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

Graduate Resume
Single column

Student Resume
Single column

ATS Classic
Single column
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.
Ready to build your resume?
Start with a sample or a blank page. No sign-up needed. Free to edit; US$1.00 only if you download a PDF.
