I’m going to be very honest with you: It is easier to eliminate a resume than to bring a candidate in for an interview.
Related:#1 Reason You Get Interviews But Not Offers
This may be shocking news to process, but it’s the cold, hard reality of today’s workplace. Most organizations receive more than 100 candidates for entry-level jobs and almost as many for higher-level positions. This means your resume may receive less than two minutes of consideration.
Here’s how the recruiting process works at most organizations:
Post job description.
Receive lots of resumes.
Review resumes and pick top candidates.
Schedule interviews with top candidates.
Make hiring decision and extend offer to top candidate.
The majority of candidates don’t make it past step two because there’s something on their resumes that disqualifies them from being selected for an interview.
So, what can you do?
Make Sure You’re Qualified For The Position
Do an honest assessment of your skills and figure out the types of positions you are qualified for and apply only to those positions. When recruiters receive hundreds of resumes, they are very quick to dismiss those that don’t have the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
Maximize Your Qualifications For The Specific Position
It takes time to make your resume stand out, but you need to ensure you will make it to the interview process. One way to do this is to mimic the language used in the job posting. For example, if the job description gives examples of daily responsibilities, show how you accomplished these same tasks in your previous work experience. Use specific examples to show what you achieved and how you achieved it.
Use Keywords
By using the keywords that are included in the job description, you have a better likelihood of passing any electronic resume screening tools a company may be using. Reread the job description and see which keywords and phrases seem to have importance in the position description. In your resume, include these keywords and phrases and show how you have experience in these areas.
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
Spellcheck is great, but it doesn't pick up everything, so do a manual proofread of your resume before you submit it. It may take only one typo or grammatical error to be eliminated from consideration, so take the time to do a thorough review of your resume.
It also helps to have other sets of eyes review your resume before you send the final version to a prospective employer.
If you follow these steps, you’re reducing a number of reasons recruiters eliminate resumes. Job seekers should think like the recruiter and hiring manager by asking themselves, “Is there anything on my resume that would lead to being eliminated from consideration for the job.” It’s difficult to be critical of your own work, but it’s necessary if you want to be selected for an interview.
This post was originally published on an earlier date.
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.