So you've seen a choice job and you want to apply. Do it. But don't forget about the back door. What I mean by this is, find out who you know who works there. Yes, that requires more work on your behalf, but here is why you have to do it:
1) Your resume will be one of hundreds that need to be sifted through and possibley, no, probably will be overlooked.
2) According to CareerXroads 2007 Sources of Hire study (referenced earlier and linked as a resource on my blog) 28.7% of external hires were from referrals.
One job seeker I've been working with understands this strategy and implements it regularly. He was able to secure a job by doing just this. He found the job posting, applied and then contacted the person he knew inside the company and simply told them that he had applied for the job. I am pretty sure he told me that he didn't even need to ask the insider to do anything because once they heard he was interested in the job, they enthusiastically volunteered to tell the hiring manager of his qualifications.
You can use LinkedIn to see if you can find someone who works there by searching for the company as well as talk to everyone you know and ask who they know who works there.
It is too easy to apply for jobs, do the extra leg work to give yourself the advantage of being seen.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
