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Searching for a new job is a lot of work. Beyond finding job leads, you have to customize a resume and cover letter, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, keep track of your applications and interviews, network, and more. It’s a lot of effort, but hopefully lands you a great new job.

But what if it doesn’t? What if you’re doing all the leg work, yet not getting calls for job interviews or missing out on offers? Here are three potential reasons why and what to do to turn the situation around.

Why Aren’t You Getting Hired?

1. Your Resume Isn’t Formatted for an ATS

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the norm these days for hiring in many mid-size to larger companies. This means a computer software program screens your resume before a human does. As a result, even if you tailor your resume around the job and the employer, it could wind up filtered out if it’s not also formatted for an ATS.

What to do about it: Once your resume is complete and customized to the company, go through it again and make sure it’s properly optimized and formatted for the ATS. This means:

• Avoiding colors, images, tables, graphs, charts, and columns that can be difficult for an ATS to read.
• Including relevant keywords by reviewing the job posting and making sure you are using language from it in your resume and cover letter.
• Creating clear section headings that are easy to read like “Education” and “Experience.”

2. You’re Not Applying to the Right Jobs

When you’re searching for a new job, it’s tempting to apply to every opening that sounds remotely appealing. But job searching is not a numbers game. It’s about quality, not quantity when it comes to getting interviews and landing jobs.

What to do about it: First, don’t apply to jobs you’re underqualified for unless you want to take a step back in terms of responsibilities. You might think you’re a shoo-in, but a hiring manager will worry that you won’t last long, getting bored and quitting. Second, make sure you’re only applying to jobs that you are not only properly qualified for but that you truly want. This should narrow the scope of your search significantly. Then, spend more time and effort fine-tuning your cover letter and resume so it stands out to the hiring manager.

3. You’re Not Networking

Even in today’s tech-driven world, networking is still the best way to find a new job. Referrals from an existing employee go a long way with hiring managers and can lead to more calls for interviews.

What to do about it: Let those in your network know you’re on the hunt. Also, if you have a connection who works at a company you’re interested in, ask them about openings. Oftentimes, there are hidden jobs that are filled quietly through an employment agency or networking rather than being advertised.