008: Reconsider Submitting Your Resume Like That

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Why You Shouldn’t Submit Your Resume That Way!

Hang in with me and you’ll see what I mean.

Highlights From the Previous Episode

But before we do, in our last show, episode 007, we talked about the difference between duties and accomplishments. How knowing how to talk about your accomplishments will cause you to stand out in the crowd.. If you missed it, you can listen by going to JobSearchThatWorks.com/007.

On This Episode

We’ll talk about the typical way most job seekers submit resumes for consideration and why you should consider another way that will get you much better results. In fact, most of the time your resume will reach the person that makes the hiring decision instead of getting stuck in Human Resources.
Let’s talk STRATEGY. Which target gets the most attention for you?

• Posting online – not this way
• Job boards – not this way either.
• Human Resources – not any better.
• Hiring Manager – winner!

Format – There’s a problem with

• Templates
• Tables
• Frames
• Headers

Construct your resume without any of these. Applicant Tracking Systems have difficulty reading resumes with this and will delete them without a human ever seeing your information.

Applicant Tracking Systems – Two main reasons an ATS rejects your resume-

1. Keywords don’t match
2. Cant read the resume, including  your contact information, because of the format.

Now that we have solved that problem, let’s address the TACTICAL issues of effective resume submission-

• Online Job Boards
• Human Resources
• Hiring Manager/Boss’ Boss

We have covered the what, who and why, let’s talk about the where by Identifying Target Companies-

• Industry
• Size of company
• Position
• Geography

This is where I would like to introduce you to Reference USA. Offered my most Metro Libraries. Here’s a link to a video tutorial that will help you find a library nearest you that offers access to ReferenceUSA.

www.JobSearchThatWorks.com/library-locator If you choose to use this link instead of watching the video, make sure you follow these instructions:

1. When Google search opens, note that the following search string appears:
                          library “reference usa” AND “Ohio” OR “OH”  site:.org OR site:.gov OR site:.edu
2. Change “Ohio” to your state and make sure you include the quotation marks “”.
3. Change “OH” to the two letter abbreviation for your state and remember to the abbreviation for your state and remember to include the quotation marks “”.
4. Finally, narrow your search by entering the name of your town or the nearest larger town after the word library in the search string.

 

Now that you know where to find companies that fit your target, you need to know the numbers … the metrics for greatest odds of success.

150 contacts = 7 interviews = 1 offer

Methods:

• In person
• Phone

Getting past the gatekeeper.

Call before 8-00 AM, After 5-00 PM or between 1-00 – 2-00 PM

Use a Pattern Interrupt to get past the gatekeeper more often. Here is an example of a conversation without and with one.

Normal-

Rec- “XYZ Company. How may I help you?”

You- May I speak with Carrie Anderson?

Rec- “Who’s calling please?”

You- Pat Smith

Rec- “May I tell her what your call is concerning?”

You- Employment.

Rec- “Please hold while I transfer you to Human Resources.”

Pattern Interrupt-

Rec- “XYZ Company. How may I help you?”

You- Hi. My name is Pat … Pat Smith. Who am I speaking with?

Rec- “Annie”

You- Hi Annie, Transfer me to Carrie Anderson, please.

Rec- “May I ask what your call is in reference to?”

You- No Annie, thanks for asking, but  I’d prefer that you just transfer me to Carrie.
Once transferred to the Hiring Manager

 

Voicemail – Leave a message with the date and time you will call back. Make sure you call back when you indicated. When you call back in, you can now tell the receptionist that Carrie is expecting your call if she gives you any grief.
Speaking with the Hiring Manager – you can say something like …
“Hi Carrie. My name is Pat Smith. We haven’t spoken before. I’l be brief.

Give a version of your 30 second pitch (which is covered in our Career Portal) and indicate you are looking for some advice on how to …

Perhaps ask Carrie if you can meet over a cup of coffee.

Rinse and repeat
1. This isn’t a silver bullet and certainly won’t work all the time. Any increase in success is a plus.

1. When referred to HR by the Hiring Manager, agree and ask to send the Hiring Manager a resume as well.

2. Tailor the resume you send to the position.

3. Send your resume in a handwritten envelope

4. Follow up a the time and date you indicate in your cover letter.

 

Recap

Sending your resume through a job board or a Human Resources ATS is NOT the most efficient or effective way to get noticed by an employer. Make contact with the person in the organization that would be your Boss’ Boss.

Something to Ponder

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”  ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

 

Thank you for spending time with me today. I truly appreciate it.

 

What are your thoughts?

What difficulties have you encountered in trying to get through to the Hiring Manager? Feel free tell your success stories as well. Share your thoughts in the comment section of the show notes.