The modern-day job search has changed, and finding your dream job (or just a good job) is about personal branding and leveraging your professional network.
Imagine you are a hiring manager. Would you be more likely to take time to interview a candidate you don't know except for what's been given on a submitted cover letter and resume or someone who's been referred to you? A referral has much less risk, and that's why networking has a higher success rate than job boards when it comes to securing a position.
This doesn't mean that job boards are dead because there are plenty of niche job boards worth going to as a job seeker. But you can't build an effective job search strategy around applying for jobs on job boards.
Here are a few other things about the limitations of using job boards when you're a job seeker.
1. Recruiters May Never See Your Cover Letter And Resume
Just because you apply for a job on a job board doesn't mean an actual person will ever look at your cover letter and resume.
More than 85% of companies are now using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to review and rank resumes according to skills, experience, and keywords. The simple fact is that companies use internal algorithms, so ensuring a strong ranking is extremely difficult. A recent HR manager told me that they get an average of 400 resumes for each position and only look at the top 10-20—meaning 380 resumes are not even reviewed.
In many instances, before a job posting goes up on the job board, it's already been shared around internally at the employer and by trusted sources. So, it's likely hundreds applied before the posting even made it to the job board.
2. Many Job Openings Don't Get Posted On Job Boards
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Big job boards can be overwhelming with job postings (both relevant and irrelevant to you). This is a similar perspective for the employer when they get an overwhelming number of applicants for the job opening posted on a job board.
It's also the reason why some may prefer to work solely with recruiters or find other means to source the right talent. If you're not networking with the right contacts, you're missing out on opportunities that will never be found on job boards.
3. Recruiters Have More Resources To Find Talent
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Recruiters and hiring managers have professional networks too! Whether it's a professional acquaintance or reaching out to their own workforce, they can put together a list of potential candidates before even posting a job.
In addition, many recruiters also use LinkedIn to find talent.
Resumes that get posted to job boards are still viewed, but there's a good chance the information is outdated, which is one reason why hiring managers and recruiters are relying more on LinkedIn where information is generally more current.
Networking is the answer!
The best way to get a job is to put together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and network your way onto that company's radar before they even post a job opening.
However, if you do want to apply for a job that you come across on a job board, make sure you go the extra mile to get past the ATS. Instead of applying to the link on the job board, do some research, find out who the hiring manager is, and take steps to get your updated cover letter and resume in front of them.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
