Applying for Jobs Online: The False Hope

Many studies have shown that only 10-15% of ALL jobs in America are filled through some sort of online posting. Although, I never discourage anyone from this job-searching method, I strongly encourage them to make it only 10-15% of their job search. My experience has shown that the ratio is typically inverted; most job-seekers are spending 85-90% of their time looking for a job online. The reasons are certainly understandable: it’s safe, no rejection, makes them feel like their accomplishing something, etc. Unfortunately, this method provides a false hope and often extends the length of unemployment much longer than it needs to be.

The solution? Engage in much more direct avenues such as calling the companies directly. Many job-seekers have found this proactive approach dramatically increases their number of interviews. If you’re interested in more information about effective alternatives to applying for jobs online, check out the LAND THE JOB YOU WANT training program on CD (http://digyourwork.com/store.asp). 

Post-Interview Thank You Letter by Email

Send a thank-you email to everyone you interviewed with ASAP, no later than that evening. The email should be concise; allow me to rephrase that, the email MUST be concise. If it looks wordy or is long, they simply won’t read any of it.

Following the interview format in the LAND THE JOB YOU WANT training, there are four parts to a good thank you email.

#1 – Validate and acknowledge their time.

i.e. “I appreciate you blocking out time in your schedule for us to talk about the ________ position.

#2 – Confirm you understand their needs.

i.e. “From what I understand out of our meeting, the top the three things you’re looking for in the ideal candidate are…” or “…the top three things you’re looking to accomplish are…”. Then bullet the points and remember, be concise

#3 – Reiterate a few of the reasons why you believe you can help them accomplish what they are looking to accomplish. Be sure to list the things that ONLY apply to their needs. Do NOT list items that you’re proud of but are not applicable to their specific needs.

i.e. “Following are a few of the reasons why I believe I can hit the ground running and help you accomplish your goals:” or “…help make your life easier:” or “solve the big issue you’re dealing with:” or something specific to what you learned in the interview. Then follow with three, no more than five, bullets and if I haven’t mentioned it yet, remember to be concise.

#4 – Show enthusiasm for the position and assume the next step in the interview process. (only show enthusiasm if it’s genuine)

i.e. “I have to be candid; the more I learned today the more excited I got about being able to help your team. I’m really looking forward to the next step to gain a deeper understanding of what you're looking to accomplish and being able to address any concerns you might have. If I haven’t heard from you by _______, I’ll give you a quick courtesy call. (Three business days is a good general rule for follow-up. However, be conscious as to what they shared with you in the interview. i.e. If they are conducting first interviews through next Friday, reference following up on the following Monday. And, yes, you want to be up front about addressing concerns; it shows confidence and that you don’t hide from potential issues.)

The overall theme of the thank you email is that you are aware of their needs and it also reminds them of why you might be a good fit. (Don’t assume they remembered it or even ‘heard you’ in the interview.) The other advantage to this format is that when you go in for your next interview, the person you already interviewed with can simply forward your email to the new interviewer, setting the stage that you understand their needs and it’s clear how you can help them. This will give you a distinct advantage!

Remember to be professional in your tone but feel free to write the way you normally speak. If it’s too rigid or out of character, the email will look like you’re putting on a show to simply get what you want. Companies are already scared to death that the interview is the best they’ll ever see from a candidate and a too-professional style only perpetuates that fear. So, be yourself.

Rather than using the exact words I used in the examples, I encourage you to take a few steps back and look at the overall philosophy of this approach vs. cutting and pasting it. If you make it your own, you will be a lot more attractive.

Hand-written Note

In addition to the thank you email, follow up with a hand-written note and drop it in the mail no later than the next day. This note should be very short and casual.

i.e. “John, Thanks again for your time yesterday. I’m really excited about the position and looking forward to the next step. Sally” 

Which Job Offer Do I Accept?

It’s not uncommon that when someone receives an offer, they’ll receive two or three within a week, even if they have not sniffed an offer for months. Kinda weird, but I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

Now what? How do you pick the right one? No matter the situation, my advice is always the same and it never entails me finding out the details of the offers.

Place the offers off to the side and take out your notes regarding what you were specifically looking for in your next job before you started your job search. Ahh, so you’re telling me you didn’t do that. Ok, that’s fine, let’s do so now. You see, the best job to choose is the one that’s most in alignment with you…who you are, who you want to be, what you want, and where you want to go. So how on earth do you find that out? Simple…ask yourself.

Take out a sheet of paper and free-write (brain-dump) everything you’re looking for in your ideal job. Then narrow it down to the must-haves for the next job you’re about to take. The must-haves list should not include “would be neat, this is what I’m hoping for, it would be nice” etc. The must-haves are just that, must-haves and include things like (but not limited to) salary, amount of travel, type of company, size of company, commute, size of team, managing or not managing, ability to work at home, autonomy, advancement opportunities, benefits, type of work you’re doing, type of work you’re not doing, etc.

Once created, the must-haves list represents you; it is what’s important to you and your soul…it’s who you are. Now, you can take out the offers you’re considering and simply choose the one that’s most in alignment with the list. It really is that simple.

P.S. If none of the offers are in alignment with your must-haves list, walk away from all of them and start over. Accepting an offer that’s out of alignment will be short-lived and out of integrity. Trust the process.