Don’t let your resume end up in the dreaded black hole again!
You may wonder what happens to your resume when you electronically submit it. Or at least you should. Because if you understand the online application process, then you can beat it!
In order to get the interview, you will have to do more than just submit and pray!
Hopefully, this infographic by HireRight will help you understand what to do and what not to do to ensure your document makes it through the process and catches the eye of the recruiter!
The application pit.
The average job posting receives 50 to 150 applications. It isn’t unusual for some jobs with some employers to receive more.
Most companies do have applicant tracking systems and many will send an automated message to indicate your application was received. But for some recruiters, the sheer number of applications and resumes to review has made it increasingly difficult to respond to each applicant.
Other reasons you aren’t hearing anything include:
- the job has been put on hold
- the time frame for hiring has slipped
- there are other burning issues in the department or company that need to be addressed first
- or maybe the employer was just fishing to see what type of talent was available.
These varying and difficult messages seldom get passed along to applicants and as a result, you hear nothing. Rude, but true.
The best way to fix the void is by taking matters into your own hands. Don’t expect a response. Instead, you could call the human resources department and ask where they are in the review process (that is, as long as the posting didn’t say, “no calls please”).
Also ask HR when you can follow up to see if you are being considered and always verify your materials were received.
Another option is to find someone you know inside the company and ask what he or she knows about the position. Be sure to let your contact know that you have applied and ask if he or she would be willing to forward your resume along to the correct person.
The M.I.A. recruiter.
A third-party recruiter’s job is to screen and present qualified candidates to the contracted employer. (They are not employees of the company).
Remember, the recruiter is paid only if they fill the position, therefore, it is in the recruiter’s financial best interest to only speak with people who are truly qualified and meet the posted requirements. If the recruiter drops you like a hot potato, it could be due to several reasons, similar to those mentioned above: the job has been put on hold, the requirements of the position changed, the company promoted someone internally or the company isn’t responding to the recruiter.
Their lack of contact doesn’t necessarily mean you are out of the running. Consistently following up with the recruiter, perhaps even varying your contact between phone and email, is the only way you’ll know for sure what is going on.
Don’t Take It Personally
As much as you may take personal offense to an employer’s lack of communication or perceived lack of common courtesy, never let it show. In the majority of cases, the representative from the company or recruiter is not against you personally, even though it may feel this way. This is business and at the end of the day, people take their marching orders from the leaders. Often, these commands do not take human factors into consideration as much as they should.
Companies operate to make money, not fill open job requisitions. And this is the very reason HR and internal recruiters have such a difficult time meeting conflicting interests. They would love to respond to you, but there are usually extenuating circumstances that make that unrealistic. Give them a break and take accountability for finding out the status, by circumventing the process and being persistent.
You’ve Made The Cut and Gotten A Call
So let’s assume that you’ve done all the right things to make sure your resume get’s to the screen of the reviewer and you get the call!
But then, nothing, nada, zippo.
You wonder what’s going on. There could be many different reasons you aren’t hearing back. And I talk about those in my US News & World Report post today here.
What To Do Before, During or After You Submit Your Resume
In today’s connected world, you MUST try and find connections inside a company you want to work for. If you have ever needed a reason to use social networks, this is it!
Remember, the number one source of external hires is referrals. Conservatively, 24.5% of companies filled jobs from referrals by employees, company alumni or others.
Before, during and after you submit your resume, you will want to search for hiring managers, not HUMAN RESOURCES, contacts. HR wants and needs you to follow the process of waiting, and you know how that works. Find people who work in the department, division or anywhere except HR.
Never Just Apply for A Job, Use the 2-Step Method, has more validation of this and links to posts about HOW TO actually search for people you know at companies.
Find the Backdoor For a Job Posting Using LinkedIn uses a real example of how to see who you know at a company.
This post originally appeared on US News & World Report
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.
