The Biggest Application Misconception

by Angela Copeland | Nov 2, 2016 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media

In the 1989 film Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s character builds a baseball field after hearing a voice say, “If you build it, he will come.” As job seekers, it seems we often try to take a similar approach.

Let me explain. When looking for a job, we focus a tremendous amount of energy building the perfect resume, making a fantastic LinkedIn profile, and writing a compelling cover letter. We pour hours of work into these items. Then, the clock starts. Months pass by and we become increasingly frustrated. We begin to wonder, “Why haven’t I found a job by now?”

The problem is, a rumor has been going around. The rumor is this: if you’re interested in a job, the only thing you need to do is apply online. If you’re the right person for the job, the company will call you. It makes sense that we’d believe this rumor. It’s the official line companies have been telling us every day for years.

This approach seems perfectly reasonable – and, it allows is to avoid our biggest job seeking fears. For example, contacting a hiring manager directly can be a scary thing. We might be rejected. We might bother them, and they won’t want to hire us. So, we stick with the safe online route.

Then, when we receive the automated rejection e-mail, we try to make up a list of reasons as to why we weren’t the best candidate. We assume something must be wrong with us and our resume. It might be our experience, our education, or even our age. It’s an awful process that can damage even the best self-esteem.

Unfortunately, many of the online systems companies use (called applicant tracking systems) aren’t as perfect as we might hope. If we only submit an application online, there’s a good chance another human may never see our resume, no matter how qualified we are.

And, even if a real live person does see our online application, will the company really want to hire us? Hiring can be a risky undertaking after all. A hiring mistake can cost the company both time and money.

To avoid mistakes, hiring managers typically start with their own network first. They think, “Do I know anyone who might be a good fit for this job?” Then, they think, “Do I know anyone who knows anyone who might be a good fit for this job?” Rarely does the manager begin a search wondering who they might find on the internet.

Rather than be a passive stranger, we should take a bolder approach. We should introduce ourselves. Find the hiring manager. Find the head of the department. Find the HR person. Send an email. Send a LinkedIn connection request. At worst, the company may ignore us. But, otherwise, they may not have ever seen our resume in the first place. This is the kind of risk that’s worth taking.

As Babe Ruth once said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.

When to Walk Away

by Angela Copeland | Oct 12, 2016 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media

As strange as I know it sounds, I think of looking for a job a little bit like dating. Unless you are a reality TV show contestant, you’ve probably never gone on a first date hoping the other person would marry you. You’re there to get to know them, and to decide whether or not to have a second date.

The same holds true with interviewing for a job. Just because a company looks attractive on the outside doesn’t automatically mean it’s a place you want to spend your time. You could end up with eight hours a day of stress, followed by unpleasant evenings trying to recover.

So, what are the red flags you should be on the lookout for? One of the biggest signs you should run the other way is an incomplete interview process. Perhaps the employer wasn’t terribly interested to interview you. Rather than ask you questions about your experience, they were trying to convince you they were a great place to work. This could be a sign that they’re having a hard time finding candidates. Alternatively, perhaps the hiring manager was not the one to interview you or to make the final hiring decision. Their boss loved you and made the decision for them. This may set you up for an uncomfortable relationship with your direct boss in the future.

Another red flag can be how many times the role you’re interviewing for has turned over in recent years. If more than two people have held a role in a four year period, you should wonder what’s going on.

A number of other red flags can show up at the very end of the interview process – after you’ve received an offer and are negotiating. Take note of the following: The employer refuses to provide the offer to you in writing. The employer forces you to make a decision in less than twenty-four hours. The employer requires you to start working in less than two weeks. You are interviewing for a senior role and the employer is not open to any negotiation around increased salary or vacation.

The most important red flag of all is when you get a bad feeling about a company. You aren’t sure why, but something isn’t adding up. Maybe the employees seem unhappy, the boss seems squirrely, or something else just seems off. Even if you can’t pinpoint the exact cause of your discomfort, don’t ignore it. There’s a reason you are unsure.

While you’re sorting through red flags, it can be helpful to learn what others are saying about the company. If you don’t have a personal contact you can turn to, check out sites like Glassdoor.com. Employees rate companies on the website much like diners rate restaurants on popular review websites.

Whatever you do, don’t be fooled. These red flags won’t go away just because you love the company. They often become worse. Know when to walk away from a company just like you would from a bad date.

Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.