If you’re seeing the dreaded “not selected by employer” status on Indeed, here’s a recruiter's perspective on what it means and what to do next.
10 months ago • 4 min read
Looking for a job is hard enough when employers are upfront about the process … which rarely happens. Instead, job seekers are often left wading through boilerplate text that doesn’t actually tell you what you want to know.
For example, what does “not selected by employer” mean on Indeed? Were you rejected? Was your application terrible? Were you narrowly beaten by somebody whose qualifications were exceptional? And what can you do differently next time to land the job?
Keep reading as we explain exactly what the “not selected by employer” status means on Indeed, why it happened, and what you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Let’s start by ripping off the band-aid: If you got the message “not selected by employer” on Indeed, then yes, your application was rejected.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t reapply, but you should treat it like any other rejection. For advice on what to do next, scroll down to our section on “What to do if you weren’t selected.”
The most common reasons for rejection on Indeed are:
Here’s how to tell which one most likely applies to you.
Most job applications on Indeed have additional questions that applicants are required to answer — and if you don’t answer the way hiring managers want you to, your application may be rejected outright. These questions are the easiest, fastest, most straight-forward way for hiring managers to screen out anyone who does not meet the requirements of the job.
For example, if you answered a question like “Do you have at least 1 year of experience in software development?” with a “No,” that’s likely the reason you were rejected.
If your application was rejected in 1-3 days, there’s a decent chance it never made it in front of an actual recruiter. Instead, the culprit is probably the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). ATS may screen out your resume because:
If you think this may have been the case, it’s worth running your resume through a free resume scanner to see what it picks up. Score My Resume uses ATS technology to scan your resume and give you feedback on where you can improve — including checking to see if it’s ATS-compatible.
If your application was rejected after a longer wait (3 days or more), you probably made it at least as far as the hiring manager. At this stage, it’s worth taking a longer look at your resume to see if there are ways you can strengthen your candidacy.
Here’s what to do in the immediate aftermath of seeing the dreaded “not selected by employer” status on Indeed.
Is there a hidden requirement you missed that could explain why you weren’t selected? Maybe it was a stretch role and you just need a little more experience, or maybe you lack a key qualification. If you still think you’re a good fit, it’s time to take the next step.
You know you’d be good at the job — but is that reflected on your resume? Make sure you’ve included essential skills, experience, and qualifications in a way that’s easy for recruiters to find. Here are some quick tips on how to update your resume even if you only have a few minutes to spare.
Depending on the volume of applicants, you may or may not get feedback on your application — but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask. We have some handy email templates on how to ask why you didn’t get the job if you’re struggling with how to phrase your request.
Want to avoid having to do it all over again (and again … and again)? Here’s how to make sure you nail your application the first time:
