5 Things You Shouldn’t Have to Deal With in Your Job Search—But Probably Are
Vaclav Koranda, SHRM-SCP
CHRO of the Year | Influential HR Leader | Adjunct Professor | Professional Speaker | Coach | Trainer | Book Author
Job searching is not an easy feat. All the research and preparation, crafting an impactful resume, and nailing several rounds of interviews, all take energy, patience, and determination. But unfortunately, the modern day job search experience is riddled with many obstacles that—if you aren’t prepared for them—can shake your confidence or make you question the entire process. Here are the five most common of these frustrations, along with explanations that may help you understand what is happening behind the scenes. For each, I’ve also added ways to manage them and keep your spirits high. And believe me or not, I have experienced them all personally. Hopefully, this resonates with anyone who has encountered the same.
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1. Being Ghosted After a Final Interview
You’ve gone through multiple rounds, perhaps even meeting with senior leaders and potential coworkers, and felt like you nailed every interview. Then, you hear nothing. Days turn into weeks with no response from the recruiter or hiring manager. Being ghosted is frustrating, but being ghosted after the final interview is one of the most discouraging experiences in job hunting. It leaves you in the dark, uncertain whether to move on or hold out hope.
Why it happens: Companies often advance up to three candidates to the final stage. Even if you perform exceptionally well in every assessment, skill test, and interview, there may still be two other candidates who did the same. When recruiters remain silent, it’s often because you’re not their top choice, but they don’t want to reject you outright in case their #1 candidate falls through. Other reasons may also come into play occasionally, such as the company pausing or canceling the hiring process due to internal changes, etc.
How to handle it: Remind yourself that being ghosted isn’t a reflection of your qualifications or value. To regain a sense of control, continue your job search and treat each opportunity as uncertain until you have a signed offer in hand. If you want to follow up, consider sending a polite email after one or two weeks, reiterating your interest and asking for an update.
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2. Not Getting Clear Feedback on Why You Weren’t Selected
Being rejected is never easy. After investing time and effort in the recruitment process, you naturally want constructive feedback to help you improve for future interviews. Yet, most companies only offer vague responses like, “We went with a candidate who was a better fit” (which may be true but doesn’t tell you much) or avoid giving feedback altogether.
Why it happens: Companies are often reluctant to provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful candidates, and many have strict no-feedback policies. This hesitancy is often due to past experiences with candidates who became overly persistent, trying to argue their way back into consideration. Additionally, in countries with overprotective employment laws, giving too much detail can expose the company to legal risks.
How to handle it: Remember, every interview is valuable practice that strengthens your skills. To move forward constructively, ask for feedback as diplomatically as possible, focusing on areas where you could improve. If you don’t receive a reply, I recommend seeking advice from mentors or qualified career coaches who can help you identify areas for improvement and work with you on them. If you applied through a recruitment agency or a headhunter, consider reaching out to them for feedback as well.
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3. Seeing the Same Role Re-Advertised Without Any Word Back on Your Application
Few things sting more than seeing a job you applied for re-posted online without any response to your application. It can make you question whether your resume was even reviewed, if there was an undisclosed reason you weren’t selected, or if their recruitment process is simply flawed. This situation can feel like a rejection with an added dose of frustration.
Why it happens: There are several reasons why a role might be re-advertised even after you've applied. Sometimes, hiring managers aren’t fully satisfied with the initial pool of candidates, or the ideal candidate backed out, so they re-open the search to attract more applicants. It could also be a timing issue; budgets or business priorities may have changed temporarily, causing a delay, so the company re-lists the position when they’re ready to proceed.
In other cases, re-advertising a role is just standard practice for certain companies. They keep roles open continuously to build a pipeline of candidates, especially for positions that experience high turnover. Lastly, internal reorganization or changes in the role requirements can also prompt companies to re-list the position to ensure the right fit.
How to handle it: Rather than viewing this as a failure, see it as a chance to try again. Roles are often re-advertised due to shifting needs or internal changes. It’s also possible your resume got lost in the process, even if you were a strong candidate. Reapply with an updated, tailored resume formatted for ATS compatibility. You might also consider reaching out to the recruiter or hiring manager to express your continued interest and ask if they need any additional information. However, if you feel the role might not be the best fit, it could be wise to focus your energy on opportunities that better align with your skills and values.
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4. Navigating the Thicket of Automated Application Tracking Systems (ATS)
Job portals and company websites often use software tools to automate candidate processing. Typically, you’re required to create an account, upload your resume and cover letter, and then re-enter details about your qualifications, experience, and motivation for applying—even though much of this information is already on your resume. After all that, you may receive a generic rejection letter with no insight into what went wrong. As a result, ATS systems can feel like a “black box” you need to hack just to get noticed.
Why it happens: Highly successful and attractive companies often receive dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of applications per every vacancy. Believe it or not, a large portion of these applicants don’t even meet the job’s basic criteria. Manually sifting through all applications to find the top 5-10 candidates would be overwhelming for human recruiters, so they use automation to streamline the process, filter out irrelevant applications, and manage internal workflows more efficiently. For accurate processing, most ATS systems require candidates to input information about education, skills, and experience into defined database fields, allowing the system to parse and rank applications. If you pass the initial screening, your carefully crafted resume and cover letter will then get the attention it deserves from a human recruiter or hiring manager.
How to handle it: To improve your chances with ATS, it’s important to optimize your resume formatting. Keep it simple and straightforward so the software can read it correctly. Tailor your resume to each job description by including relevant keywords from the job posting—these are often the skills and qualifications listed in the ad. Make sure to complete every required field in the application form carefully, even if it seems repetitive. Additionally, whenever possible, seek referrals within the company. Having a contact inside can help get your resume noticed more quickly and move forward in the process.
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5. Unclear Expectations or Job Requirements That Shift Mid-Way
You applied for a role based on a clear job description and believed you were a great fit, only to find that the responsibilities or required qualifications changed midway through the interview process. This can be incredibly frustrating because it feels like the job is moving away from you after you’ve already invested time and effort. You may begin to question whether your experience still aligns with the role or if the company itself knows what it’s looking for.
Why it happens: Changes to job descriptions during the hiring process often reflect evolving business needs. Factors like sudden budget cuts, internal restructuring, or shifts in the business environment can lead to changes in the role’s scope. Sometimes, hiring managers gain new insights about the role through interviews and adjust the qualifications or responsibilities accordingly.
How to handle it: Listen carefully throughout the recruitment process and stay alert to any deviations from the original job description or from how you envision the role. Stay flexible and remember that hiring can be a learning process for companies, too. If the new requirements still align with your skills and career goals, reaffirm your interest by emphasizing how you meet the revised expectations. If the changes don’t suit your strengths or long-term plans, consider focusing your efforts on other opportunities that better match your abilities. Alternatively, ask if there might be other roles within the organization that align more closely with your original skill set. Remember, mismatched expectations are common and aren’t necessarily a reflection of your candidacy.
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Conclusion
Navigating these setbacks with resilience and a plan can help you stay focused and keep your morale intact. Remember, you’re not alone—many others face similar hurdles in the job search process. By sharing your experiences, you might find a supportive community of people who can relate, empathize, and perhaps offer insights or tips that make your search just a little bit easier.
And don’t forget to download my free Resilience Tools Worksheet, which will further support you in maintaining motivation and resilience during your job search journey.
Good luck!
Do you need my personal assistance? Simply send me your resume and a link to your LinkedIn profile at vaclav@getyourdreamjob.co and I will come back to you!