Resume Rejected Without Feedback?
Most rejections come without feedback. It's frustrating, but it's normal. You can still ask, and you can still learn a lot by reviewing the application yourself.
Review my CV / resume against the jobFirst check is free. No account. Your CV / resume isn't stored.
Why employers rarely give feedback
- The volume of applications makes individual replies hard
- Some companies avoid it for legal or policy reasons
- Often the honest answer is simply that others were a closer fit
How to ask
Keep it short and easy to answer. You're more likely to get a reply after an interview than after an application.
Hi [Name], Thank you for letting me know about the [role] position. If you have a moment, I'd appreciate any brief feedback on my application, so I can improve for future roles. Thanks again, [Your name]
Review it yourself
- Re-read the job ad and list the five most important requirements.
- Check whether each is clearly visible in your CV / resume.
- Look at the first page only: would a stranger see the match?
- Compare with two or three other rejections to find a pattern.
Check one job you didn't hear back from
Paste your CV / resume and the job description. You'll see your match score, which requirements your CV / resume doesn't show, and what to change.
Run a free checkWorks for CVs and resumes in English, German, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian.