Why Recruiters are GHOSTING you

Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read

Alex Toth

3 Quick changes to get that call

So you're still working harder than everyone you know but still getting no results?

What we learned from last week's CV Clarity calls ⇓

The other week I looked like a Dalmatian! Remember?

I wasn't using the right paint roller. And I made a mess. I was busy and was working hard.

But ..

Without much progress and most importantly with no results. And then I changed my approach. I changed my tools ...

This is the kind of pattern I see repeated in our professional lives too.

Many of you reach out to me for advice on Systems Engineering challenges in general, and asking for tips on how to navigate the current challenging job market in particular.

Others ask me on LinkedIn. And the people I mentor have the same questions too.

So I ran a week of free CV Clarity calls last week for people who managed to book an available slot. Sorry if you missed it.

Those who didn't, went away with concrete and actionable tips to improve.

Still ..

I wanted to share with you too the main themes and Lessons Learned.

I know, I know, you may think some of this is obvious? Still, there may be someone out there who needs to hear it. So forward them this email and they will thank You!

People definitely thanked me.

Let's get into it:

Lesson 1: Use an Active Voice to Show What You Did, Not Just What You Were Supposed to Do

Many CV's list responsibilities that sound like they were copied from an internal job description. This is a missed opportunity because it’s passive and doesn’t differentiate you from other candidates who held similar titles.

The key is to shift from a task-based to an achievement-oriented CV. Instead of saying you were “part of change request management”, use an active voice to articulate what

YOU specifically did and accomplished in that role

separate from the team’s overall duties. This demonstrates ownership and provides clear insight into your personal contribution.

Lesson 2: Quantify Your Achievements to Prove Your Value

Simply stating that you achieved something is not enough. To make your accomplishments convincing and snappy, they must be quantified wherever possible.

This means translating your work into measurable and tangible results that demonstrate the value you brought to the company. The most impactful metrics are those that show cost savings, time savings, or efficiency improvements that directly translate into business value.

A powerful way to structure this is by stating you

“did something […] resulting in an X% time/cost saving”.

Using a framework like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helps articulate these quantified results clearly and effectively.

Lesson 3: Customise Every CV to Mirror the Job Description

A single, generic CV sent in mass applications is no longer effective in a competitive market. Recruiters spend only seconds on each CV unless it grab their attention fast!

So it is crucial to create a unique, tailored CV for every single job you apply for.

Your CV must directly address the requirements listed in the job description (JD) using the same keywords and terminology.

This makes your experience familiar to the reader and proves you have the required skills. The goal is to make it so easy for the recruiter that they feel like they are reading the JD in your CV.

By doing this you show them that since you’ve successfully done it before you can do it again for their company.

Instead of Conclusion

Engineers struggled because their CV's were passive historical documents rather than active and forward-looking proposals. They listed their job duties instead of their personal contributions, mentioned achievements without showing their impact, and sent generic resumes hoping for the best.

Transform your CV from a document that says

“Here is what I have done”

into a powerful proposal that says

“Here is how my proven achievements will solve your specific problems”.

This strategic shift is the key to turning a CV from a document that gets lost in a pile into one that secures an interview.