I’m oftentimes asked this very question; and although I’ve had thoughts on a response, I routinely keep comments to myself. A jobseeker recently resurfaced this topic, and so I thought a break in silence is finally warranted.

A good return differs between candidate, position, and industry. Although I've never seen specific stats on the subject, a good return could be estimated upwards of 20%; 2 interviews for every 10 resumes sent. Some reading this might think that number seems low, or even, high.

Compare those numbers to speed dating. Entering a room of single people, you scan the attendees. Upon initial inspection, there's likely only a handful that you'd want to sit down with — and that number may decline as you get closer. You pre-qualify people based on initial impression; attractiveness, hair style, and possibly, age. Hiring companies perform a similar pre-screening process, weaning out candidates based on reasons such as depth of skills or academic credentials. It’s the practice of screening out candidates based on initial impression and preset criteria.

Sometimes there’s more than meets the eye. You thought you were qualified based on the job posting, but those reading your resume might feel differently. Maybe the company plans an upcoming change in technology or market focus, and those details didn’t make the job posting. The recruiter or hiring manager may be looking for credentials beyond those known by the jobseeker. Open and filled positions continuously change, explaining why so many employees must revisit initially set salaries to include new and altered job responsibilities. It’s the nature of the beast: companies evolve and expand within complex environments.

Jobseekers who go about the job search process incorrectly might feel their resumes are going into the abyss. Lower returns can be contributed to the person focusing on quantity and less on quality. What I mean is simply that certain jobseekers throw their resumes "into the Internet" and sit back hoping for the phone to ring. You only need to ask a recruiter how many people without a four-year degree respond to job postings indicating "mandatory bachelor degree." If more jobseekers knew how to read effectively, it would save those in the hiring arena much time and even some sanity. It's frustrating for them. Jobseekers unknowingly put a strain on the process by haphazardly throwing their resumes at anyone with an email address and website with a submit button.

The problem with that method is the resume is oftentimes diluted to cater to the masses and not focused to a specific and relevant audience. It's a shame, really, because jobseekers metaphorically shoot themselves in the foot, destining themselves for mismatched, undesirable, and/or lower paying jobs.

On the flip side, I've seen jobseekers' returns higher than 20% within instances where the candidate is in high demand due to specialized credentials, and in areas where there's a lack of competition, and therefore, qualified candidates are scarce.

So, let’s say your return is in the toilet. There’s a number of lifelines you can throw yourself in order to tremendously help your bid for employment.

First, stop looking at your resume through the eyes of a jobseeker. It’s all about meeting the hail of each employer, and failing to look at your resume from that side of the desk is going to hinder your search.

Second, just because you see it doesn’t mean readers do. I can’t tell you how many people who’ve contacted me are clueless on why they can’t secure interviews. You may have been in sales 15 years ago, but that doesn’t mean readers go fishing for it. Take an in-their-face approach, or don’t bother. You’ll oftentimes see mention of resume management systems, but the truth is, people still rule the roost. Write for people also.

Third, shift to plan B. The problem with plan B is that it can be perceived you didn’t have enough faith in plan A; therefore, it failed. I look at this technique a bit differently. Maybe plan A wasn’t the right choice all along, hence, making plan B your true calling. Or possibly, plan B is your ticket to getting to plan A. I never understood why plan B is substandard or perceived as “less than” … that’s just silly. Plan B can be terrific and a much-needed/wanted alternative compared to continued rejection received while pursuing plan A.

Fourth, be realistic with your expectations. If you’re targeting positions routinely requiring credentials beyond your current skill set, then you’re wasting time. Time is too valuable to waste on pipe dreams. Far be it for me to squash anyone’s dreams, so if you refuse to take no for an answer, rethink your approach. Maybe an industry-entry position would be a better place to set your sights.

Resume returns vary and evolve, and focusing less on return and more on increased effectiveness will help you sleep at night … and preferably, you wake up employed.