Is It Wise to Request Why a CV Has Been Rejected?

As an employer who receives dozens or even hundreds of resumes per month, the reality is that in most cases you will not receive a response.

Nature of the Rejection

When you state that your CV has been rejected, it typically refers to the absence of an interview call. If you were invited for an interview, your CV clearly served its primary purpose of securing an interview. This is a positive outcome that indicates your CV was strong enough to pass initial screening.

Recruiter and Hiring Manager Perspective

Imagine a recruiter or hiring manager receiving 100 CVs for a position. They must narrow the pool down to about 10 candidates to call for a phone interview. This involves quick evaluation based on the job requirements. CVs are quickly dismissed if they contain errors, missing qualifications, or lack the required experience. These are the candidates who find themselves in the 'NO' pile.

The top 10 candidates proceed to a phone interview, and from there, the top 3 may be invited for a face-to-face interview. At each stage, the focus narrows further until the perfect candidate is selected. Any lingering CVs that didn’t make the initial cut are discarded efficiently.

The Perspective of the Job Hunter

Now, consider the job hunter who might get a call or email from one of the 90 candidates who didn't even make the initial cut into the phone interview pool. How much time do you think they are willing to waste on providing feedback? Recruiters and hiring managers are busy and have limited time.

Even if five people contact them with questions, it's unlikely that they would spend much time delving into the details of each CV. They have already made their decision swiftly and efficiently. Therefore, pursuing feedback under the term 'rejection' is misplaced and may consume time better spent refining your CV.

Constructive Feedback

Instead of seeking feedback from the company, it’s far more beneficial to find a friend or family member who can candidly assess your CV against the job posting. Qualification is key; a CV isn’t good or bad in isolation; it must meet the specific criteria outlined in the job description. Obtain a third-party evaluation to confirm whether your CV aligns with the requirements.

For example, if you can find someone to review your CV and confirm that it strongly matches the job posting, this is more valuable than trying to get feedback from a company who didn't call you for an interview. Your CV dramatically missed the mark, and a friend should be able to provide this insight before you waste your time on positions where the CV isn’t a good fit.

Key Takeaways:

CV rejection typically means you didn't get an interview, not that your CV was bad. Recruiters and hiring managers are busy and unlikely to spend time explaining why a CV didn’t make the cut. Finding a trusted person to evaluate your CV against the job posting is more useful than seeking feedback from the company.

By taking this proactive approach, you can improve your chances of securing interviews and eventually landing the job you desire.