Tips from Todd- I have sent out TONS of resumes with 0 responses- UGH!
O.k- 1st you are not alone! Second- I can help you with some pointers that will increase your odds. First let me tell you about me- I am a Technical Recruiter with 20 years of exp. who came to this site during my search. The site has been so great- People helping people! Now that I have a position, I formed a group called- Ask a Senior Recruiter anything! You can read my other posts there (I think). I don't ever email people as a group or bug them and don't want money or anything like that- I'm just trying to give back my blessings! So, let's rock and roll! There are several reasons people don't get feedback from their applications- I will cover all i can think of. Sorry if this gets long.
Get a cover letter together! Something nice and generic- there are online examples.
You are shotgunning your resume everywhere and are seeking quantity over quality. So, this is a tricky one because actually I am not against submitting your resume for a job you totally don't fit. Here's why- because anytime you apply to a position, they store your resume in there resume bank, and down the road they will do a keyword search for a position you may fit. The downside is that you will probably get calls and emails for jobs you don't fit. But that's ok- what you want is activity. Example- I am a remote recruiter who works out of my house. I apply to CareerBuilder for a remote job and CareerBuilder has this cool feature that pops up that allows you to post to 'similar' positions. Sometimes with a click of a button I can then apply to 50 jobs! HOWEVER, a lot of those jobs aren't remote and I end up getting a lot of emails and calls for onsite positions. Oh well- no big deal- it only takes a minute to get off the phone when I tell them I only want remote- HOWEVER, my resume is now in their system! But I can't believe in my heart that that was 50 good applications and be let down if they don't pan out.
Follow up! This somewhat ties into the above. Here is the deal- today's online jobs are getting swamped with everything! The good, the bad, and the ugly. To sift through all of this takes time. Help them and you! So, do this- when you apply to a position that you feel is a good fit, always write down the position number (if they have one), send your cover letter/resume, and Google the local number if there is a local office or the Corporate number and write all this down. Call them that day a couple hours later or the next day at the latest- you want to show them you have a sense of urgency. When you call them you will get their front desk person- tell them you were trying to reach HR period- don't say why! If the person who posted their job has their name at the end of the job, even better- ask for them. When you get someone on the phone or have to leave a message, tell them you are responding to the job # 12345 and the name of the position where you had applied to and believe you are a great fit. That you wanted to check with them in regards to their interview availability!! If leaving a message of course leave your number- speak SLOWLY when leaving number and repeat it. For some, this part is a little scary but don't be scared- you are just making a phone call- it's not like they are going to come and arrest you! :)
Re-follow up! Make a call list of who you did not reach yesterday and call them today. So, everyday you wake up you know you have people to call. Call them EVERY DAY for at least 2 weeks and maybe 3 before dropping them. LISTEN TO THIS POINT- in 20 years I have never not given someone a job because they followed up too much but I have not given someone a job because they never followed up- it's hectic, I'm busy and sometimes people 'fall through the cracks'- don't be that person!
Where should I post my resume and apply? The most effective sites are CareerBuilder, Indeed, Monster, DICE (if you're technical), and LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter (these are the core ones I can think of. However, more is always better if you find others). You should post your cover letter and resume to all of these sites! After you post your resume; make sure you cruise the site at least once a week- and here's why- recruiters can see behind the scenes when you were last active- keeping your resume fresh and on top of the pile. Then start searching for what you want. Always keep in mind the 80% rule- if you are an 80% fit- APPLY! or as recruiters say- 'when in doubt, send it out'!! Then go back to rule #3!
This should increase your odds substantially! Please email me with any questions. Sorry it's so long and any grammar mistakes.
Happy hunting!
Todd Tolford
Hi Todd Tolford ! Love this post and it is amazing to hear from a recruiter for an inside perspective. This is such a tough challenge for so many job seekers and I hope to see more posts from you about it. Thank you!
These are great tips Todd Tolford thank you! One thing I would add is making sure your resume is able to get pass the ATS.
f a company uses what’s called an [applicant tracking system] (https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-an-applicant-tracking-systems-ats-2061926) your resume could be slipping through the cracks.
The ATS is a program that companies use to sort through 1,000’s of resumes to find the best possible ones. If it doesn’t recognize what it needs, your resume will be cast aside and likely NEVER be seen by an actual person at that company.
To avoid being passed over, utilize keywords! These are the words that relate to the skills, abilities, credentials, and qualities that a hiring manager looks for in a candidate. When recruiters search for keywords in the ATS, they are looking to match certain concrete skills in your resume to their current needs. Come check out to see how yours match up and a list of keywords [here] (https://www.jobscan.co/blog/top-resume-keywords-boost-resume/ )!
Say for example you are applying for a job as the manager of a hotel restaurant. A recruiter may search for phrases such as “restaurant manager,” “hotel restaurant,” or even for the word “hospitality.” Recruiters will not likely look for words and phrases such as “outgoing," "hard worker,” "team player," etc.
It’s very important to remember that keywords highlight your skills and NOT your traits. Be sure to take some time to make an updated list of your keywords and add them to the work experience section of your resume!
For more tips, please make sure to watch [this short clip] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l61IGZLXRkY) as Lenin Pina teaches you how to beat the ATS and turn your resume into an interview!
Remember to keep searching for jobs [here] (https://www.jobcase.com/jobs/search) and stay positive, you can do this!
Thanks Todd, I am 55 and been out of the work force for a long time, your information has been very helpful, and has given me the guidance and push I needed to move forward with my job search.