Improving your chance of getting interviewed and hired

– edited by Ben Mudrak

I have spoken with many friends and colleagues during their job search, and I hear a lot of the word “wait” -- “I am waiting to hear back.” “I haven’t heard back from the recruiter/hiring manager/HR.” I, myself, have experienced the ‘wait.’ I think we all have. As recently as today, Ed Greene, the owner of edsjoblist.com, forwarded me an email he received from a job seeker talking about the “proverbial black hole that resumes are shoved into” and the lack of “acknowledgement that one was received or even a rejection.” So, how do you keep your resume from going into that black hole and improve your chance of getting interviewed and eventually hired? I would like to offer a few suggestions below. Please feel free to comment and let me know if I am absolutely wrong about something or make a suggestion of your own about what has worked for you.

Let’s start at the beginning, when you first spot that enticing job posting on a company’s website. Instead of just submitting your resume, I would suggest spending a little time to write the cover letter. A cover letter is an excellent way to get the attention of the hiring manager or the HR person and to highlight how your experiences fit with that particular position. If you are new to this role, the cover letter would give you a chance to explain why a hiring manager should take a chance on you. It gives you a chance to list your strengths and the key attributes that make you stand out from the crowd.

On a similar note, you should include a cover letter for a recruiter as well if the posting comes from a recruiter; the cover letter will sell you to the recruiter, so that they, in turn, can do a better job of selling you to the hiring manager. This is one of Ed Greene’s “2 tips.” If you join edsjoblist.com, you will see this tip and his second tip in his welcome letter.

Now, what can you do next? The resume has been submitted -- all there is to do is to wait, right? I have always been a strong believer in making things happen. This is not to say that I don’t have patience, but when you wait, your mind starts to wander; you start getting paranoid and losing more and more of your confidence as the days pass. I usually take this waiting period to research the company and the position. Below, I have listed several sites that I use when researching companies:

The company’s website: More information than you think is available on the company’s own website. Look at their management team and at the news that they have posted on their site. Look up the technology that they use. What are they known for? What do they believe in? Would your own values and goals fit with their mission statement?

Google: Of course, everyone Google these days, but if you filter your search with keywords like “company name + review”, “company name + news”, etc., you can find out if there is any big news about the company’s innovative products or any setbacks the company has had. You might find an article talking about the company’s culture and how they treat their employees.

Glassdoor.com: This is a site that tries to give you an insider’s look at company salaries, reviews and interviews. You can read reviews from current and former employees. The salary range listing is also nice, as it will help you during your negotiations.

Linkedin.com: Of course, almost everyone here is on LinkedIn. I would suggest connecting with people at the company that you are interested in. You can use your connections to reach others outside of your network. You can also look into connecting through your groups as well. I am usually pretty straightforward about it. I would let the person know that I am looking at a particular position at their company and ask if he/she would be willing to talk to me about the company. Some people won’t want to talk, but most people are open to discussion. Once connected, even if that position doesn’t pan out, at least you have made a connection. Most companies pay for employee referrals, so if you are a good candidate for another position, many people would not hesitate to refer you. Plus, everyone would like to bring in good employees to their company. In the end, a company is only as good as its employees.

Cafepharma.com: I have to warn you first that this is a site that must be taken with a grain of salt. Perhaps a lot of salt, as there are a lot of wounds here. This site is a forum board for medical sales and pharmaceutical sales professionals. There is also a lot of foul language on the forum board. I do visit it once in a while to see if anything is said about a particular company. The posts are mostly from sales individuals, but it is interesting to hear what they have to say about the company, the management teams and the products that they are being asked to sell. If you are applying for a scientist position, it’s good to know that the division that you are entering is producing quality, sellable products. Let me know what you think of it. I am very hesitant about posting this link here, but it does give you a better picture of certain companies.

Not only will all of this research prepare you for the interview, but it will also keep you active in your job search. I will end this posting here, as it is getting long and I need to end the day. Please stay tuned for a continuation of this topic in the next blog.