Get Your Foot In The Door

You've done everything humanly possibly to get your foot in the door but nothing seems to work. You still haven't received a call back on that resume you sent to your dream job. You have all the skills necessary for the position. Your resume is pristine. What could possibly be wrong? There are many things to look at when it seems that you continually get passed over for jobs that you are qualified for. You need to also take action to ensure that next time you present your resume, you get noticed. The following steps will assist you in that process.

Keywords

You've checked your resume for errors and none exist. You are certain you have all of the qualifications for the job.

The next step to take is to make certain that your resume contains keywords that the employer may be looking for. Yes, that is right keywords. Frequently employers scan resumes for "keywords" to quickly weed out those individuals that might not have the experience they are looking for.

Keywords are often items that are included in advertisements for a certain position. They may also be items that are located in the job description for the position. Do your homework, what the employer has posted as a job description for this job, and what advertisements may have been released. Incorporate those words into your resume if you haven't already.

Try something different

I once hired a candidate almost solely because she had an offbeat cover letter that shocked and surprised me. It was rather funny. She opened with a joke and was casual and easy about her experience. She merely stated that she was an energetic, exuberant person with a brilliant smile like sunshine on a cloudy day. Sometimes it's nice to see something different.

Try it for one or two of the positions for which you are applying. If you know the company you are interested in is looking for someone to fill a dynamic and high-energy position, then reflect high energy in your cover letter. Try a bright paper color. Of course, this can sometimes backfire. It's nice to see creativity every now and again however, and depending on the position you are applying for, it may be worth a shot to add a little creative spark.

Make contact with an insider

You might get overlooked if you send a general resume and letter of interest to the company that you are interested in. If you are serious about a company, take the time to find out who the hiring manager is for the position that your interested in. Write them a personal cover letter explaining your interest in working with the organization. If you are not certain who this is, try looking up the company on the Internet.

Nowadays, most companies post the names of their hiring managers along with any job vacancies that may exist. Take your cover letter one step further and tell the hiring manager that you will follow up with him/her by calling. Set a date and time so the hiring manager knows to expect your call.

Make friends with the receptionist. Find out who some of the key players in the organization are. Learn as much as you can about their background. The company might have a newsletter that you can read. Check their website again for this information, or simply let the receptionist know that you are interested in learning more about the organization. Arm yourself with knowledge.

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