The 5 Reasons You’re Not Getting Interview Calls — And How to Fix Them
Every day on LinkedIn, I see job seekers frustrated that they’re applying for roles they’re fully qualified for — only to hear nothing back.
And after reviewing thousands of CVs for sales roles, I can tell you the truth:
If your CV is missing even one of the five elements below, there’s a high chance you won’t be invited to interview.
Here are the top five reasons you’re not hearing back, plus a bonus tip that could transform your job search immediately.
1. You Don’t Explain What Your Company Does
This is the most common issue — and one of the most damaging.
When I read your CV, I need to instantly understand:
What your company does
The problem it solves
The market it operates in
Without this context, your achievements and responsibilities lose their meaning.
Fix it: Add a clear, one-sentence company summary under each job title.
Example: “SaaS provider specialising in workforce management for mid-market retail organisations.”
2. Your CV Doesn’t Explain Your Sales Cadence
Your sales cadence tells a hiring manager how you operate and whether your experience matches their environment. That means your CV must include:
Average Order Value (AOV)
Average sales cycle length
Your quota / revenue target
Leaving these out makes it impossible to assess whether your experience fits the role — so your CV gets skipped.
Fix it: Create a simple “Sales Metrics Snapshot” beneath each role.
3. You Haven’t Clarified Who You Sell To
This is one of the biggest red flags for hiring managers.
Your CV should clearly highlight:
The industries you sell into
Organisation types (SMB, mid-market, enterprise)
Seniority of decision-makers
Whether you sell vertically or horizontally
Missing this information means your ICP is invisible — and you’re unlikely to progress.
Fix it: Explicitly state your target markets and stakeholders.
4. Your Responsibilities Should Start With the Primary Focus of Your Role
Your first responsibility bullet point should make the purpose of your role instantly clear.
What was the main focus?
Account Management?
Hunting / new business?
SDR / BDR?
Leadership?
Customer success with commercial responsibility?
If I need to read half your CV to figure out your core remit, it harms your application instantly.
Fix it: Start every responsibilities section with a single clear statement of your primary role focus.
5. You Haven’t Included Clear Location Details
Even with remote roles, your location still matters for territory alignment, travel expectations, and salary bands.
“United Kingdom” isn’t enough.
Fix it: Include:
Postcode prefix + county
Example: “RG5 — Berkshire”
This small detail can be the difference between being shortlisted or skipped.
Bonus Tip: Unexplained Gaps Make Hiring Managers Nervous
Gaps happen. Illness, family matters, redundancy, entrepreneurship — real life gets in the way.
But unexplained gaps raise questions, and CVs with unexplained gaps often get rejected automatically.
Fix it: Add a simple one-line explanation.
Example: “Career break due to family illness.”
That’s all you need.
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