If hiring managers could talk

Have you ever used the expression, “If walls could talk”? This idiomatic phrase expresses the idea that walls, because of their unique perspective and the candidness with which people speak when in “their” presence, might have some potentially enlightening stories to tell. In the same way, hiring managers have a unique perspective from which very few benefit and most are completely unaware.

If you had the opportunity, what would you ask? How is your resume evaluated? Is there a point system? Are applicants’ resumes first funneled through computer software before it finds its way into the hands of a living, breathing, warm-blooded human? Is the position open to internal applicants? If so, will those applicants receive preference? Each of these questions linger in the minds of job applicants everywhere, as they wonder whether their job application, instead of ending up on the desk of an eager hiring manager, isn’t being sucked into a black hole.

Though you may never get definitive answers, there exist five things that job seekers can do to increase the likelihood of their resume finding its way onto somebody’s desk instead of the trash heap:

1. Read EVERYTHING. Although you may not have a direct line to the hiring manager who gets to judge the merits of your professional experience, typically, HR folk will post everything job seekers need to know—from what should be included in an application to eligibility requirements and qualifications—in a vacancy announcement. Don’t simply skim a vacancy announcement, and allow your eyes to glaze over. Read it thoroughly, and follow its instructions to a tee.
2. Tailor your resume. Even though using a generic resume might be easy (and may help to expedite the process of applying for jobs), in today’s labor market, generic resumes amount to nothing more than spam mail. Read each vacancy announcement carefully, and then tailor your resume to demonstrate how you meet the requirements and qualifications for that specific position. Doing this might involve incorporating key words or language from the vacancy announcement into your resume. It may be tedious, but it should get you at least one step closer to an interview.
3. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Oftentimes an e-mail address is included in vacancy announcements (this is especially the case with USAJobs.gov). Don’t be afraid to contact the person on the other end of that e-mail address with queries about the position or to find out if the position is even still available.
4. Have a friend, family member, or former colleague take a look at your resume and/or cover letter. Even the best writers have problems evaluating their own work (imagine how much clearer Kant’s ideas would have been if he would have had friends to review his philosophical musings). Before submitting your resume, it needs to be reflective of your best work, and might need to change a few hands and be marked-up with red ink (APUS has a resume review service, at no cost to students, which can be reached at resumehelp@apus.edu).
5. Refrain from resting on your laurels. As I have mentioned before, for unemployed workers, the job search should be looked at like a full-time job. Don’t simply apply for a position and then rest on your laurels, keep applying, be persistent, and stay positive!