If there’s anything frustrating about the job-seeking journey, it’s applying for dozens – heck, even hundreds! – of jobs online and not landing one single interview.
After crafting your resume, searching for opportunities, and applying for jobs online, some daunting questions might start popping into your head if you’re not getting interviews, like:
- How to land a job interview in today's competitive corporate landscape?
- Am I really qualified for the jobs I am applying for?
- Am I setting the bar too high?
- Is my work experience considered still valuable in today's job market?
If you’ve started second-guessing yourself like this, stop right there! As overwhelming as this process can be, rest assured that there’s nothing wrong with you or with your work experience.
The truth is, that simply applying online is one of the hardest ways to land an interview. And there are simpler, yet way more efficient ways you can get a job interview.
How? That’s what we’ll be covering in this article.
But before we start, let's address the first question that may be on your mind.
You know, the one you’ve been asking yourself lately:
Why Am I Not Getting Many Interviews?
As I said, applying online is one of the toughest ways to land a job interview.
And the reason so might be simply because…
Your Resume Isn’t Optimized For ATS
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, pieces of software that allow companies to track candidates through their hiring process.
Because applying for a job online is such a simple process, companies receive hundreds, even thousands of resumes every day. So, human resources departments rely on computer software to filter candidates who are the best match for the job.
“Okay, so does that mean I’m not the right fit?”, you might ask.
Far from it. However, your resume might not be properly optimized for ATS. So, it’s not that recruiters don’t see your application as the right fit; it’s probably because your application isn’t being viewed at all.
Consider optimizing your resume with ResyMatch.io, a free, 3-step tool that scans your resume and provides instant feedback.
ResyMatch.io will compare your resume with the job description you are applying for, recommend the best optimization practices, and flag any missing keywords that are relevant to the role.
Also, did I mention it’s free?
Go over to ResyMatch.io and get started (or don’t – you can simply copy and paste your resume below, too)!
Scanning...
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s answer the second question that probably popped up in your head:
How Can I Maximize My Chances Of Getting An Interview?
Optimizing your resume for ATS is very important, but it isn’t enough. If you want to learn how to land a job interview, you’ll need to bring your A-game.
Here’s what you’re going to do.
How To Land A Job Interview In 4 Easy Steps
Did you know that only 2% of resumes land interviews?
If you optimize you’re resume for ATS, you might be one of them. But what if you aren’t?
You’re going to need a Plan B.
We’ve wrapped up a 4-step process to maximize your chances of landing an interview.
Here's where you'll begin:
#1 Review your LinkedIn Inbox for recruiters
Remember when your LinkedIn inbox would pop up with notifications from recruiters reaching out to you about an opportunity that matched your profile?
It’s never too late to get back to them!
Scan your LinkedIn messages from the past 12-24 months and look for recruiters who reached out to you.
Then, you will…
#2 Add recruiters to a Google Sheet
It’s time to get organized. Open a Google Sheet and fill it with the names, LinkedIn profiles, and e-mail addresses of each recruiter.
Don’t have their e-mail address?
Head to MailScoop.io to find anyone's e-mail address in seconds for free.
Also, adding a brief description of the company and role they originally reached out to you on your Google Sheets will help you with the next steps, since you will…
#3 Reach out to recruiters
Time to reach out! You can either reach out to them through LinkedIn, drop them an e-mail, or both!
If you don’t know where to start, here’s a sample of what your message can look like:
“Hey [Recruiter],
You messaged me about an opportunity at [Company] back in [Month].
I wasn’t in the market for a new role then, but I am now. I wanted to reconnect to see if you had any roles aimed at [Insert Specifics].
If so, I’d love to connect!”
Don’t forget to add your contact information, such as your phone number, so recruiters can easily reach back.
#4 Repeat for everyone on your list
Now that you’ve gotten the hang of it, rinse and repeat with everyone on your list. Many of the recruiters will have openings they can immediately slot you into.
Even if they don’t?
You got your name on their radar for any future roles that pop up.
Good luck (not that you need it)!
