As a job seeker, the more insider information you can get, the better. The more you know can often put you that much closer to landing the gig than someone who’s not as privy to vital ways to give themselves the edge.
Brazen Careerist got the inside scoop from hiring managers on how the job seeking process really works, from start to finish. These professionals offered the following insight on the application process and things you should consider as a job seeker to become the final choice for that dream gig:
Your application is a process–and sometimes a long one. It takes time to truly evaluate resumes and candidate fit, and that time could be days, weeks or even
months.”There are meetings to have, other candidates to schedule and conversations to be had,†Paul Smith, Director of Human Resources at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, told Brazen Careerist.Be genuinely interested in the company, and the company will be genuinely interested in you. Asking awesome questions, knowing background about the company’s history and being able to apply real-life solutions to the
company’s issues are all actions that really impress, Jeffrey DeLucia, talent acquisition manager at The Judge Group, told Brazen Careerist.If you’re not contacting hiring managers on LinkedIn, you’re missing an opportunity to stand out. “I recruit 90% of my candidates on LinkedIn,†Delucia added.
Caroline Girone, an HR specialist at the Office of Civilian Human Resources for the Department of the Navy, echoed his sentiments. “If someone contacts me on LinkedIn, I can help them with the application process,†she says. “The only method we can accept resumes by, however, is through usajobs.gov. If I was in the private sector, I would be very open to receiving resumes, because that shows initiative and research, which is impressive.â€