Competition for jobs is high, but there are ways to increase the chances of getting an interview. Research the company and tailor the resume to the position, have contacts within the company, clearly display qualifications, send an impressive cover letter, remove limiting words, and follow up on the application.
Many jobs are highly sought after in the modern workplace. Competition for a single position can occur regionally, nationally, and even internationally with the advent of online human resources departments and electronic applications. So how is it possible to get an interview when hundreds of people are applying for the same job?
Getting an interview comes down to a candidate giving a favorable enough impression to the person granting interviews that the candidate receives. There is no specific formula for doing this, and each vacancy will require a personalized approach to succeed. The following are tips for getting an interview that should come in handy in most situations.
Research qualifications the person you are hiring is really looking for. What, specifically, does the hiring entity want in the new employee? Research on the specific position at the company should be done prior to applying so that a resume can be tailored to the position. Search the Internet for stories of others who have applied to this company or similar jobs; talk to people currently working at the company, if possible.
Companies often make very broad qualification requests in relation to job openings, when in reality they want someone with a specific educational level or certification. A job posting for a lab assistant may read that the minimum education level is a high school diploma, in reality the person hired may just be looking for someone with an associate degree as a higher education level may require more compensation due to company standards and a lower educational level may require more training.
Have contacts within the company to help you. The old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” holds true even in the modern workplace. Whether you know people in college, in a professional organization, or are related, having someone well thought of in a company attests to your skills means you’re much more likely to get an interview. At the very least, this person can provide a letter of recommendation that will add weight to your application; at best they can talk to someone in human resources and get an interview.
Clearly display your qualifications on your resume. Don’t just send a generic resume; make sure what you submit clearly shows that you meet all the qualifications for the position. If you do not have the required qualifications displayed, you will not be offered an interview.
Send an impressive cover letter. The cover letter allows a candidate to differentiate themselves from other potential hires by specifically addressing why they would excel at the job. Let the potential employer know specifically why you are the best choice for the job and why you deserve an interview.
Remove limiting words from your resume and application. Certain words or phrases may disqualify you from a position; therefore, remove them from your resume if possible. Do not specify salary requirements unless absolutely necessary; asking too much or too little could remove your application from the pile of potential hires. If you are willing to travel for work, make a note of this; don’t mention it if you’re only willing to travel occasionally or a limited distance.
Track the app. If possible and permissible, contact a prospective employer approximately one week after the application deadline ends. Some HR people wait to give interviews until potential hires follow up on their applications, believing that follow-up proves who really wants the job. This practice was at odds with the sheer volume of requests that many companies receive, so check the job posting to see if there is adequate follow-up on a request. Don’t harass the company – just call or email once if contact information was provided in the job posting and is appropriate.
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