Why You’re Not Hearing Back from Recruiters as a Fresher (And How to Fix It)

Most fresher applications don’t even make it past the first filter. This newsletter shows you how to get noticed and actually land interviews.

Juned Khatri

Jun 09, 2025

Hi There,

If you’re a fresher applying to jobs and hearing nothing back, not even a rejection, you’re not alone.

You might be thinking:
"I’ve applied to 100+ jobs."
"My resume is decent."
"I’ve done everything I was told to do."

Still, no replies. No interviews. Just silence.

Let’s break this down into two parts.
First, why most freshers never hear back.
Then, how you can avoid that and actually get noticed.

Part 1: Why Most Freshers Never Hear Back from Recruiters

This is not about how good or bad your profile is.
It’s about how overwhelmed the system is.

For any fresher role we post, we usually receive 2,200 to 3,000 applications in a week.
Most of them come from LinkedIn Easy Apply.

Here’s what happens next:

Only 30 to 50 applications are shortlisted
15 to 20 candidates get interviews
1 or 2 candidates get hired

The rest? No one even looks at them.

The reason is simple. Recruiters use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that filters resumes based on a degree, college or any other criteria that suits their requirement. There’s no time to go through every profile manually.

As recruiters, we are expected to close roles quickly and hire strong candidates. That means we focus on the profiles that are surfaced early or come through referrals. Not because we don’t care, but because of how the system works.

And in a fresher market, the number of applicants is far greater than the number of roles available. The odds are tough, but they’re not impossible.

Part 2: How to Avoid That and Actually Get Noticed

You can’t control the demand.
But you can increase your chances of being seen.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Apply beyond LinkedIn

Don’t rely only on Easy Apply.
Find the job on the company’s website, startup job boards, or other portals.
The smaller the applicant pool, the higher your chances of being seen.

2. Cold email or message recruiters

Find the recruiter or hiring manager’s email.
Use tools like:

Once you have the contact:

Mention the role you applied for
Add 2 to 3 lines on why you're a good fit
Keep it short and clear
Link your resume or portfolio

You can also send a short, thoughtful message on LinkedIn. Most people don’t do this, which makes it more effective.

3. Reach out to employees in similar roles

Don’t only message HR or recruiters.
Reach out to 3 to 5 people who are already in the role you’re applying for.

Here’s why this works:

They know what the job actually involves
They might refer you if they relate to your background
You’ll stand out as someone who made the effort

Keep it simple. Mention the role, say you admire their work or team, and politely ask if they’re open to referring you.

4. Ask for referrals and follow up

Referrals are one of the most reliable ways to get noticed.
Reach out to:

Friends
Seniors
Alumni from your college

Ask them to refer you for a specific role.
If they say no, ask if they know someone else who is hiring.
Make a small tracker with names, dates, and follow-ups.

People are busy. Following up increases your chances of getting a reply.

5. Build your online presence

You don’t need thousands of followers.
You just need to be visible.

Start by:

Posting about what you’re learning on LinkedIn
Writing short blogs on Medium, Substack, or Hashnode
Commenting on posts from people and companies you’re interested in

Sometimes, recruiters come across profiles by accident. A single post could make you stand out.

Final Thoughts

Most freshers don’t get rejected.
They get ignored because the system is overloaded.

But you can change your odds by being more proactive:

Apply from different platforms
Reach out to recruiters and employees directly
Ask for referrals
Keep following up
Share your work publicly

Doing even two or three of these regularly can help you stand out in a crowded pool.

Thanks for reading!
I’m currently hiring for 30+ engineering positions across top startups in India.
[Explore open roles here]

If you’re feeling stuck or planning your next move, I can help you navigate it.
[Book a call with me here]