Applying for jobs online has become the norm. Generally, it's a win-win situation for both sides involved: Job seekers have a broad range of opportunities and the convenience of applying for multiple jobs from home, while employers can leverage automated systems to select the best candidates. However, the online application process can be daunting.
With numerous platforms to register, different requirements and application processes, and applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to dribble, many candidates experience a feeling described as job-hunting fatigue.
The bad news is that there's no way around it—online job applications have come to stay. The good news is that with a little strategy and organization, you can successfully navigate this process and stand out from the crowd of applicants.
In this article, we will teach you how to apply for a job online with 10 tips that not only will help you land an interview but also hopefully make your job hunting journey less stressful.
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From the start, applying for a job online requires four basic elements: a digitized version of your resume and cover letter, a professional email address, a good internet connection, and a handful of patience. Below we lay out essential tips for each step of the application process.
Most companies use applicant tracking systems to filter candidates from online applications. This type of software quickly sorts and scans resumes to find the best “match” to a predetermined role. That's why writing an ATS-friendly resume is the first step in applying for jobs online—if your resume is not a match, it might not get selected. But how do you do it?
Simply put, your resume should be tailored to the specific role you're applying for and have keywords from the job description. Keywords in job descriptions include skills, experience, certifications, and education. For instance, “time management,” “HTML, C, and Java,” and “B.S in Computer Science” are often key requirements and terms used in software development job postings. (Here's how to read a job description the right way.)
Unless the employer asks for a creative resume, always use a simple and minimalist resume template with one column, standard fonts, and font sizes (for example, Arial 11), and no graph elements to make it easier to be scanned.
If you have a diverse professional background and are applying for different types of positions, you should have two versions of your resume, properly formatted for each role. This makes the online application process faster and easier, as you won't have to redo the whole thing at every new submission, only minor adjustments.
Hiring managers often search for candidates on LinkedIn. Thus, your profile should always be updated with all the relevant experience, certifications, education, and skills for the job you intend to land. If you have a portfolio (and it's requested in your field) add the link to the “site” section.
Like your resume, your LinkedIn profile should also include some relevant keywords to make it easily found. For instance, if you're a data analyst experienced with sales, and that's exactly what you'd like to do in your next role, you could add “Data analyst | Sales chain expert” to your title.
Don't forget to update your picture and your header, if needed. The more clean and professional, the better. Remember that your profile is going to be the first impression the recruiter will have of you—and you want to make sure that is a good impression.
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