There’s never a guarantee that you will automatically get a job interview just because you applied to an open position.
You still need to perform the right activities that will increase your appeal and set you apart from the rest of the applicants.
Discover eight proven activities that will help you make your own luck and increase your chances of getting the interview.
1. Make Sure Your Resume Fits the Job Requirements
One of the best ways to get a job interview is to make sure your resume aligns with the job description. Do you have all the necessary skills and requirements? Do you understand the responsibilities of the position and are you able to perform them?
From there, you should tailor your resume to fit the job description. This does not mean lie on your resume about what you can do or your experience.
Instead, you should rearrange your resume to make sure the most important information can easily be seen by the hiring manager. You should emphasize specific skills on your resume that are highly desirable and needed to perform in this position.
2. Clean Up Your Social Media Profiles
After you submit your resume, recruiters and hiring managers will do their research and search for potential candidates on Google and social media sites.
Go through the privacy settings on your social media sites and find out who is able to view your profiles. Even if your settings are set to private, it’s a good idea to clean up any inappropriate photos or comments that were left in the past and refrain from posting any negative or controversial comments in the future.
You should spend extra time getting your LinkedIn profile up to date. Make sure the experience on your resume matches the experience on your LinkedIn profile. It’s a huge red flag for hiring managers if they see you’ve left off work experience on your resume but have included it on your LinkedIn profile.
Also, if you don’t have a photo on LinkedIn or you have an unprofessional photo, then upload a new picture today.
If a hiring manager is greeted by the default silhouette or an unprofessional photo, then they’re not going to take you seriously and they definitely won’t take the time to reach out to you about the next steps in the interview process.
3. Create Your Professional Brand
These days, it’s not enough to just have a LinkedIn or Twitter profile. You also need to be active on the platforms and engaging with other professionals.
Start by becoming more active in industry-related groups and sharing relevant content with your connections.
If you don’t have a Twitter account yet, consider creating one and using it in a professional way. You can follow and connect with thought leaders in your industry and engage with them via retweets, sharing their content, and liking their posts.
Another way you can further your online brand and get the job interview is to create a professional website featuring your accomplishments, past work samples, and current projects. Think of it as another way to showcase yourself beyond your resume and LinkedIn profile.
4. Research Your Target Companies
Searching for a new job is a lot of work and it can feel especially daunting if you’re just applying to jobs randomly on job boards or just applying to any job that seems decent.
Hiring managers know when job seekers are applying to open positions just to get a job versus really wanting to work there.
If you take the time to really research the opportunity and the company, your excitement and research will set you apart from the rest and increase your chances of landing the job interview.
5. Reach Out to Hiring Managers
Don’t be afraid to reach out to hiring managers about an open opportunity. Call the company and ask to speak to the hiring manager, and you can even try to figure out who this person is on your own and request a LinkedIn connection.
Next, let them know that you’ve applied to the position and would love 10 minutes to speak to them further about the opportunity and why you would be a good fit for the position.
This is your best chance to make it through an applicant tracking system and get your resume on their radar.
6. Customize Your Emails
If you can’t reach the hiring manager by phone, another way to get their attention is to send them a customized email. Don’t just send a generic email to the hiring manager. They will see right through this tactic and quickly delete your email.
Instead, make sure to include specific details about the company and how your skills could really impact the company. Give the hiring manager a reason to return your email and give your resume a second look.
7. Follow Up
If you’ve reached out to hiring managers and companies by phone and email, but still haven’t seen any response, don’t give up.
The work you have already put in will become useless if you do not attempt to follow up. Don’t reach out to people to the point it becomes obnoxious, but you do need to be persistent.
8. Apply Quickly
Once you’ve tailored your resume to fit the position, make sure you apply quickly. In general, you shouldn’t let more than two days pass after seeing the job posting to apply.
On average, the first resume is received 200 seconds after a job is posted online. Stand out by applying early and avoid having your resume get buried under hundreds of others.
You can start using these 8 tips today to help you secure an interview. Once you’re able to secure an interview, you then need to start preparing for it! Use our free Interview Toolbox to learn what questions you should ask, how to prep for a phone interview, and even a Thank-You Note Template to send after the interview. Download it today!
