Working World

As a recruiter in the creative field, I receive hundreds of online submissions every day.  I’ve also been a job seeker who found myself on the other side of the equation, flustered by the prospect of applying online. It seemed very impersonal and made me wonder what was happening on the prospective employer’s end.

Now I can tell you exactly what employers are looking for. Applying online has become the most contemporary and widely accepted means of finding a job. Here are my top 10 suggestions for online job seekers:

1. Always, always attach your resume and samples if they apply. Cover letters that try to entice me to request these materials, quite frankly, backfire. It shows a lack of attention to detail and, to be honest, there hasn’t been a cover letter yet that was interesting enough to warrant me contacting anyone.

2. If a salary requirement is being requested, furnish it. Even if it's a range, my goal is to quickly determine whether or not you’re the correct level I’m looking for. An 80K candidate applying for a 50K job is going to tell me exactly what I need to know, quickly.

3. No typos on any correspondence. Ever. Your cover letter and resume are first impressions, albeit electronic ones, and they are crucial in this competitive market. Triple check if you have to, but absolutely no typos!

4. Keep it succinct. Cover letters should be approximately three paragraphs max, and resumes should be kept to one page per five years of experience. If you’re in a technical field and need to elaborate, that’s fine, but everyone else should keep it short. I also recommend that you not go back more than seven years unless your field calls for that kind of information.

5. Name drop! I used to cringe at this one as a job seeker because I felt like a braggart.  The truth is it’s helpful to perspective employers to know the caliber of client you’ve worked with. Familiar names make your resume look that much more impressive, relevant and, above all, give employers something they can relate to.

6. Focus on what you have to offer versus what you don’t. Instead of stating, “I might not be as senior as you’re seeking,” reframe and explain what you can bring to the prospective employer’s party. Everyone prefers a positive to a negative.

7. Respect gatekeepers. Know that whatever communication you’re sending is going to be read by a human being whose job is to decide whether or not you’re moving to the next step. A little courtesy and humility can go a long way.

8. Be direct, not cutesy. Employers are busier than ever, and they just want the facts. No storytelling or explaining. Just stay on point and you can’t go wrong.

9. Avoid “Dear Sirs” as a salutation. It’s outdated and irrelevant. Interestingly enough, approximately 90 percent of my HR contacts are women! “To Whom It May Concern” is my preference because it sounds professional yet it’s gender neutral. 

10. Remember: Your online correspondence is a reflection of you. That old adage about never getting “a second chance to make a first impression” is true. Be aware of the message and tone you’re trying to convey to potential employers. You want to be true to yourself in the same professional way you’d represent yourself in an in-person situation. 

Package yourself well electronically and you’ll stand above and beyond the competition. Best of luck in your job search!

2 COMMENTS

• huiuo loopp

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  Aug 24, 2010

• Geoff S.

  Liz, great article....it's good to see you sharing your expertise at a particularly rough time for job seekers. I think there are plenty of opportunities out there if you pick your spots, do your research and listen to your tips, : )

  Oct 09, 2009