Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired

1. Find the jobs Search all of the job boards, newspapers, aggregators, then apply online. Yeah, you may not get a call or even an email, but there is still the small possibility of being top of the pile and a near-perfect match.

2. Make a house call (okay, a homepage call) If there is one job or company that you really have your heart set on, go to the company website and apply there too. While there, check to see if they’ve listed any upcoming hiring events or local events where someone from the company will attend. Attend the event, find the company booth or the company representative and tell them what you love about the company and what you offer.

3. Phone a friend If you or someone you know knows someone at the company, arrange a meeting or at least a hand-off of your resume to the hiring manager or HR. Remember, Referrals=Good ROI and Increased Likelihood of Interview (and hire).

4. Work It Most companies do a sorry job of following up with candidates. You apply and send your resume into a blackhole. No calls, no email, nothing. If you’re lucky you get an automated email thanking you for applying. What to do? Don’t be a pest, but don’t leave it to the Fates. Search the company website or call the company to find the name of someone in HR or the hiring manager. If you can’t find either, either ask the operator to connect you to HR or Google the company and see if that turns up the name of anyone who works there. Call the main number and ask for them. When they answer, say “Sorry, I was trying to call HR. Can you transfer me?” A name is as good as a conversation. Get the name and contact information so that you can either speak with someone or send another copy of your resume and an introduction letter to a specific person. Resumes addressed to HR are basically ignored. Don’t stop trying to meet someone from the company or someone who knows someone from the company until you get your resume or your mug in front of HR or the hiring manager. Thank everyone who helps by sending a thank-you email and/or card.

5. Your Calling Card Your resume is your calling card, so make sure it’s accurate, but impressive, brief but with enough information about positions related to the one you are trying to get. Check out examples of other resumes to see what they have that you don’t. If you don’t want to chance it, use a resume-writing professional.

Leave your calling card whereever you can, but try not to spread it around too much, especially if you are trying to get land a top-level management or executive job. Resume databases are great if you are looking for an hourly or entry-level job, but no one wants a CFO from the Monster resume database (though there is an executive database). Executives need to create the effect of being very employed and desirable; newbies just need to get in front of someone who can hire them. So, submit your resume to the big name resume databases and some of the niche (devoted to an industry or type of job) ones too.