Applying for your first jobs

I've applied to many jobs and heard nothing back. What should I change?

Review your targeting, your resume and your channels one by one. No responses usually means something in the process is not working, not that you are unemployable.

Check these:

  • Targeting: are you applying for roles that match your degree, skills and location? Are many asking for experience you do not have?
  • Resume: is it tailored, specific and readable? Does it use the advert's key terms honestly? Is the PDF text selectable and the layout simple?
  • Channels: are you only using one job site? Try careers services, agencies, referrals and direct applications.
  • Volume and timing: are you applying soon after roles are posted?

Ask a careers adviser, a recruiter or someone working in your target field to review your resume. Run it through an ATS-readiness check to catch structural issues, keeping in mind that the score is an estimate, not a prediction. Then change one or two things at a time and track whether responses improve.

Reviewed · by the ResumeBuilder.ae editorial team

See all answers about applying for your first jobs

Templates to try

Free to edit and preview. Single-column layouts are the safest choice for applicant tracking systems.

Graduate Resume

Single column

Use this template: Graduate Resume

Student Resume

Single column

Use this template: Student Resume

ATS Classic

Single column

Use this template: ATS Classic

General guidance for job seekers, not legal or immigration advice. Employers and applicant tracking systems differ, so always follow the instructions in the job advert. Spotted a mistake? Email support@jobb.ae.

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