Corporate Companies never look at your resume if submitted online?

There is a theme going on here. If you are submitting your resume with no response, there is something that is either kicking it out of their pool of valid resumes, or they are looking at it and not seeing the skills and/or background that they need to fill their positions.

There is nothing wrong with following up directly to HR with a friendly call or e-mail confirming that they did indeed get your resume, and that you are at least motivated enough to take the next step. Corporate Recruiters are flooded with resumes each day, and they, like you, have only one head and two hands. If their company isn't giving them the resources to reply to each submittal, then you won't hear from them unless they are interested.

As for agencies, they are paid on commission, and it's a cutthroat industry. There are very good ones, and yes there are scum. Agencies work for companies who view them as "expensive". They have to prove their worth the premium by always having a pool of skills that they specialize in available at the drop of a hat. That's why you keep getting calls. They are seeing skills that you have.

If you are not getting calls back from companies directly, and agencies are not helpful in finding you the right match, consider:

-there is something on your resume that is confusing people when they look at it. Have a professional resume writer take a look at it.

-assuming you have college in your background, take yourself to the Career Center and find out when they are doing mock interviews or resume reviews. Good Career Centers will be brutally honest and give you great tips on anything that may be an issue.

-if you are interviewing and not getting the job, then it's either someone else who is closer to the target skills and background or there is something that is turning off the interviewer. If you are going through an agency, buck up and ask what you can do to improve your interviews. Tell them you want an honest answer. Then hang on for the answer. Good agencies can sum up the problem in less than 15 minutes and give you some advice.

...More than you wanted to know!

I have found that sometimes companies contact you and hire you off of thier website and some do not. I have a friend who recently had to hire 10 customer service people and she had 100 peoples info to look through, who had applied online. Sometimes for HR people that is overwhelming. That is WHY they use recruiters who sift through people for them and give them the most qualified. I am a recruiter myself and I hate to read that you would see recruiters as a hinderance rather than a help. I would say you are right in the fact that people normally get hired through knowing someone though. Look at it like this, recruiters are someone you could know and the recruiters know the hiring people at these companies.

Hi there

You seem to be having a hard time; sorry to hear that...

Some organisations go through hundreds of resumes, therefore it does take slightly longer to process them. At times, the HR Manager/Officer will need to forward applicant details to appropriate department, again taking more time.

If I can make a suggestion, directly contact (by telephone) the person responsible for recruitment in a company and let them know you have applied. The easiest way is to ring the main company number and ask the telephonist to put you through their HR department. Once you are talking to the right person, feel free to ask questions about what happens next - in most cases they are nice people, happy to provide answers. It will also create a lasting impression in their minds. I can assure you they will remember you after that!

Another tactic is going to employment/job expo's. That way you meet hundreds of employers face-to-face, and YOU choose who is the best employer for you and your situation.

I hope this helps - good luck!