I keep applying online, but nobody calls!

I can’t tell you the number of clients who come to me because they’ve applied for job after job online and not received many, if any, calls. This is true even when they believe they are the perfect candidate for a job! It’s true. I, and many, refer to it as the ‘black hole’. You see, with the online application process, you are not only competing against people in your community, but people all over the world who want to move to where you live, or work for your local companies. I read somewhere that, on average, there are 500 applicants for every open position. That makes for slim chances of getting through the ATS (applicant tracking system). In fact, only 2% of applicants ever get to speak to anyone at the desired company.

First, yes. It’s important to have a good resume that is tailored to the position you’re applying for. Whether you rely on ATS or are actually getting your resume in front of the recruiters and/or hiring managers. They need to see the correlation between the job description and your resume. But, please, please, please, get out from behind your computer if you really want to get a new job.
I’ve written ad nauseum about networking. And the simple truth is, networking will make the difference between getting a new job and languishing in front of your computer waiting for that call. This is not an article about networking. For that, see my other articles.
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What I would like to do with this article is simply suggest you try some new things.

1. Be clear on what job you are looking for. Just asking friends, “Help me get a job” is not going to reap results. Your friends don’t know what you do, or what your strengths are, or even what you’re looking for. Help them help you. For more on this, read this article.
2. Do research on sights like Indeed’s Advanced Search to see what jobs come up when you enter particular skills or key words. Maybe you’re keeping your search too narrow. Titles vary company to company.
3. Do research on companies and make a short list of target companies that match your values, your interests, and feel like a good fit. A great job at a toxic company is a lousy job.
4. Get out and do informational interviews. Get known. Companies like to hire people that aren’t a ‘risk’; someone people within the company know, someone who is ‘like us’. A known applicant will supplant an unknown applicant every time.
5. Go to events where you can meet new people. Sure, there are plenty of professional events, but think about MeetUps. Get out and do things you like. You’re likely to meet ‘people like you’ that you can connect with. Where do they work?
6. LinkedIn. Yes, LinkedIn is one of the most valuable tools in your search. Look up open jobs using LinkedIn’s job search feature. It will show you who you know at that company. Or, perhaps who you know who can introduce you to someone at that company. Make that connection, and bingo!, you’ve got an inside connection and can become ‘someone known’.

Or sure, just sit at home on your computer at night submitting application after application. You’ll be waiting, and waiting, and waiting longer.

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