[CosmicRose]

How long does it usually take to hear back from a potential employer? Because I've sent out 20 applications in 3 days and I haven't gotten a single call back.

I only received 1 call on my voicemail from a recruiter from a hiring agency, I called them back first thing the next morning and left a message telling them yes I am still very interested in that position, but that was 2 days ago and I haven't heard back from them, so that's a little confusing.

I have held only 3 positions in my life - I'm 22. Been working since my senior year of high school where I was a volunteer teacher's aide for six months, my next job was at a retail store for only a few weeks but I hated it and quit and obviously didn't write this on my resume, my next gig was another volunteer position at my mom's university where she works, I was a volunteer office assistant for a couple years part time.
Then I got my current job that I've been working at since 2013, it's a part time at home job as a marketer and customer service consultant where I make a commission not an actual salary. So on my resume I just have 2 part time volunteer jobs, and this current job as a part time independent contractor. Is this why I'm not getting any call backs?

Also, I am astonished to see some jobs out there saying "$10 an hour, must have a bachelor's degree." Wow, if I had a bachelor's degree I would never take ten an hour. But I don't even have a degree. Competition out there is fierce.

I've been applying to mostly receptionist and data-entry positions in offices and hospitals. Not even an interview offer.

[hvert]

I think it does take longer than three days, maybe more like 2-3 weeks. I wouldn't read anything into not getting a call back so soon after you applied.

[RisuNeko]

I have a B.A. and I make 11$ an hour doing something completely unrelated to my degree. And college put me into huge debt. I was super lucky to get the job I got though. I job hunted for months.

[Mrs. Mania]

I filled out an app on 7/20, got called for an interview and got the job 8/17, started orientation 9/24!!?? I was speechless, 29 years working and this is the first time this happened. Hang in there!

Don't feel bad, CosmicRose. I have been job hunting for months and have sent out tons of resumes. I've only had several interviews and no job offers. Although I really think you should bear in mind that it will generally take longer than 3 days for a potential employer to get back to you if they're interested. Best of luck to you.

[CosmicRose]

Okay, so since I wrote that post, I have now sent out a total of 35 applications, and no call backs.
For some reason the first staffing agent who called me, never returned my phone call. I got a call from another staff agent from a different staffing agency and she never returned my phone call either! After doing some research on staffing agencies, I learned from others out there on different forums that this is very common behavior of staffing agents. Apparently these people rarely follow up because they are swamped with tons of leads per day and they aren't very reliable either.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm applying to ads that have open positions, but maybe I need to send my resume out to businesses who aren't even hiring too?
Haven't landed a single interview yet

[KissedbyFire]

It usually takes at least a few weeks to hear back. HR is notoriously slow. Also, sometimes you can have a great interview and never ever hear back from anyone.

Keep on applying! Apply everywhere.

[Umbral_Seraph]

Lots of places will not give notifications to applicants until after the job posting closes and all the applications have been screened. Some places are very, very, very slow. For me it's not uncommon to be extended an interview 4, 5, 6 weeks after I submitted the application. I once had one place call me something like 3 months after! (and suprisingly this was a private company and not a governmental department)

When you're not hearing back, you sometimes need to get in touch with the company and remind them about your application. Sometimes HR loses your paperwork, sometimes the recruitment gets put on hold, sometimes HR forgets that the company was taking applications and sometimes the job posting is fake because HR is doing market research.

[Puglife]

I know that looking for a job is worse than actually having a job. Have you had someone double check your resume and/or applications to make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors? A lot of times now HR uses software which scans for key words in a resume, so having the right terms is key.

Make sure to sign up on LinkedIn and attend job fairs.

Good luck!