“Be proactive! Quite often when you apply for a job you are entering into a competitive situation, and despite best efforts to provide the very best CV, it is sometimes hard to ‘stand out from the crowd’. What will help, however, is being as proactive as you can throughout the process.”
Once you’ve sent your CV to a company or recruiter, call within 24 hours to find out what is happening. If you’re not careful, your CV could fall through the cracks before you’ve even started, especially if it’s not ‘obvious’ that you have the skills required for the role. Once the person hiring has heard your name and your voice, they’re far more likely to remember you and look out for your application.
Whether you’re applying to a hiring manager or a recruiter, ask them if you can provide any additional information to help with your application. Make sure that you address the doubts they might have about your CV. This will give yourself the best chance.
When you’re in that all-important interview, don’t be afraid to ‘close’ the interviewer towards the end. Ask them outright if they have any concerns about your experience, and address them as best you can on the spot. If you really want the job, be forward in asking about what the next stages are and when you can expect to hear from them. It might sound pushy, but it’s effective.
After the interview, make sure you get in touch with the hiring manager. Drop them a quick email thanking them for their time and telling them what you liked about the interview and the role. Everyone likes to be appreciated!
If you’re working with a recruiter, follow up your interviews with a phone call, asking them for feedback. Find out if they have any information about the progression of your application, or if they have any advice on what more you can do to secure the role.
Show that you care, show an extra interest in the role, and show that you genuinely want that job. Be hard to ignore, but do try not to annoy!
author: Denisa Madalina Birau
