Hiring Managers - I need advice please...

[servant_of_dog]

With online applications and email submission of resumes, what makes any one application/resume stand out from the others in your inbox?

I would like to know how to improve my chances of having someone actually look at my resume. I haven't needed to apply for a position in a very long time, and I'm afraid I might be unknowingly hurting my own chances.

Where I live, Craigslist is HUGE as an employment posting site, and it's a little weird to not have much, if any, information about the employer.
If you have any experience with fielding online applications/resumes, I would love to hear about your side of the process.

[shanendoah]

All of our resumes come to us electronically, though our company's website. The very first thing I look at is the cover letter.
If you're filling out an online form that allows you to cut and paste a cover letter in, and add attachments, please do not type "Please see attachment". Cut and paste the body of your letter in. Is okay to attach the cover letter, too. That lets us see the pretty formatting (and in some jobs, that matters)
The cover letter should call attention to skills and experience you have that directly relate to the job posting you are applying for. Make sure those same skills/experiences are fairly easy to find on your resume, as well.
As I mentioned in the other job application advise post, you must, must read the job posting. My company uses generic titles like Program Manager. I have received resumes from people who might be fully qualified to be a program manager of some kind of program, but not the position I'm actually looking to fill. If they had read the job posting, they would know that I care about communication experience not compliance. I don't want to see a resume full of experience that I don't care about.
If you don't read the job posting, don't expect anyone to read your resume.

[ihearyou2]

I ignore cover letters I find them fluff pieces and I really care about your experience. What really makes you stand out unfortunately has nothing to do with your application but whether you know someone in the company. If you're referred or recommended by someone we trust you go to the front of the line. It really helps to know the right people or use the right recruiters.

[servant_of_dog]

Thanks for the replies! I see that there are two other HR threads going right now, so I really do appreciate the input. I'm applying for positions for which I am well-qualified; I like to be good out of the gate and get better. However, my relevant experience is from the job I had 2 1/2 years ago, not my current job (all accounting, just different industries favor different software), so I'm adding a short note (not an actual cover letter) to mention that proficiency, and express targeted interest in the offered position.
I refuse to use cliches like "people person" and the like. Does experience still speak for itself?

[cubefarmer]

I submitted my resume online at a big company's website. No cover letter. Found out the company's internal recruiters were looking for one magical word on resumes and so they searched for that word and only looked at those resumes. This same word was in their posted ad. So I would try and use those same key words that are in the ad in your online submission. I was hired, by the way.

[servant_of_dog]

cubefarmer, i hope to be you within a month I've been in a job that I really dislike for the past two years. It was a temp job set up, and I felt I needed to establish at least a two-year work history in this area. I have that now. I'll look for watchwords. Thank you.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 28, 2011 20:17:13 GMT -5 servant_of_dog said:

Thanks for the replies! I see that there are two other HR threads going right now, so I really do appreciate the input. I'm applying for positions for which I am well-qualified; I like to be good out of the gate and get better. However, my relevant experience is from the job I had 2 1/2 years ago, not my current job (all accounting, just different industries favor different software), so I'm adding a short note (not an actual cover letter) to mention that proficiency, and express targeted interest in the offered position.
I refuse to use cliches like "people person" and the like. Does experience still speak for itself?

If your relevant experience is from the job you had 2 1/2 years ago then expand on that in your resume.

[Deleted]

Observation I've noticed from other hiring managers:

Make sure to read the job posting and use some of the lingo from it and explain how you can use xyz to help the company or put that knowledge to work. It shows you paid attention.

Make sure to read the directions for applying. Ex if they only want an app, send an app. If their app states it doesn't substitue for a resume and they want both send both. It shows you can follow directions to the best of your ability.

Have someone else proofread it. It comes across more polished.

Hope this helps.

[thyme4change]

I rewrite my resume to match the job description exactly. If they want someone who will:

"Utilize Access database of financial information to provide reports."

I will change my bullet that says

"Created compex reporting system and a standard set of monthly reports that were used by 12 managers and 35 other personnel to make business decisions."

Even though my skill set was harder, and the experience was more specific - I match the wording, and then I add a second bullet giving more details.

I go in order of the job posting. If it was the first thing on their mind when writing the ad, it is probably pretty darn important. I also write a cover letter giving detailed specifics of how I'm a perfect match for their needs.

If you don't have the right skill set, nothing will set your resume apart.

[servant_of_dog]

Um, I have the correct skill set. I'm just trying to be certain that it's recognized.

[cronewitch]

Remember the person screening might not know anything about the job. We are advertizing now and having them screened first so only get the qualified people applying. The state is doing the screening for us and doesn't really understand what we want, only what we said we wanted. The job title is admin assistant but what we want is someone mature who knows basics of excel and word and is willing and able to learn a unique job, works well with others but works alone most of the time, meets deadlines, mulittasks and is reliable. I don't know what the boss put in the job listing but I suggested a community college placement office and he said he wanted someone more mature. I told him many are over 40 going back to learn something new. He said a good solid high school education, I told him now that means a year or two of college since the high schools are doing a bad job.

[servant_of_dog]

Cronewitch, who does the screening? I've only been applying for 4 days and am already beginning to want to say snarky things in my introductory note. What I'm seeing is a lot of postings for "run our business, be the janitor, and know tax law" _ "This position is part-time"
Really?

[cronewitch]

The state unemployment office is screening for us. The boss is afraid we will get way too many applicants. We are really busy no time it interview more than a few for a job or even read a lot of resumes. Who ever we hire needs basic office skills and the ability to learn more than specific skills. We only have one office employee under 40 so hopefully we will get someone mature. Most of us are over 60 and don't want to deal with 20 somethings.

[servant_of_dog]

I really appreciate everyones' comments. Thank you to all. I look forward to checking back in when I've landed a new position.

[dragonfly7]

"The job title is admin assistant but what we want is someone mature who knows basics of excel and word and is willing and able to learn a unique job, works well with others but works alone most of the time, meets deadlines, mulittasks and is reliable."

Cronewitch, I really wish job advertisements would be (or were allowed to be) as plain and to the point as this, and that job seekers' could reply in turn. I occasionally find them on Craigslist, but most are just as dressed up in fancy formatting and buzzwords as the resumes and applications they will receive in response. Which, as shanendoah said, does matter for some jobs, but is it really necessary when all we truly need to say is, "I have X skills and/or experience that meet or exceed you qualifications, reliable transportation, and can pass your drug test" ?

[dcmetrocrab]

It's a crapshoot. You won't be able to make everyone happy, but you need to cover as many of the points people have given on this thread possible. I'm hiring now, and I honestly have very little time to look at resumes. Depending on how rushed I am, I sometimes only spend 5 seconds on the cover letter, often times bypassing it completely. If the first two sentences of the cover letter or resume start going the wrong way, I move on. I'm interested in the breadth of your work experience, how it applies to what I'm looking for, not necssary exact details of the project. I don't care how many awards you got or if you got promoted early either but other hiring managers may.

I agree with others in that referrals are nearly guaranteed to get my immediate attention. Also echo sentiments in that you don't have to match the job description asks exactly, but either the cover letter or resume should reflect how your skillset would scale to the needs of the business.

[shanendoah]

dragonfly: If the cover letter simply said "I have x skills that meet or exceed your qualifications" I'd be good with that. No, I'm getting cover letters that say. "I really want to work for your company" and that's it. I look at the resume and there's a list of skills at the top, not a single one of them matches the skills I advertised as wanting. I am not going to dig through your resume to find out if you have the skill set I need.
Like I said, I don't mind the reach applicant. I was a reach applicant. But the cover letter then needs to tell me how the skill set you do have applies to what we're hiring for. If you draw the connections for me, I'm willing to give you a shot.
I will also say that I HATE three page resumes. I'm hiring for a manager, two pages should be sufficient (and I'm even happier with single pages), but three pages is too much. Stop writing me paragraphs on the resume and just give me the highlights.
As for the people who say they don't care about cover letters at all, I get that. I think it has a lot to do with the type of job you're applying for, how much time you should spend on the cover letter. For a tech job, all I'd care about is the skill set and perhaps software proficiencies, but currently I'm hiring for two communications positions. Since both will be responsible for drafting mass communications, the cover letter not only highlights the skill set on the resume but also gives me a writing sample.