It takes about 40 online applications to get on average 1
interview. If you are submitting far more applications and have no
interviews, you are either wrongly targeting your search or you look
like a bad candidate for some reason (you may still be a good
candidate). Fortunately, once you know that there is a problem, you can
work through the five easy steps that will get most people results.
1.) Narrow the scope of jobs that you respond to.
Ironically, your chances improve when you respond to less jobs. You want to be a specialist--and the right specialist--to get the job. Ideally, you respond to positions where you can make a case that you are the best possible candidate. I've found that the best candidates find the intersection of two qualifications. This may be the right experience in the right industry (one you can show an understanding of or passion for). Or this may be two sets of experience that uniquely fit a job, like marketing and engineering, which are rarely found together. Or this can be a passion for aviation grouped with experience in administration. Notice that 'passion' can frequently be found in hobbies. Many candidates neglect the power of passionate interest in an interview.
2.) Use short clear objectives that include the exact job title.
Look over your résumé to make sure that you have short objectives that list the job title not vague statements about 'wanting a new position that uses my unique skills... '
3.) In your résumé make sure that you separate job duties and accomplishments.
Duties need to be in the short 2-5 lines after the job entry. Job accomplishments are what set you apart, have them bullet-ized to draw attention to them. Have metrics in these and make them very clear and short. 3-5 bullets--not 20 bullets!
4.) Less is more.
A one page resume will be looked at more seriously than a 3.5 page one.
Many candidates falsely think that a long résumé makes them look better, when it can simply make them look egotistical. It's harder to read a long résumé and harder to make key skills stand out. Finally, looking 'overqualified' is just as bad as looking underqualified.
5.) Always have a cover letter citing challenges that this company or department faces and why you are the solution.
Use language in your résumé and cover letter from the job posting.
Remember that the exact language in a job posting is important. I've seen candidates eliminated by a Human Resources department that didn't know synonymous terms in an industry. If your résumé is being searched for keywords, you want to use the exact terminology to have your résumé found.
1.) Narrow the scope of jobs that you respond to.
Ironically, your chances improve when you respond to less jobs. You want to be a specialist--and the right specialist--to get the job. Ideally, you respond to positions where you can make a case that you are the best possible candidate. I've found that the best candidates find the intersection of two qualifications. This may be the right experience in the right industry (one you can show an understanding of or passion for). Or this may be two sets of experience that uniquely fit a job, like marketing and engineering, which are rarely found together. Or this can be a passion for aviation grouped with experience in administration. Notice that 'passion' can frequently be found in hobbies. Many candidates neglect the power of passionate interest in an interview.
2.) Use short clear objectives that include the exact job title.
Look over your résumé to make sure that you have short objectives that list the job title not vague statements about 'wanting a new position that uses my unique skills... '
3.) In your résumé make sure that you separate job duties and accomplishments.
Duties need to be in the short 2-5 lines after the job entry. Job accomplishments are what set you apart, have them bullet-ized to draw attention to them. Have metrics in these and make them very clear and short. 3-5 bullets--not 20 bullets!
4.) Less is more.
A one page resume will be looked at more seriously than a 3.5 page one.
Many candidates falsely think that a long résumé makes them look better, when it can simply make them look egotistical. It's harder to read a long résumé and harder to make key skills stand out. Finally, looking 'overqualified' is just as bad as looking underqualified.
5.) Always have a cover letter citing challenges that this company or department faces and why you are the solution.
Use language in your résumé and cover letter from the job posting.
Remember that the exact language in a job posting is important. I've seen candidates eliminated by a Human Resources department that didn't know synonymous terms in an industry. If your résumé is being searched for keywords, you want to use the exact terminology to have your résumé found.
Check out my Amazon #1 Best Seller Kindle book, "Make Me an Offer" available exclusively on Amazon.
I'd love to hear from you! For many more ideas about getting and keeping a job that you love, visit and sign up to my blog at http://ThinkUpsideDownBooks.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susan_Riehle/1767357
I'd love to hear from you! For many more ideas about getting and keeping a job that you love, visit and sign up to my blog at http://ThinkUpsideDownBooks.com