"The job market is chaos, applications are overwhelming, and online interviews are just weird. If you’re trying to find a new job right now or you’ve just set your status to “open to opportunities” on LinkedIn, you know all this to be true. But one thing you might not understand? The rejection emails or straight-up ghosting you’re getting from hiring managers. When facing the job market today, sometimes it can feel like you’ve sent out hundreds of applications without hearing a single response. And with the time you spend filling out applications, it can be discouraging and leave you wondering why job applications get rejected, especially yours.
With that in mind, the quality of your applications can quickly fall off when you’re rapid-fire sending out applications to so many places, and that may be the reason why they are left in the dust. To get to the bottom of it, we talked to HR Director Mairim Peraza to tell us common reasons why job applications get rejected. Sometimes, it’s the little things, from spelling mistakes or grammar, and sometimes, it’s just poor alignment with the position, such as qualifications and salary expectations. So, if you’re on a job search, pay attention because these things may be disqualifying your applications right off the bat.
Mairim Peraza
Mairim is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience in employee relations, benefits administration, and streamlining HR operations for small companies. She is dedicated in creating a positive work environment and making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
1. Spelling errors
Let’s start with the basics—a huge HR red flag is basic spelling errors. At first glance, if something as important as the company name or the hiring manager’s name is spelled incorrectly, it immediately comes across to any hiring personnel as a lack of attention to detail. Or, even worse, it might just come off that you don’t care enough to once-over your email or application. Peraza knows this all too well and notes, “I get it, my name is uncommon. But if you’re going to address your email to me, please make sure you spell my name, or any other name, correctly.”
2. Failure to follow instructions
Anytime a job posting includes instructions on what to include in your application, whether that be a portfolio, pitch examples, or salary expectations, make sure you are completing all of them. “Companies receive many applications that do provide everything requested, so if you miss something, it shows a lack of attention to detail,” Peraza says. To avoid this, all you need to do is slow down and reread the application requirements before hitting send.
3. The state you live in
It might not be something that you think of, especially with so many remote positions available in today’s job market, but even with those remote positions, jobs often will list which states they accept applications from. Peraza noted that companies are only able to hire people from states that they are registered to do business in, so if you reside in a state not listed in the job description, that will unfortunately also send your application to the ‘no’ pile.
If your cover letter has basic errors, is poorly formatted, or doesn’t effectively communicate your skills and experience, it diminishes your application’s personality.
4. Excessive salary expectations
If your salary requirements are much higher than the salary range associated with the job, a hiring agent may think you didn’t notice the range they posted at all. Or, they may assume that there is a misalignment with the position—like maybe you’re overqualified, for example. A market pay analysis is often completed to ensure a competitive salary range for any role, according to Peraza, so having expectations much higher than that (think $10k+ or more) can lead to your application getting rejected. Of course, you should do your own research, know your worth, and advocate for your skills, but make sure that your salary expectations align with the roles you’re applying for.
5. Poorly written cover letter or no cover letter
Your cover letter is your chance to tell the company about yourself! It gives your application a more personal touch and can be so integral to snagging that interview. If your cover letter has basic errors, is poorly formatted, or doesn’t effectively communicate your skills and experience, it diminishes your application’s personality. Therefore, if you don’t turn one in at all, it puts you at a serious disadvantage.
Try making your cover letter stand out by explaining why you want this job. This includes the company, its values, and what you can bring to the role specifically. If you can find the hiring manager’s name, make it out to them directly. Similarly, explain why you are perfect for it. Are you passionate about the company? Is this your dream job? This is your chance to personalize your application, so take advantage of that so you stick out among applicants.
6. Dishonesty
AI is perfect for coming up with funny poems to send to your significant other or helping you plan your vacation, but it shouldn’t be used for things like cover letters or resumes. “Companies want real, original content in your own words. HR can immediately tell (and we have apps to check for us) if your cover letter, pitches, or submissions aren’t humanly written,” Peraza said. So, it goes without saying that you should be the one crafting your documents, not a robot. If HR senses AI in your materials, your application won’t get a second look. In this day and age, using AI is one of the most common reasons why job applications get rejected.
You don’t necessarily have to be the perfect fit for every role you apply for. If you have skills that can strongly support the qualifications you don’t have, explain in your cover letter why you are still a good fit for the role.
7. Lack of required qualifications
Hiring managers know everyone wants to get their foot in the door, and many positions welcome that. But sometimes, positions require a more experienced applicant, and HR will phase out anyone without the desired qualifications for a specific role. Make sure you are checking the experience expectations, especially if there is an industry-specific skill that is required for the role (think coding, a license needed for a medical position, or a specific design software the company uses). That said, you don’t necessarily have to be the perfect fit for every role you apply for. If you have skills that can strongly support the qualifications you don’t have, explain in your cover letter why you are still a good fit for the role and how those skills would be applied.
8. Applying for all open positions
When a company has multiple positions open, it can be tempting to apply to all of them. More chances for you, right? But this isn’t really the case and sometimes can have a detrimental effect on your applications when a hiring manager sees them. “Some positions might have similar qualifications, but that doesn’t make them equal. Knowing your career path is important,” says Peraza. So buckle down and choose the position that is right for you. This also keeps your cover letter and other submission materials more unique and specific to one role, making your chances higher.
9. Unidentifiable subject line
When submissions for a company are made through emailing the hiring manager, make sure to have a strong and concise subject line. If your email lacks this, it makes it difficult for the manager to identify your application, and it might get lost like a needle in a haystack. Sometimes, the subject line can also help the company identify the position you are applying for or other information asked for in the job posting. Something as simple as [Your Name], [Position] Application always works. Don’t leave things to chance in a hiring manager’s very full inbox. The key is in the details!
If your submission appears to be a mass application not customized for a specific position or company, it doesn’t show genuine interest.
10. Attachments in the wrong format
Another reason why job applications get rejected immediately—broken attachments. Whether it’s a link to your portfolio or an attachment to your resume, always make sure to double-check that they work. “Often, the links are private or broken, attachments are too large to open, or they’re in the wrong format,” Peraza said. If your attachments don’t work, there are likely other applications that do. Try sending a test email to a friend, and see if they can open everything. Some email sites will even let you send it to yourself and open it as a recipient if you’re in a real crunch for time.
11. Application sent after posting is closed
This can be overlooked if you aren’t paying close attention, but you’d be surprised how often it happens. A big reason why applications get rejected is because they are submitted after the job posting closes. So keep an eye out for posting dates and closing dates, and make sure you don’t miss the window. If there’s a job you really want to apply for but can’t do it right then and there, set yourself reminders or note in your calendar the closing date.
12. Sending impersonal applications
Everyone knows how time-consuming applying for jobs can be, and it’s easy to mass send out a general application and letter for any position that fits your skills. But, if you are really interested in a position, tailoring it to be specific to that company and the job description elevates your application to a much higher level. “If your submission appears to be a mass application not customized for a specific position or company, it doesn’t show genuine interest,” noted Peraza. So take that extra step and create an application that is exclusive to you and that specific job and why you’d be the best fit for the role.
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.