How to actually get a job according to people in HR

 If you feel like you're having worse luck with job applications than normal, there's a reason: according to a survey by the website Indeed, employers have been ghosting job candidates more since the start of the pandemic. Nearly 77% of job seekers reported being ignored at various stages of the recruitment process. ⁠

In some cases, it might just be that the hiring manager is swamped with a deluge of applications. But other times, it could be on you. So, some HR managers are asked  about the best ways to catch their attention – here are those methods;

Clean up that resume: say more with less  

“The lengthier the resume, the higher the chances you will be ghosted.ideally, no resume must be more than two pages long at best.” Says Krunal, the hiring manager for a non profit organization. “Unless you have work experience spanning three decades or so.”

He added that brevity also demonstrates your skills to say more in less words and make an impact without eating too much into someone’s time.

Ashish Chopra, a hiring manager at a global It firm, says resumes must also look appealing and have some personality to them. “Your resume doesn’t have to be flashy, and the content does matter more. But it doesn't hurt to have some color and character.”

Use keywords but don’t overdo it

According to one study, 90% of applicants don’t bother reading the job descriptions before applying. This obviously, is dumb -- not least because it helps to tweak your cover letter or resume before applying.

Hiring and talent acquisition managers also frequently use softwares that filters out applicants who don’t have any keywords used in the listing, so it's always good to add a few in there. But remember, says Chopra, “you need to have certain proven skills and experience to back those keywords.”  

Consider having multiple resumes

If you have bounced around careers, you’ll want to tailor your resume whatever job it is you are applying for.

Invest in your online job profile

Managers often stumble across profiles on networking sites like LinkedIn during the scouting process. A professional headshot without any distracting background, lots of connections, and an active profile can help you stand out in an extremely crowded market.

Build your network

After a job opening, hiring managers usually rely on in-house referrals, says Rao, which means networking is key.

“Networking” doesn't mean randomly shooting emails to the employers, “Focus on value creation and building a brand for yourself, as this will actually make people reach out to you.” says Rao.

While some of these connections might not generate immediate returns, they might prove useful when unexpected job openings come your way, particularly for senior positions that  are rarely advertised online and often hunted exclusively through in-house referrals.

Practice the art of restraint

Applying for 20 jobs a day might also just mean going through the stress of being ghosted 20 times.

“Many times, people don’t even apply for the relevant job profiles and only want to get noticed by their dream company.” says Rao. “Be authentic to yourself and always know your self-worth. Censor yourself and rein it in. Be judicious about your applications and do due research about the kind of roles you want.” 

“Also, if you magically do get to the interview stage for a job that’s irrelevant to your profile, it will be a fluke and you will be rejected eventually.”

Explain, don’t mention

simply mentioning all your skills in your resume will not make you stand out, because other applicants might have those skills listed too.

“It’s important that you explain how those skills benefited your previous organizations, '' says Krunal.

Did you solve a critical problem? Or help to further the revenue generation of the company?

If you’re ghosted after the interview, you can follow up

With job interviews, everything might seem perfect… until it doesn’t, and ‘you’re left waiting for a clear rejection or approval.

Ask your potential employer for a timeline of when an answer can be expected, and after that timeline has passed, follow up by thanking them for considering you, and then asking for an update,referring to a specific detail or two from your meeting.

If nothing has worked, chances are there’s nothing more you can do. Make sure you leave a review about your experience on an anonymous company review website, like Glassdoor. Maybe someone from the organization will read it and make sure no one else gets ignored the way you did.