Tuesday’s Tips
More and more companies are making it mandatory to submit online job applications. Even if you have been introduced to the right person and have already provided them with a dynamite resume you still may be asked to apply online. Although new technology is making the process much more user friendly, it is still easy to make a mistake that just might boot your resume out without you realizing it. Tips for a successful online application submission include:
1. Keep in mind that many of the applications only allow you to have a specific amount of time to complete the online application. This is a problem if you have to go and look for documents or if it just takes you a long time to input all your information. A hint for this is to download and if possible print out the application. This allows you to fill out the application and prepare what you are going to say at your own pace and before actually heading to the company website. Once you have everything you need you can go to the application area and cut and paste all the answers, saving you time and reducing the chance for errors.
If you are able to include the cover letter in the application – do so! Your cover letter is your personality, passion and your voice. Many times there will even be a designated place that allows for the cover letter, which means they want to see yours. The same goes for the reference area, if there is a space or section for your reference contacts they are asking to see your list so be sure to include it.
2. Learn the right way to download your resume. Many applications will ask you to cut and paste your documents, in an application friendly version or format. When you change your resume from a presentation style resume completed in .doc format to a simpler form they are called electronic, scannable, and ASCII documents. Usually these documents have been saved as rich (.rich) or text (.txt) documents and have all the bells and whistles removed. Some application programs won’t allow attachments and documents must be cut and pasted, these altered resumes will work effectively for this purpose.
3. Another important thing to remember is while you are applying online to save every page of the application if there is a save button on each page. Some application builders will empty the information when you forward to the next page if you haven’t saved it. It should say in the instructions of the application if you are able to save page by page and if you can leave the site and return later to finish the application.
4. Each application form is different. Read the instruction completely for each one you fill out and answer all questions. Don’t leave anything blank. It sends a negative message that you don’t have the ability to finish something, follow directions or use the computer competently. If there are extra areas to answer – answer them. Sometimes employers want to learn a little something about you outside of your skills. They might be looking for the way you use your free time, how you feel about certain issues or just looking for something that is extraordinary about you but wouldn’t fit anyplace else on the application form.
5. Online submissions can be advantageous for both the employer and the candidate. Employers have less paper shuffling and can keep information organized and prefer to compare candidates using a collective database. Some companies will no longer accept hard copies of resumes so learning to apply online the right way is in your best interest. With the removal of the presentation (.doc) formatting, the resume offers only the content to notice and nothing else to distract the manager.
For the candidate it is a matter of convenience, a job seeker can apply after work hours or on the weekend and fill it out correctly when they have the time to do it. It evens the playing field of by having your abilities and skills looked at instead of who you know. With that being said, I would still count on a personal contacts to get your name and resume in front of the right person. A referral helps the candidate get noticed and automatically helps the hiring manager by providing a candidate that someone from the company is vouching for.
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