Boost Your Initial Interview Success Rate

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In my previous article, I discussed how to get LinkedIn Premium for free, which can be beneficial during the job search process. Now, I will share some tips to help you secure at least the first interview and stand out in a highly competitive market where you may be competing against 200 other applicants for the same position.

In this high-tech crisis situation, job demand is high, but the supply is limited. As a result, hiring managers and HR receive numerous applications and may spend no more than 30 seconds reviewing each one. Unless you are the perfect fit for the position, you are likely to face rejection or no response at all.

Effective Approaches for a Competitive Job Market

1?? Referral

One of the most effective ways to apply is through a referral. This means having someone inside the company recommend you for the job.?

It's a win-win situation: you have a higher chance of receiving a response, and the employee who referred you might receive compensation.

Imagine the HR department having two stacks of applications—one with regular applications and the other with a select few referred candidates. Easy Math!

Try to find connections, preferably 1st connections, who can refer you. If there isn’t, consider reaching out to 2nd connections. Send them a friendly message expressing your interest in a job opening at their company and politely ask if they can refer you. To facilitate the process, provide them with your resume, LinkedIn profile link, website link, phone number, and email. Making it easier for them will increase your chances.

Avoid reaching out to individuals in high-level positions, as they don’t have incentives in helping. Similarly, it's best to avoid contacting potential future team members who could be the hiring manager or your colleagues, as they might also lack incentives to assist.

2?? The Proactive Approach

While the traditional method of applying for a job can still be effective, it is crucial to be more proactive and not simply wait for a response that may never come. After submitting your application, search for the HR personnel or hiring manager responsible for the position and send them a personal message or note when connecting. Express your interest in the role and emphasize that you would like to discuss it further, as you don't miss out the opportunity.

Here's a step-by-step approach:

Step 1 - Find Clues

Check the job description to see if the HR or hiring manager's contact information is provided.

If not, look for hints in the description that indicate who the position reports to, such as "you'll report directly to the Head of the department."

Step 2 - Do Some Research

Visit the company's LK page and search for keywords like "HR" or "Talent Acquisition" to find the HR contact.? Finding the hiring manager might be a bit more challenging, but try to understand the company's structure and determine who you would be reporting to—whether it's a manager, director, head, VP, or C-level executive.?

Some profiles may have a purple badge indicating "#hiring," which makes them a priority for contacting. Don't hesitate to connect with several individuals—there are usually no limitations on the number of connections.

To contact them directly, you can use InMails if you have a premium LinkedIn account, or simply connect with them and add a note. Prepare a template with a maximum of 300 characters that you can easily copy and paste. Just remember to personalize it by changing the name of the person and the role. Mistakes happen, and you don't want to embarrass yourself.

Step 3 - Go the Extra Mile

In addition to the above steps, one of the most effective approaches is to contact them via email. Email provides more flexibility and allows you to share as much information as needed.

There are several free platforms you can use to find email addresses, such as Hunter.io, Find That Lead, Snov.io, Apollo.io, Clearbit, Name2Email, AnyMailFinder, and GetEmail.io. Alternatively, you can use an email-permutator website to generate all possible email variations and combinations. Send the emails as BCC, and you're done, unnoticed.

Step 4 - Track Your Emails

Waiting for a reply can be stressful, as you're unsure if it has been seen or not. To ensure your emails are received and read, use an email tracker like Snov.io. It will inform you if the email was opened, when it was opened, and even how many times any links within the email were clicked.

3?? Engage with Headhunters

Headhunters can be valuable allies during these times. Due to budget cuts and hiring freezes, many companies have turned to headhunters, at least for initial screening and selection.

While engaging with headhunters can be time-consuming, it is worth the effort.

Considering that finding a job is your #1 priority, dedicating time to this task becomes essential. And let's be honest, you have some time to kill, so no excuse.

How to be reconsidered after a rejection

We all know the feeling when receiving those annoying generic emails?

“We regret to inform you that we have decided to move forward with other candidates for this position.”

“After careful consideration, we have decided not to move forward as we didn't feel it would be a good fit for us at this time.”

“After reviewing your experience and qualifications, we decided to move forward with other candidates.”

“After careful consideration, we have decided not to progress with your application on this occasion.”

Receiving a rejection without having the opportunity to express and defend yourself can be disheartening. However, it's important not to take it personally. Remember that most job openings receive over 200 applicants, according to LinkedIn. Sometimes, the rejection may be due to factors beyond your control, such as timing or including timing or other factors that may or may not be fair.?

At the end of the day, we are all only humans.

Don’t lose hope, and take the opportunity to reach out to the employer through a LinkedIn message or email. This gives you a second chance to potentially catch the hiring person at a better time when they have a clear head.?

You’ve got nothing to lose!

Conclusion

Searching for a job is a full-time job in itself, and this is just the first step.

While I can't guarantee you a job, I can assure you that these strategies will significantly improve your initial interview rate. Stay resilient, determined, and open to new opportunities.

Good luck in your good, bad, and ugly job search journey!