9 Ways To Improve Your Chances of Getting the Job You Want
To Get a Job, You Have To Complete the Online Application and Hit Submit
Today’s job market is challenging. Experts estimate that an average job search can take six months or more. With Artificial Intelligence and “Easy Apply” options available, the number of applications per posting has soared, making it difficult for recruiters to discern between bot-submissions and actual candidates.
In some cases, online applications are overwhelming and seem to ask for an unreasonable amount of information.
Have you ever clicked on a job posting, scrolled down through a never-ending application, and thought, “Crud, I don’t want to spend all my time filling out this long application when I’ll probably never hear back from this company!” and then moved on to the next job posting?
You’re not the only one!
But the fact remains – the first step to finding a job is filling out the application and hitting SUBMIT.
To make the process simpler, be sure to have a generic text resume and generic text cover letter ready. Each time you’re ready to apply for a new job, open each file, and click the “rename” file. Keep the file name simple, so you can keep track. Include the month, year and company name in the file name.
The best way to stand out in this crowded job market is to:
- Use punctuation, capitalization and complete sentences when writing your resume and cover letter. You are not sending your friend a text! You need to demonstrate your written communication skills, and the cover letter and resume will be the first impression an employer gets from you. If your resume and cover letter are filled with incomplete sentences, lack of capitalized letters and improper punctuation, they will simply throw out your application, and you’ll never know why.
- Tailor your resume to the job for which you are applying. Review the job posting and look for keywords. Make sure you use those same keywords in your resume and cover letter, so that AI will catch them and select your resume for review by the HR department.
- Tailor your cover letter to the job for which you are applying. Yes, you should write and submit a cover letter. Very few candidates submit a cover letter these days, so submitting a cover letter can be a differentiating factor that helps you to stand out amid a sea of applications. Craft a generic cover letter that you can revise each time you apply for a job. When you apply, be sure to include the name of the company and the specific position for which you’re applying.
- Before you submit anything, ask a parent or a friend to proofread your resume and cover letter, and provide you with feedback. Don’t argue with them about feedback. Take their input seriously, and make the recommended changes.
- When filling out an online application, try not to leave anything blank. Fill out as much information as you can.
- Revise and tailor your resume and cover letter for each application. If there is room to upload more documents, you can upload letters of recommendation, a copy of any certifications you’ve earned, or a copy of your transcripts (report cards) if those are relevant for the application.
- CHECK YOUR EMAIL and voicemail messages regularly after you’ve applied for a job. Many people make the mistake of applying for a job and not diligently watching for an email or text reply from the employer. In some cases, you may receive a rejection email – but you may also receive an invitation to schedule an interview. You don’t want to miss an opportunity, so be sure to check your email messages and voicemail messages regularly.
- Reply to your email and voicemail messages. When you receive one, be sure to reply and acknowledge that you received it. You can say something like, “Thank you for the email you sent to me about the job for which I applied. Yes, I’d like to participate in an interview, and here are the dates and times that I am available….”
- We need your help. www.workability.one is funded by advertising agencies who pay for their clients’ job openings to appear on our job board. If you click apply and you are reasonably qualified for the job, please go through with it! Fill out the entire application and hit “Submit.”
Recruitment advertising agencies measure success by the number of “apply clicks,” which is the number of times a prospective candidate clicks on the “apply” button.
But the real goal they have is called “conversion,” which means that a candidate clicks on the “apply” button, actually completes the job application, and hits “Submit.”
We’ve been told by some of the ad agencies with whom we work that we have good apply clicks, but that our conversion rates are too low, meaning that not enough people are actually submitting applications for the jobs they click to apply for.
They told us that if our conversion rates don’t improve, they will stop advertising on www.workability.one, and we won’t be able to offer this service any longer.
So, we’re asking for your help in addition to offering job advice.
If you click apply and you are reasonably qualified for the job, please go through with it! Fill out the entire application and hit “Submit.”
Completing the application is a huge step toward actually getting a job.