Online Job Postings

Things are much easier than it used to be but there are still some things that you need to keep in mind. You can fill out many job applications very quickly for numerous listings on sites like careerbuilder.com and many others but what about timing of your application? What about the contents of your resume?

Careerbuilder and many of the others career sites really makes it easy for you to save your resume and then submit it to the postings on the site except for when they link over to the actual company or a search firm's site. In this case you usually have to jump through many hoops before you get to submit your application. This can be done to keep the number of applications down from the thousands that typically apply to a single postion. It may also be done to make sure that you are qualified.

The timing of your application can be important. You want to make sure that you are either one of the first to apply or one of the last. The first ones to apply are many times going to at least be contacted. So make sure to get up early in the morning and do a search before you start your day. The ones in the middle are the ones that are ignored because of the high response. The ones at the end are sometimes evaluated if the first one selected didn't pass the phone or in person interview. So don't let the posting date stop you from applying from a position you want. You may not hear back but there is a chance that you have caught the hiring manager or HR rep at the right time.

The contents of your resume are very important. You've probably spent a large amount of time making sure that you have the most impressive skills represented in the most efficient way but are you using the best words? Are you making sure that the terms that you are using to describe what you have done are the right ones for your industry? Make sure that you include those terms in your resume. Those are the terms that hiring companies will use to conduct their search of resumes posted and those that are submitted. Think about the terms that you would use on the search engine to find the job that you want and that may help you.