By Arnie Fertig
"I've sent my résumé to over 150
companies but I'm not getting any bites," complained a job hunter. "How
many more jobs should I apply to in order to generate some interest?"
Some people treat job hunting as a
numbers game. They hope that by applying to enough companies, sooner or later
they will find success. While there is no one magic number of how many places a
job searcher need apply, you shouldn't for a moment believe that applying to
everything in sight is a winning strategy for career progression. Moreover,
being unprepared for success might also be risky.
Imagine getting this call: "Hi
Joe. This is Jane from ABC Corp. I'm responding to the résumé you submitted to
us. Thanks so much for your interest. Can you tell me why this job appeals to
you?"
Gulp. Joe's chances could be doomed
from the get-go if he can't quickly summon to mind a better answer than:
"Well … I applied to lots of jobs. Remind me which company you're calling
from, and tell me about the job. Then I'll be able to explain it to you."
Already, Joe has blown his chance to
show that he actually cares about this particular opportunity. Worse, he
cemented in the mind of the interviewer that he is submitting frivolous
applications out of desperation and likely isn't a serious candidate.
To be fair, you can't be expected to
put in hours researching the details of every company before submitting an
application. Nonetheless, it is important to have a clear sense of why you're
interested in every company to which you apply, and what in your background
should make that particular company interested in you.
If you want to make a hit, then take
the time to understand the basics of your target companies' employment brand.
Be prepared to tap into their carefully crafted reputation from your first
conversation and all the way through the hiring process.
Here are five possible answers to the
"why work here" question. Pick and choose from them, and expand with
the facts of your particular situation. Thereby, you can demonstrate that
you've done your research, your interest is real and your candidacy makes
sense:
1. "I've
known several colleagues over the years that have worked at your company, and
they have all said great things."
2. "I was
excited to see on your website that you feature employees talking about how
great it is to work for your company. These days so many people seem to hate
where they work for one reason or another. It's wonderful to see that your
employees are proud to talk about how much they love their jobs."
3. "Your
company's Facebook page is really engaging. I love how you [fill in the
blank]."
4. "I'm
connected on LinkedIn to many people who work at your company. When I reviewed
their profiles, I saw that we all shared some things in common. [You might reference
similar accomplishments, prior employers, colleges, etc.] It struck me that
this is the kind of place where I can fit in and excel, so I was thrilled to
see you have this opening."
5. "Your
company is known for making great products that help people do X. But on top of
that, I know of your company's leadership role in our community through your
support of X, Y and Z events or causes. Your products and philanthropy show you
to be a company that cares about both the bottom line and giving back to society."
Of course, to be in a position to make
any of these kinds of statements you need to do a bit of work. Check out the
company's own website and Facebook page to see what it does in the community.
Follow it on LinkedIn, and do a search for people in your network who have
experience working there. Then, look at several of their individual profiles to
determine what you have in common with them. Search for the company in the news
to see if it is mentioned for something with which you can identify.
You don't need to know every detail at
the very beginning of the search, but you should know enough to justify a
genuine belief in your own mind that there is a basis for you considering this
company, and for that company to consider you.
When you go about things this way, you
won't be able to apply to anything close to 150 jobs simultaneously. But the
quality of your thoughtful and purposeful applications will produce a more
focused target group of opportunities that can move your search forward. When
you present a compelling answer to the "why are you interested in our
company" question, you will be well on your way to establishing the basis
for being seriously considered for a job that will advance your career at a company
you respect and admire.
Happy hunting!
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