When a recruiter at a job fair tells me to go to the company website and apply online, is that for real, or is it a brush-off?
It’s not a brush-off. It’s just a fact of life in the technology age. Recruiters can easily get buried in paper as they travel from job fair to job fair. Companies have moved to the online application process as they’ve gotten overwhelmed with applicants. If you’ve connected with a real person at a job fair, however, capitalize on that face-to-face contact to increase the chances you’ll get an invitation to interview. After the fair, send a thank-you note to the recruiter with a copy of your résumé and mention that you’ve also applied online.
When I submit my résumé online to a company, I feel like it disappears into a black hole. What can I do to improve my chances of getting the attention I think I deserve?
Everyone agrees that it’s frustrating when you get no response from an online application. The best strategy is to find some inside connection to the company and follow-up through that person. If your initial contact about a job comes at a career fair, try to get the recruiter’s contact information and contact that person after the fair. If you haven’t yet met someone from the company of interest, do some exploring on LinkedIn to see if any of your first, second, or third-degree connections work there. (You will probably want to consider joining the UMass Lowell Alumni LinkedIn group, too.) And keep asking people you know for ideas and introductions. A good personal connection is extremely valuable in “getting your foot in the door.”
More ways to avoid the “black hole”
- Apply only to jobs for which you are qualified. Don’t send résumés to the same recruiter over and over again. If recruiters think you’re a good match for an opening, they’ll get back to you.
- Tailor your résumé. Use the job description to tailor your résumé to the specific requirements of the job. Never lie, but do make it easy for the recruiter to see your experience and skills in light of his/her need. Put relevant experience near the top of the document.
- Use keywords. The automated applicant tracking systems used by large employers seek out keywords and phrases to rank how well you fit the job in question. So use keywords as much as possible where it makes sense in your résumé. Some systems rank keywords higher if they appear higher on the résumé, because it might indicate more recent experience in key areas.
- Avoid graphics, photos, text boxes, color, odd fonts, headers and footers. Keep it simple. Most automated systems convert résumés to plain text and formatting complexity can thwart the process.
What happens to my résumé when I submit it online anyway?
Automated applicant tracking systems are intended to streamline the hiring process, to document applications (particularly important for companies with federal contracts), and to more effectively screen qualified candidates. Usually, the résumé goes to someone within human resources. People in this role who have experience with the field for which they are recruiting will have a better idea of what they’re looking for. But if one person has to screen résumés for too many departments, he or she will usually rely solely on keywords and may miss things (and may disregard good candidates) if they aren’t well highlighted.
Why even bother with a paper résumé if all employers are moving to online applications?
Whenever you talk to anyone in person about employment (in an interview, networking opportunities, career fairs, etc.) you’ll need a nicely printed résumé. You’ll also want to share a copy of your résumé with people serving as your references. And, yes, occasionally, you’ll need to mail a résumé out via U.S. Mail, or at least attach it to an email message as a Microsoft Word document or PDF to apply for a job!
