Most people believe in what I call the “if I simply apply, I’ll get the interview” philosophy.
They assume that recruiters will drop everything they’re doing and call them for an interview. In the meantime, those same recruiters may have hundreds of resumes to screen for a single position. How can you stand out under those circumstances?
The Power of Being a Proactive Job Seeker
I coach my clients to put themselves in a recruiter’s shoes. If several candidates, including you, look good on paper, what will encourage recruiters to call you? You need to share the crucial element that’s missing on your resume—your personality.
By calling the recruiter after you apply, you immediately set yourself apart from the crowd. You’ve now established that you’re proactively looking for a job. This also shows that you’re a self-starter. You’re not waiting around for someone else to hand you the position. And if you’re in sales, you’ve just demonstrated the due diligence needed to be successful with clients.
The recruiter now sees you as a human being with ambition rather than just a list of key words on a resume. If the recruiter is smart, he or she will set up an interview with you on the spot. If not, don’t argue. Just move onto the next lead. Rinse and repeat until you get what you want—an interview with the hiring manager.