26 Nov Three Key Steps When Applying for Jobs
Are you are feeling frustrated because you are not having any luck getting interviews or finding a job? If so, I’ve got some quick advice I hope helps.
These are the same three actions I do when I’m applying for jobs. And the same advice I give when people share with me the challenges when they are applying for jobs.
1. Don’t apply to every single job out there that sounds interesting or may be the slightest fit with your experience.
It’s a competitive market out there right now. Employers can find people with the exact experience they are looking for. So, if it’s a bit of a stretch for you to be qualified, they likely won’t need to consider you.
Secondly, applying for a job properly takes time. It’s unlikely you are going to land a great job by hitting “Apply” to every appealing open position on LinkedIn. Spend more time going after the jobs you are qualified for and less time chasing after every open position.
2. Customize your resume and cover letter for every position.
Read the job description, pinpoint the key responsibilities of the position, show how they align with your experience, and provide real-life examples of the results and successes you’ve achieved in them. And do this for each cover letter and resume you submit (see 5 Components of a Cover Letter for more). Don’t send the same version of your cover letter and resume for each position. Invest the time to tailor them to the position; it’s an investment that will pay off.
3. Find a connection who will forward your information to someone at the company you are applying.
Use your network to find a person who will send your resume and cover letter directly to (ideally) the hiring manager or (acceptable second option) an employee of the company you are applying.
Please do not solely rely on submitting your information through the job portal, submission instructions, or generic “job” email. Find a real live person who will forward your info to another real live person at the company you are applying. Your chances of getting an interview and/or hired will increase simply by focusing on this important step.
There is a lot more that goes into a successful job hunt, but these three are pretty key. By implementing them you increase your visibility, demonstrate you are extremely qualified for the position, prove you have previous successes that will drive similar results, and set yourself apart from other candidates.
If you are not seeing the results you would like in your current search, I challenge you to begin implementing these three steps and see if it helps turn things around for you.
If they work, let me know. If you implement them and still aren’t having any luck, let me know that too. And if you have tips or suggestions that have really helped you schedule more interviews, please send them on over so I can share them and help others to benefit from them too.
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