5 Recruiter Tips on How To Score the Interview

Are you curious about the rejections you've been facing in your job application process, with no interviews in sight for weeks? Or do you simply want to enhance your chances for your next job application?

Securing that first interview takes careful planning and preparation. To enhance your odds of landing an interview, I will share some valuable recruiter tips for you to consider.

Tailor Your Resume

Tailoring your resume and cover letter is essential for increasing your chances of getting an interview for the job you want. Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight how your skills, experience, and qualifications align with the specific requirements of the role you're applying for.

Use keywords from the job posting and clearly articulate your value proposition as a candidate. This helps the employer see how your past experiences make you a good fit for the role, and how you can contribute to their organization. It also allows you to showcase specific skills or accomplishments that are directly related to the job requirements, making your application more compelling and competitive.

As much as you may not like this, this does mean customizing your resume for each job application to make a strong impression on the hiring team and increase your chances of success.

Lastly, don′t forget to follow the application instructions. Submit your application in the requested format and within the specified deadline. You might want to ensure you submit your application in the same language as the job posting. Pay attention to any additional requirements, such as writing samples, references, or assessments, and provide them as requested.

Customize Your Cover Letter

Including a well-crafted cover letter in your job application can demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail. It shows that you have taken the time to craft a thoughtful and targeted application, which can leave a positive impression.

Your cover letter shouldn′t just replicate what is already in your resume but demonstrate the value you can bring to the company. Use quantifiable examples of your accomplishments and highlight any relevant results or outcomes you have achieved and provide specific details to illustrate your skills and abilities.

A well-written cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants who may be submitting only a resume. It allows you to convey your personality, enthusiasm, and motivation for the job, which can help you make a memorable impression.

On the other hand, if you are unable to craft a well-written, targeted, and customized cover letter, or if you end up submitting a generic cover letter that does not add value to your application (e.g. ChatGPT generated), it may be better to omit it altogether. A poorly written or generic cover letter can actually harm your application, as it may convey a lack of effort, attention to detail, or genuine interest in the position.

Forget about fancy designs and bright colours

I generally recommend avoiding the use of fancy designs and bright colours on your resume and prioritizing readability, professionalism, and compatibility with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to increase the chances of your resume being reviewed and considered. Focus on the content of your resume and ensure that it effectively highlights your skills, qualifications, and experiences to make a solid impression on recruiters and hiring managers.

Many companies use ATS to scan and filter resumes before they are reviewed by the hiring team. These systems may not be able to properly parse and interpret fancy designs or bright colours, leading to your resume being disqualified or overlooked. Using a simple, clean, and easy-to-read format ensures that your resume is compatible with various ATS and can be properly processed.

The best and safest format I would recommend is a PDF file in portrait orientation with no more than 2 pages.

Avoid Including a Photo

It's generally best to avoid including a photo in your resume unless it is explicitly requested or is a standard practice in your industry or location.

Recruiters and hiring managers should be aware of the concept of unconscious bias, which refers to the biases and prejudices that people hold unconsciously, often based on societal or cultural conditioning. However, not all may be fully aware of their own personal unconscious biases or how those biases may impact their decision-making in the hiring process.

It's important to recognize that bias, including unconscious bias, is complex and deeply ingrained in human cognition, and complete elimination of biases may be challenging.

Including a photo in your resume can lead to unconscious bias by the hiring manager or recruiter. This could be based on factors such as your age, gender, ethnicity, appearance, or other characteristics that may not be relevant to your qualifications for the job. It's important to focus on showcasing your skills, experiences, and qualifications that are directly relevant to the job, and ensure that your application is evaluated based on merit and job-related factors.

If including a photo is a must, make sure it is a high-quality, professional-looking headshot. Avoid casual or inappropriate photos, and ensure that your expression and attire are suitable for the job and company you are applying for.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Create a compelling LinkedIn profile that effectively represents your professional brand and helps you achieve your career objectives. Remember to be authentic, professional, and strategic in how you present yourself on LinkedIn, and make sure your profile aligns with your career goals and aspirations.

Regularly update your LinkedIn profile with new information, such as new job roles, skills, and achievements. Use bullet points to highlight your key accomplishments and demonstrate your value to potential recruiters and employers. List your relevant skills and ask for endorsements from colleagues or connections who can vouch for your abilities. This adds credibility to your profile and helps you stand out.

Include relevant keywords throughout your profile to help your profile show up in search results. Think about the skills, industry-specific terms, and job titles that are relevant to your field and incorporate them in your headline, summary, and experience sections.

You can potentially boost the likelihood of receiving proactive outreach from recruiters. In fact, you may even find yourself being pursued for your dream job without having to invest much time in applying for it.

Keeping your profile up-to-date shows that you're active and engaged on the platform, and it also helps you stay relevant. Your LinkedIn profile is your online professional presence and can be a powerful tool for networking, job searching, and showcasing your expertise, so make sure you include a link to it in our job application.

Stay persistent, professional, and confident in your job search. It may take time and effort, but with careful preparation and strategic approach, you can increase your chances of landing an interview for your dream job. Best of luck!