4 Tips for Job Seekers
Over the course of my career I've hired dozens and interviewed hundreds. If you are looking for a job you need to understand what the hiring manager is going through.
Finding a job is hard. But so is hiring.
I'm currently trying to fill two investments marketing roles and this requires my full attention on top of what I should be doing every day. I enjoy the process, but doing a proper evaluation of all candidates requires a lot of time and energy.
Here are a few things you can do to make it easier for the hiring manager. And by making it easier for the hiring manager you make it easier for yourself.
It's easy to get lost in the noise during the early stages of the hiring process. When a posting goes live, the hiring manager is often inundated with emails, calls and LinkedIn messages offering to chat about the role. I try to talk to as many people as possible, but the volume of conversations can be overwhelming. In addition, the hiring manager must go through hundreds of resumes. Names and faces get mixed up and good candidates can get accidentally looked-over or forgotten. Make it your responsibility to ensure you stay on the agenda - particularly during the early days of the hiring process.
My next tip might seem like it contradicts the first. While you need to remain top of mind, you must avoid pestering the hiring manager. If they hint that you might not be a good fit for the role, accept it. If they say they'll get back to you Thursday, wait until Friday to follow up if you haven't heard anything. To help manage your own expectations don't hesitate to ask about the process and timing.
If you're interested in a role, don't wait for the hiring manager to ask you to apply online. First of all, those postings are only live for a limited time. Second, it's a pain in the ass when people try to go around the online application portal. It's there for a reason - it effectively becomes a database of interested candidates. If you're not captured in the database, the train might leave without you.
Be true to yourself. Do you really want the job and are you really a good fit? That initial conversation with the hiring manager is your opportunity to probe and figure out what you're really applying for. I always start out with a 20 minute casual phone call to plainly state what I'm looking for. I expect candidates to do the same.