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How to Shine for the Machine: Online Application Tips

Guest post by: Susan Easton

Article Overview: More major employers are turning to computerized applicant evaluation systems (a.k.a. “The Machine”) to make the first decision about your candidacy. Learn the 5 most important things to remember when applying online.

How to Shine for the Machine: Online Application Tips

Today’s the day! You’ve decided that you are ready to move your career to the next level by applying for that job you’ve been waiting for.

You’ve taken stock of your strengths, researched the position and the organization, and created a résumé that will knock ‘em dead. Now it’s time to submit your application. On the company’s website, you click the “Apply Now” button and you find yourself face to face with “The Machine”.

More major employers are turning to computerized applicant evaluation systems (a.k.a. “The Machine”) to make the first decision about your candidacy. It’s a time-saving (a.k.a. money-saving) measure that dramatically reduces the time it has traditionally taken to cull applications by hand and create a Short List of applicants.

Here are some important things to remember when applying online:

1. Don’t try to circumvent the system.

If you email or hand-deliver your résumé, your application will most likely just be scanned into The Machine along with everyone else’s.

2. Keep it simple.

If you have created a résumé with any type of software-based formatting (i.e. bullets, tabs, bold, underline, or any graphics at all) you will need to create a second Plain Text version to attach to your online application. Plain Text résumés use only the formatting found on your computer keyboard. If you don’t take the time to specifically create a Plain Text version, your carefully worded and laid out application could be converted into a kind of alphabet soup.

3. Increase your suitability ranking with keywords.

Once you have submitted your application online, your résumé will be searched, and the strength of the keywords in it will determine if you move on to the next stage. Keywords are desirable qualifications or qualities that are included in the job posting such as “creative problem-solving skills”, “initiative”, “MBA” or “industrial experience”. Have a look through the job posting or job description and use as many of them that accurately describe you as possible. Having a keyword-rich résumé is a critical factor in making it to the next level in the recruitment process.

4. Keep your strengths front and centre.

Make sure that your résumé, and everything you enter online answers the question, “Why should I hire you?” If you can clearly answer this question for yourself, it will shine through in every part of the recruitment process.

5. Not all application systems are equal.

Online application systems are not all the same. Some will guide you through a step-by-step process to create a detailed profile of your education, experience, skill level, references, salary history, etc. Others only ask for your name and contact information. All of them will ask you to attach your résumé. Watch for Required Fields (usually marked with a *) that must be completed.

Keep in mind that if your application makes it through The Machine, then the next stage is a review by human beings who will need to be able to easily read and understand your strengths relevant to the position you are applying for. A proactive and strategic application will get you to the interview every time!

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Article Tags: Career, career coach, employment, executive career, interview coach, Personal Branding, Resume



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