Tips for Direct Job Applications

If you're tirelessly sending out job applications and wondering why you're not getting interview calls, it's time to rethink your strategy. Here's a reality check: I applied for a role that was posted just yesterday, and the hiring manager revealed they had already received over 500 applications. Sounds daunting, right? But here's a twist: I didn't wait to be discovered in that massive pile. Instead, I took a proactive step that made all the difference. The game-changer? Connecting directly with the hiring manager and the most senior person in talent acquisition. Here's how you can do it too: Research and Connect: Use platforms like LinkedIn to find the hiring manager and senior talent acquisition personnel for the roles you're interested in. Don't just send a connection request; personalize it: Share briefly why you're reaching out and express genuine interest in the company and the role. Follow Up with Value: Once connected, send a follow-up message that makes it easy for them to see your potential fit. Example: "I have 15+ years of corporate social media experience for global brands and am ready to immediately help drive meaningful growth." Make Their Job Easy: In your communications, be clear, concise, and compelling. Help them see why you're worth a closer look. If this proactive approach helps even one job seeker break through the digital black hole of applications and land an interview, then it's a win. Remember, job hunting is not just about waiting to be found; it's about making yourself impossible to overlook. #OpenToWork #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #HiringNow

Working at Boeing, it was common to receive at least 300 applicants in a day! If you're currently on the job hunt and feeling lost in the shuffle, let me share some insights from the hiring trenches and offer some tips to help you navigate this process. Hot Take Aways: 🚀 Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) vary in complexity. Don't be discouraged by a rejection; each system operates differently. You were likely rejected early on by the system and not the team. 🚀 Timing matters. Applying early can significantly impact your chances of landing an interview, even if you're a strong candidate. Jobs will often close without notice as well. For instance, we are only legally required to post a job for 3 days. So don't wait to apply! 🚀 Many take the time to review applications manually and don't rely solely on ATS keywords to filter candidates. For sure, the hiring manager ISN'T. Resume content matters. 🚀 Always follow up with an email or LinkedIn message to express your interest in a role. Further, follow up on other tasks like interview scheduling, prep calls, feedback, etc! Yes, more than once is fine! I often worked with 6-900 active candidates and things simply fall through. I would often start a task to be pulled away. I LOVED when candidates followed up and reminded me or asked the status of pending actions! 🚀 Consider supplementing your application with a portfolio, website, or pitch deck to showcase your skills and experience. This helps tremendously! Be sure it looks professional and is free of grammatical errors. 🚀 Keep a close eye on company career sites and set up alerts for new openings to apply early in the process. Not all jobs get pushed to Indeed/LinkedIn/Other, and setting up for notifications on the company job site can allow you to be the very first to apply! 🚀 Don't underestimate the power of networking. Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and reach out to alumni or contacts at companies of interest. Building relationships can lead to insider knowledge and potential job referrals. 🚀 If you've been rejected in the past, don't be afraid to reach out to recruiters or hiring managers for future roles. Seriously, I had someone apply to over 40 of my roles and we FINALLY found their perfect position and hired them!! It did take 3 months of their consistent application. 🚀 Stay resilient. Finding a perfect match for both is hard and believe me, job details will never give a candidate enough to tell if they are that perfect fit. 🚀 In addition to technical qualifications, emphasize your soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities BY showcasing them in your communications with the team and by examples in resume, NOT LISTS. Hope this helps! Looking for a role in aerospace engineering, or aircraft maintenance? Drop your resume here: dropbox@aerospacetg.com to have our team dedicate a search for jobs tailored to you!

Not all job search "hacks" are created equally. I am all for making the job search process easier, but some tips and tricks are definitely better than others. Here are a few hacks I do not recommend, and the tips I would counter with. ❌ Copy the keywords from the job description into your resume in hopes it “tricks the ATS.” ✅ Highlight YOUR unique experiences. Include the hard-earned skills you do have. Showcase the work/projects you’ve completed. Real people review resumes and what you write. You can include the keywords if you have them, but don't add them because you think you'll "trick" the system. ❌ Reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn to ask them what role you should apply to or if they can review your resume for a referral. ✅ Build relationships with those in your network before asking for a favor. If you’re going to reach out to a recruiter - address them by the correct name, include the job title and number, attach your resume, and say thank you. Express your interest as briefly as possible so they can pass your resume along to the right person (if they know them, which we don't always do, but try to!) Help us help you. ❌ Instead of applying to the role, network with people at the company. ✅ PLEASE apply to the job! We can't review your application if you don't do this. Networking is to supplement your application, but companies DO review applications from those who apply and do not have connections, too. Networking is always helpful, but your priority should be applying first. If you have a referral, great! Use it! But don't wait too long to get a referral that a job closes. The job search process can be tough, so I am all for researching and learning from others. Just remember that every single person who gives you advice (myself included) is doing so from THEIR experiences -- so take it with a grain of salt, determine what's true for you, and test out their suggestions. Knowledge is power, but make sure the learnings apply to you. #jobsearch #careers #networking

It took me 7 months post graduation to land a full-time role at Red Hat! Here are 5 things that helped me tackle the current job market and could help you too- 🦋 Tailor your resume- Instead of using the same resume for multiple job applications, tailor it to match the specific job description. Adding keywords from the job description into your resume gives you more chances of getting your resume selected. Focus on applying for 10-15 jobs with a referral and a tailored resume instead of a hundred cold applications. 🦋 Ask for referrals- Reach out to people in the company you are interested in with a friendly message including a small introduction, what you are looking for, your resume and the job link you want to apply for. Be extremely humble with your words since this person is doing you a favor if they decide to refer you. 🦋 Connect with people currently working in the similar role- Once you start getting interviews, reach out to people who already work in similar roles at the company. Ask about their experience working at the company and what was the interview process like for them. This will help you prepare better for your interviews. 🦋 Build a portfolio website- Even if you're not looking specifically for Software Developer roles, building a portfolio website where you can showcase your projects and the work you've done is a great way to stand out. It makes it easier for interviewers to see what you can do. 🦋 Showcase enthusiasm about the role- Interviewers love to see that you're genuinely excited about the opportunity. Speak about how you envision yourself making a meaningful impact. Share specific examples of projects or initiatives that showcase your eagerness to contribute. These simple steps made a big difference for me, and I hope they help you too! Your dream job might be closer than you think! 🚀 #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #RedHat #SoftwareEngineer #NewGrad 🎉

5 tips for being strategic in your job search. There are no guarantees in this market, but these tips can help speed up the process. Find your niche: Casting a wide net of applications is not the most effective way to apply. Determine what role you want and focus on that. The job title will vary. Once you know exactly what you want to do, you can hyper focus on applying to those positions. Networking: Start networking now. My biggest regret is not starting sooner. Post content about what you know and how it can add value to others. Engage with your comments section. Keep the conversation going. I feel like I know some people just from their content. This feeling can translate over to hiring managers. Everyone has their own comfort levels. Even posting once a week is a good start. Set notifications: Go onto multiple job boards. Set a notification for the job title, location, and date posted (last 24 hours). Stay on top of these notifications so your resume is towards the top of the pile. Timing is extremely important. Right place at the right time. Ways to apply: The major job boards have quick apply options. It is ok to use these. I recommend you go to the company’s career page and apply through there. I see job postings that are not on the company website. This is likely because the position was not closed through the job board. Most companies require applicants to be in their ATS before proceeding. This will get you in there right away. Reaching out: After you apply, you can reach out to the hiring manager or recruiter (if you know who they are). This will show extra interest in the position. This is also where your networking efforts will come in handy. If you have a connection within a particular company, it doesn’t hurt to send them a quick message. There are still no guarantees, but these tips can drastically increase your chances. Best of luck to you all. We are rooting for you. #jobseekers #jobsearch #recruiting #networking

Many of you in my network are actively job searching. Some have been looking for months, and a few have been looking over a year. You're going to have to get creative. This snipit is a posting I saw today (edited out the company name). Over 2k applicants in a week. This company cannot reasonably review 2,200 resumes. They can't let each person know why they weren't selected for an interview. Unless they have an ATS, they can't even respond to everyone. Do something to stand out. 1. Network. Get to know the current employees without harassing them. What mutual connections do you have that you can leverage? 2. Research the company and the role. Customize your resume and cover letter without embellishing. 3. Where are they? What are they doing? Can you join the event? If they're doing philanthropic work, can you volunteer? 4. Call the receptionist or front office manager. Ask them how they like working there and what tips they have. This person knows more about the company than the CEO. Call to listen to them - don't be pushy. 5. Update your LinkedIn profile to align with the roles you're applying for. 6. Mail something. Always apply according to the process, but you can still physically mail your resume and cover letter. Include a hand written thank you note for taking the time to review your resume. Maybe even a fun sticker or post card inside that links to their brand. What other tips do you have to share? #becreative #applyingforajob