A recent study done by Bullhorn found that that candidates applying for jobs through social media sites using mobile devices grew by 53% in 2014. The evolution of applying for a job has gone through several vehicles: the mail, the fax machine, email , and now desktop and mobile social media platforms and mobile devices. There are plenty of etiquette guidelines to follow for the more traditional applications, but we haven’t heard much talk about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of applying for jobs through social media.
Talent Acquisition teams can easily receive hundreds of applications a week, especially given the array of platforms to post jobs. If you find yourself applying online to certain positions, keep these things in mind:
1. Attach your resume. Many websites, especially LinkedIn, allow users to apply using their profile. While LinkedIn profile’s can capture a glimpse into your skills, it typically does not give the essence behind your professional development. When the job posting says to submit a resume and you disregard and use your profile, it’s telling me that you either a) didn’t read the entire posting; b) you are lazy; or c) you aren’t serious about changing careers. This does not make for a good first impression. Many companies use an applicant tracking system to upload resumes into their database to track your application. If you don’t send an attached resume, it’s easy for a recruiter to disregard your application because to get your information in the system, they would have to manually input your contact information. As you can guess, with hundreds of resumes, you could easily be overlooked.
2. Keep track of your applications. There’s nothing more frustrating, and sometimes even insulting when you call someone for a job they applied to and they don’t remember applying or know anything about the company. Most likely we hear this from people because they have been applying to a lot of jobs. There’s nothing wrong with that if each application was thoughtful, meaning the candidate did research about the company and had a genuine interest. As a decision maker, we want to talk to people who are inquisitive and excited about our company. When we hear that you have applied to “so many jobs you can’t keep them straight,” it doesn’t leave a good impression and could make you sound desperate.
3. Read the job description. When a job description says that a license or certification is required or experience in a certain industry is required, most of the time this isn’t an exception. If you still wish to apply, acknowledge in your application that you don’t have all of the requirements and why you are still applying. A lot of our job postings mention the industry of our clients. When we call applicants who sound surprised to hear that they are applying to a job in let’s say insurance, we immediately sense a red flag, given this was provided in the job description. If someone isn’t attentive to detail when they are applying for a job, it’s hard to not think they will be the same way in the position.
4. Take your time. The great thing about social media and our mobile devices are that we can get information quickly. Alerts can be made to notify you when a job is posted and with a click of a button you can submit your resume. This is all great, but don’t allow yourself to click before you think. If you are quickly applying to jobs through your phone you have a greater chance of falling victim to all of the things mentioned above.
Social recruiting gives job seekers faster and easier methods for accessing employers. As a job applicant, remember to take your time and keep track of your activity and do your research before applying.
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Jessica focuses on finding the right candidates to fit our clients’ needs. She works with our clients to understand the exact skills and attributes that would fit with the cultural climate and their environment.
