When you are looking for a job and going through hundreds of job listings, you may find yourself taking shortcuts so that you can get through the list. Certain things that you may start to do include skimming through the description and only reading the title, salary fields and benefits section. Other things some job seekers may do when they get tired of searching through hundreds of job postings is just look at the title and hit submit. The problem with doing this is that you may not be submitting enough to meet the minimum requirements and your resume will be discarded.
Employers ask for things like cover letters, CVs, salary requirements, writing samples, etc… for a reason. They are relevant for the job you are applying to or make their hiring process easier. By not providing the things that they need and in the format they need them in may get your submission thrown in the garbage and your email getting deleted. You have to remember that submitting your resume is just as important as your interview.
It shows that you followed their instructions, you are serious about getting the job and that you pay attention to details. Here are some things that you should always look for in a job description to make sure that your resume submission is complete and has a better chance of getting reviewed.
What is required? Cover Letters, CVs, Writing Samples, References.
When a description asks for a cover letter or writing samples, the decision makers want to see how well you write or to have a brief write up of why you are a good fit for that particular position. If you can’t take 2 minutes to alter your cover letter to help them see why you are a good candidate, then why would you take the extra time to make sure your work in their company is perfect? The truth is that some employers may think you are lazy if they ask for things like a cover letter and you either submit a general one with little to no relevance to their company or the job or don’t submit one at all.
If they want writing samples and you don’t give them the amount required, then how do they know if you can write like they need you to? If you don’t have any, then write a couple samples that match what they are looking for. Not only will it help your resume make it to the call back pile for submitting everything required, but you’ll have the samples for future use with other companies. If you don’t want to write them because they take time and effort, the job probably isn’t a good fit for you because it may have involved you writing regularly and if two samples are to much work, 5 a day could make you miserable.
Pay Attention to How They Want You To Submit Your Resume. The Format, Method and Subject Lines.
Many job postings will be very specific on how the employer wants resumes submitted. Some will say reference the job number in the subject line and others will say word documents only. If you don’t follow the guidelines for submissions, you may not be considered for the job. It is important to pay attention to how they want to receive your information. If they say no attachments, don’t attach your resume to an email. Some companies may have policies about opening attachments from outside people. This is key to getting your resume package seen by a real person or discarded.
It can be tempting to try and take shortcuts when you are hunting for a job. The problem is that when you take shortcuts you may only be hurting yourself. Remember to read the entire job description, pay close attention to what they require you to submit and the format that you need to submit your resume in.