| We do it all the time. When we're ready for a job | | | | meet the specific requirements the employer is |
| change we go online to search for a better job. | | | | posting in the job. Usually, if an employer post a |
| You go to your favorite job board or employer's | | | | skill is required you can bet you need that skill to |
| site, find a job that fits you perfectly, and submit | | | | be considered for the job. Make sure you are fully |
| your resume and nothing happens. | | | | qualified for the position. |
| Just a typical online job hunting experience that | | | | •Follow the resume submission |
| we're all used to. You are now in the Bermuda | | | | instructions perfectly. If an employer asks you to |
| Triangle of job hunting, sending your resume into | | | | only apply online through the job board or attach |
| the unknown digital zone that goes in and never | | | | your resume in word format then do so, don't |
| comes back. | | | | copy and paste your resume in the body of the |
| So, what can you do to improve your odds of | | | | email. |
| receiving that next step of the employer | | | | Step 2: Network your way into the new job and |
| contacting you for the job interview? First, it's | | | | company |
| important to understand what's happening on the | | | | •Find out if any of your friends work for |
| employer's end. Employers nowadays will receive | | | | the company you are applying to. You can do this |
| hundreds to thousands of resumes after posting | | | | by calling them or shooting them an e-mail. |
| a job in any given week. Their computers and | | | | •Check with your local business |
| networks are overwhelmed from the entourage | | | | associations or professional organizations to see if |
| of resumes that are pouring into their email and | | | | they have a message board or forum where you |
| HR application management software. | | | | post your questions. |
| Some employers have the technology that can | | | | •If you still come up empty handed, |
| handle all the resumes pouring in and those are | | | | search for the names of people in the HR |
| the ones that you will get an auto-responder | | | | department on the company's website. Then try |
| message stating that they have received your | | | | to Google them or scour the internet to find a |
| resume and will contact you if they want to | | | | way to contact them. |
| schedule you for a job interview. Other | | | | •After you've networked to someone |
| employers don't, their Human Resources | | | | that works for that company, send them an |
| departments have been downsized or their | | | | email explaining your desire to work there and |
| budgets have been cut so much they can't even | | | | ask them if they can forward your resume to |
| afford a computer. | | | | the department hiring manager or to the HR |
| Does that mean you shouldn't even bother | | | | department. |
| applying for the job? Of course not. There are | | | | In today's tough economy and competition for |
| thousands of new jobs posted daily on job | | | | jobs, it's hard to just get an interview. To make |
| boards. To help increase your chances of success | | | | sure your resume doesn't get lost amongst the |
| begin the "Job Application Tango." Here's how: | | | | thousands of other job seeker resumes, practice |
| Step 1: Submit your resume properly | | | | the "job application tango." It takes a little more |
| •Don't apply for jobs where you don't | | | | time and effort, but is sure to pay off eventually. |