Over the years the process of job hunting has completely evolved from the former “run around for hours handing your resume to anyone that will take it” into a much quicker and automated approach. The increase in efficiency throughout the hiring process is a result of how people present themselves and how hiring managers gather information through the use of technology.
People who are looking for a job can easily create a single resume and send a link to any interested employer through a website such as Linkedin. In addition, individuals can create a personal brand through all social media platforms to show potential employers that they are someone who belongs to their team.
On the hiring side of things, managers can easily sift through applications using new online software so they can quickly pick out a select few applicants that will be most worth their time to interview. While this new age of online applying and hiring might be efficient, the caveat is if you don’t know how to work the system you might fall behind the pack and miss an opportunity you would be well suited for. Let’s break down a few simple tips to ensure that you’re up-to-date on how online hiring works so you get that job you deserve.
It’s Okay to Change Your Resume
It’s important to remember that you’re not writing your resume on a stone slab in ancient Mesopotamia, and that resumes can change and adapt to whatever career or endeavour you are pursuing. When a company is looking for people to hire, they want someone that is a perfect fit for their vision and expectations.
Many hiring managers are now using application software which allows them to automatically filter out applications that are not relevant to the job they are hiring for. This way they can have a streamline of qualified candidates that are worth their time interviewing. This is why it is important to only express your traits and qualifications that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you should include your culinary expertise on your resume when applying for a desk job.
Social Media Presence is Key
Being in the age of technology also entails being in the age of information, especially in regards to social media. Social media is a huge part of many hiring processes because it gives employers a quick look at who you really are as a person.
It is important to be prevalent on many social media sites to ensure you are easy to find while establishing an appropriate “personal brand” that employers will find favorable. Aside from social media presence on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it is crucial that you are active on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is one of the top business professional social media sites, and many employers will not even give you a second glance if you don’t have a profile.
Diversify Your Job Application Process
While it is essential that you submit applications online, you are not limited to just online applications. By diversifying your application strategy you raise the potential of getting hired much more quickly. Employers appreciate a person who goes the extra mile in the application process because typically that translates to going the extra mile in whatever job you are applying for.
One of the best ways to gain credibility with a potential employer is to establish yourself as a captivating and overall pleasant person to work with. This can be done by meeting with potential co-workers and asking them questions about the job while also getting to know them. By establishing yourself as friendly and easy to get along with early in the application process, other employees may recommend you above other applicants for the job.
Be Professional and Polished but Not Boring and Staged
In almost any professional job setting you must be professional yourself, but it is important that you don’t present yourself as someone who isn’t genuine or even robotic. When employers are looking at applicants they want someone who can bring something to their company that they don’t already have.
If you go into an interview and respond to every question with basic and cliche answers, you will not stand out to the employer which could result in not getting the job. This is why you must learn a good balance of being both professional and courteous while also being a likeable and genuine person.
Thank You Can Go a Long Way
Many times if you have found a job that seems like it would be a perfect fit, someone else has thought the same thing. When hiring managers get your application it is more than likely going to go into a stack with several other applications for the same job. While you may be very qualified for the job, there are likely other people just as qualified if not more.
This doesn’t mean that your chances of getting that job are ruined, you just have to do a little extra to make yourself stand out among the pack.
The hiring process can be very stressful and time consuming for managers so they generally appreciate a genuine, well-thought thank you from interviewees. Try some of the following to stick out and make yourself more memorable to potential employers:
- Send a Thank You Letter or Email – Try sending a thoughtful thank you letter to your interviewer shortly after you have met with them. This can be either an email (which will typically get to the interviewer the quickest) or a written letter expressing your appreciation for the time the interviewer took out of their day to meet with you.
- Promote Yourself – Do you ever wish that you could have told a little bit more about yourself to your interviewer? After your interview is a perfect time to do that. Try sending a short email about some of your traits that would make you best suited for the job that you didn’t get to mention in the interview. Make sure by doing this you are not bragging but simply showing what you could offer to the company weather it be technology, financial, mass media, or manufacturing companies.
- Follow-Up Your Interview with a Phone Call – If you’re a person that doesn’t like writing or writing isn’t your strong suit, you can say the same things in a short phone call to the employer. It is important however to be careful to call when the employer is available and not bother them when they’re not.
By following these tips you can not only speed up the application process but also make yourself more memorable to potential employers, which could lead to you getting a job ahead of others who might be just as if not more qualified.
Online reputation management is how you are portrayed online, know your options and make sure you are covered before applying for your career.
