bias toward the interviewee.
Background Checks
If you receive an offer, your résumé might be used during the background check process.
And that's essentially all your résumé is needed for.
Why Your Résumé Isn't the Problem
The current bottleneck—the single point of failure, if you will—is Step 1: Recruiters looking at your résumé. Because there are so many applicants right now, recruiters often don't review all applications thoroughly. They just need to find a few suitable candidates. Moreover, they usually prioritize:
Referrals: Candidates recommended by current employees.
Existing Applicant Database: Candidates who have applied for similar positions in the past.
Only after exhausting these pools might they look at new applications—if at all. That's where the problem lies, and that's why you're not being invited for interviews.
How to Solve the Issue
You can't change the market conditions.
But you can improve your own chances.
The tech job market is tough at the moment, so while you can't fix that, you can focus on strategies to get your résumé in front of recruiters.
So How Do You Do It?
Leverage Referrals
Referrals, referrals, referrals. There's no guarantee, but they significantly increase your chances. Reach out to your network and see if someone can refer you.
Connect with Hiring Managers
Even better is being referred by the hiring manager or a member of the team. This is where networking matters. Talk to people in the industry.
Be Early and Consistent
Apply as soon as a job is posted and be consistent with your applications. It's a numbers game, and eventually, you'll hit the pool of candidates selected for interviews.
Increase Your Visibility
Write a Blog: Share your knowledge and insights.
Showcase Your Work: Contribute to open-source projects or build a portfolio.
Engage on Professional Platforms: Be active on LinkedIn and industry forums.
Doing interesting stuff puts you on the radar of people who hire. This is a long-term strategy, but it's the only one entirely within your control.
How Else to Improve the Odds
Optimize (Don't Overhaul) Your Résumé
Make sure your résumé is decent: highlight the important stuff, keep it concise, and proofread it. No need to micro-optimize every detail.
Tailor Your Résumé to Each Job
Match your résumé to the job description. If they're hiring an AI/ML engineer, make your relevant work stand out. Applying for a backend position? Emphasize your backend experience. Adjusting your résumé for each application helps recruiters see the keywords and add you to their shortlist.
Be Prepared
When you get that interview invite—don't blow it. Prepare thoroughly and showcase your best self.
That's all, folks. Don't blame the résumé!
Stay curious and happy coding!
Nurbo
Psst… If you need one-on-one help with your tech interview preparation (coding, system design or behavioral) I can probably help you. Book a free session with me here: https://link.faangshui.com/book.