These are the top 4 reasons why most job seekers never get hired
Most job seekers often find themselves stuck in a cycle of applications and rejections without understanding the primary causes. In order to make it easier for them, a Kerala-based techie shared six reasons why most job seekers fail to get hired, elaborating on the mistakes that professionals must avoid making. Based on his personal experience in job hunting and mentoring candidates, Abhishek Nair listed key mistakes that prevent job seekers from breaking into the industry in a lengthy post on X.
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A recruiter friend of mine recently revealed why 90% of job seekers never get hired. Recently, over a casual chai meet, one such recruiter friend – who manages hiring for a lean travel tech startup – shared the 6 biggest reasons why most job seekers never get hired,” Nair said in his post.
Resume Full of Buzzwords: If you fill your resumes with generic phrases like “hardworking” and “self-motivated”, recruiters will not be impressed. “Instead of stuffing your resume with generic adjectives, focus on: problems solved, tools used, and measurable impact,” he advised.
Zero Personal Brand: “If your only presence online is a private Instagram account and a LinkedIn profile with 12 connections, you’re invisible to recruiters,” Nair said. Furthermore, he explained that the “easiest way to stand out” is to show your work publicly: “Write about what you’re learning, share your projects, or just document your journey – even if you’re a beginner.”
No Networking Game: You will find most jobs through people. “If you’re not building relationships with devs, recruiters, or hiring managers on X, LinkedIn, or Discord communities, you’re making your job search 10x harder. Your first 10 DMs will probably get ignored but that 11th DM could change your career,” he said.
Waiting for the ‘Perfect Job’: Delaying applications for the ‘right time’ or until acquiring another skill could be a major mistake. “Nobody is coming to save you. The best opportunities go to those already in motion, not those waiting to be ready,” Nair said.