You’ve gone as far as you can in your role or at your company, you’ve dusted off your CV, and you’ve applied for a number of positions. And you hear nothing back. So, you cast your net a bit wider. And … tumbleweeds. So, what might you be doing wrong and what can you do better?
Don’t get dispirited
Chances are you haven’t applied for a job in a while. The market may well have changed since you last looked. Employers could be looking for new skills (or old skills described in new ways). Roles may have changed, and processes are likely to have altered. You might need to approach job hunting in a fresh way and market yourself differently. But stay positive — it’s not personal. And while you should commit to job hunting, it doesn’t have to be your whole life. One big thing in your favour is that you already have a job. This is attractive to employers and means you can take your time.
Review your market
Job markets are often cyclical and, if very few people are hiring at the moment, you may be better off waiting for six months rather than fishing in a depleted pond. But there may be more to it than this. If your sector is in long-term decline, then you should consider other options. Here, you want to be thinking about your transferable skills and the experience you have in your own company that translates well to other areas. Finance professionals tend to be well placed here.
Look at your own company
A lot of people think a move means leaving a business. But if your organisation is big, this need not be the case. So, look at what is on offer. If it’s a multinational, the job could be in a different sector or country. You also have a big home turf advantage when it comes to applying for a job at your existing employer — which is valuable if you’re struggling elsewhere.
Speak to recruiters
There are three good reasons to do this. The first is so that you’re on their books — they’ll bring opportunities to you. The second is they’ll be able to provide you with market intelligence. And the third is that they’ll be able to provide you with advice on your approach.
Network
Even in today’s more egalitarian world, referrals and recommendations are hugely important. So, get yourself out there and network. Obviously, it requires a degree of tact, and with some people you’ll need to be quite subtle in letting them know you’re open to opportunities. Look, too, at referral programmes — if you’re interested in a role at a certain company, do you know someone there who can refer you? A significant percentage (estimates vary) of jobs are filled via either formal or informal referrals — and candidates who are referred have a higher success rate.
Follow instructions
This may seem obvious, but a lot of people supply what they think employers should want rather than what they’ve actually asked for. So, if a prospective employer asks for a one-page CV and a handwritten cover letter, give them exactly that, even if your handwriting is terrible and you believe your skills and experience run to three pages. Particularly on oversubscribed jobs, recruiters (or their AI-powered systems) are looking for reasons to filter out CVs. Don’t give them reasons.
Update your CV
This doesn’t mean simply adding your latest achievements. Rather, it means you should ensure your CV looks like a contemporary document, not something that was written 15 years ago and has been tweaked. Remember that CVs are first read by machines and should be optimised for their algorithms with key industry terminology. You may even add video or design your CV to look good on a phone. Find some CV exemplars and ensure yours matches up. Be sure you cover all the basics, too — what are the things that every prospective employer wants to see? Here again, it’s about not giving people reasons to filter you out.
What about your social media presence?
This is perhaps less of an issue than it once was. But if you are outspoken on social media, particularly about controversial subjects, this could harm your prospects. You don’t want prospective employers googling you only to find an endless series of splenetic posts on divisive topics. It’s not the end of the world, though — a few months’ worth of less spicy posts will be enough to cleanse your timeline for most casual browsers. A more drastic alternative is to close accounts. Conversely, posting regularly and knowledgeably on LinkedIn about topics relevant to your industry is helpful.
Are you underqualified?
Particularly with roles that have large numbers of candidates, companies will adopt a box-ticking approach — and if you don’t meet certain requirements, you won’t be considered. So, ensure you have the skills and experience for the role — and that you are highlighting these and presenting them in the best possible light. If you don’t have them, you should either look at augmenting your experience in your current job or applying for roles better suited to your CV. While we all hear inspirational examples of companies taking chances on an underqualified-but-brilliant candidate, this is only likely to happen if you arrive via a route such as a personal recommendation.
Are you overqualified?
This might seem an odd question. What company wouldn’t jump at the chance to employ someone who has more than is required? But, actually, overqualification raises a lot of questions in recruiters’ minds. For example, has this person done something that means they need to leave their present role — or do they have some flaw that is a great negative? Will they be really committed, or are they applying for the job with a view to using it as a stepping stone and moving on as quickly as possible? Managers may also be wary of hiring people who are more qualified than they are. You might be able to address some of these questions. But, ultimately, you will find it easier to apply for jobs that are at your current level or slightly above.
Ask for feedback
If you’re getting nowhere, and you’re using recruiters, ask them what you’re doing wrong. They’re usually pretty good with feedback — as it’s in their interests for you to get a job. If you are getting interviews, feedback can be even more valuable in helping you tailor and refine your approach going forward. Finally, feedback can also help prevent you from endlessly second-guessing potential employers’ motives. Sometimes you’ll find you’ve done nothing wrong — you were just unlucky.
— Rhymer Rigby is a business writer and columnist. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Oliver Rowe at Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com.
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Articles
“How and Why to Add Video to Your CV”, FM magazine, 9 July 2025
“How to Find a New Job After a Long Time at One Company”, FM magazine, 13 February 2025
“8 Ways to Create a Professional LinkedIn Narrative”, FM magazine, 24 July 2024
“Essential Tips for Presentations That Inspire and Engage”, FM magazine, 12 June 2023
“5 Strategies for Delivering a Memorable Presentation”, FM magazine, 30 March 2023
Podcast episodes
“Do You Ever Feel Like an Imposter? You’re Not Alone”, FM magazine, 20 August 2025
“Levelling the Hiring Field: Strategy, Equity, and AI’s ‘Black Box’”, FM magazine, 9 July 2025
