Beating the odds of applying online to jobs
Here are ten ways to increase the chances of getting an actual interview when applying online for new positions.
1. Edit your resume before submitting it to the job advertisement. Review the exact phrases listed in the advertisement. Adjust the wording of your resume to match up the type of phrasing that is listed. Do not lie. Just simply adjust the content to be more relative to the job description.
Rank what is important as a qualification according to the job advertisement. Then re-rank your skills and experiences on your resume to match that same ranking as the job description. Something that you do well might be second nature to you and you list it low in the experience of your job. That same skill may be the key item that gets you in the door at a new company. Don’t let your original resume format hold you back from an interview. Relay the content in the order that your audience would appreciate it.
2. Find a way to match up the job listing title to your previous experience.
The job ad listing is called a “Financial Analyst” however you are a Senior Accountant. Include a new bullet point that sounds like this:
- Served as a financial analyst on several critical vendor evaluation projects.
3. Don’t date yourself by listing your college graduation date or education dates.
No one is supposed to make judgment call on whether you can handle a position by assuming your age. However it is in our nature to make assumptions. In order to reduce the chance of being discriminated against, skip the graduation and education dates.
4. Connect with employees of that company on LinkedIn
Once you find people that work at that company, send them invites to connect with you. Once connected, simply ask them if they can help connect you with the manager that usually hires for the type of position you applied for online.
5. Try to find the manager’s name and send them your resume directly.
First, search LinkedIn for the company you applied for also include the business unit or division that you believe the position would belong to. For example, a Financial Analyst is most likely going to reside in the Finance department. Search the company name and "finance." Look through the results for managers, directors, or vice presidents. Write down their names.
Next, Google the company to find their website. Then Google the company’s web address with *@ in front of the address. So if you were trying to figure out someone’s address that works for Ketchum Public Relations, you would look up their web address. The result is www.ketchum.com. Go back to google and type *@ketchum.com. The results bring up random blogs, press releases, and links to articles that contain Ketchum email addresses. You can replicate the nomenclature of the email address now with the name of the manager you find on LinkedIn and send them a direct email and attach your resume. Include the name of the position that you applied for and ask them to forward your resume to the manager that would be responsible for hiring that position.