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job application strategies

post #1 of 9
4/14/10 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
So I'm gonna start sending my resumes at the end of the month... I've got a list of companies i'm targeting. I have fairly specific idea of what I want out of my next job because i'm trying to craft my career in a certain way and there are only so many "first choice" companies.

I'm still working on some certifications that will increase my value. I'll probably finish the next one in about 3 months time, at which point i'll have another set of letters on my resume and the extra skills that go with it. Since I'm in IT, I presume resumes get scanned for this stuff. Obviously, I want to apply for work in the meantime.

If I have a list of companies that offer the types of positions I want, would I be better to send out my resume now without this certification listed? Should I mention that I'm pursuing it on a cover letter or on the resume itself? Should I send out a smaller batch of resumes first and see what kind of feedback I get on them? i'm not in danger of the coffers being empty any time soon so I'm most interested in getting the best position possible. Once I send out a resume, what happens if I send in an updated one in 3-4 months' time? Do automated systems typically discard the old and keep the new?

thanks.
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post #2 of 9
4/14/10 at 3:51pm
Apply in person is the best way. People like initiative. Also, it helps especially in smaller companies since the front door person is usually also the one who passes resumes on to the higher ups. A couple of good words from the front door person can bump your resume to the top.

Also, if you know the emails of senior members of the company you are interested in, send them an email or whatnot. Usually since they are too lazy to read the thing themselves, they'll usually just forward it to HR. However, an email coming from a senior member in the company will have more clout than just a random email. You could get lucky and the senior member actualyl reads your resume, likes it and sends it to HR with the words, "I like" plastered on the front.
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post #3 of 9
4/14/10 at 3:53pm
I've often included "Candidate for X" or something like that. You could talk about it in your cover, not as a negative like "I don't have this yet", but as a positive like "I want this soo much that I'm working on X as we speak", or "I'm always looking to get better, hence taking the X certification". once you've sent it in, that's it. keep in mind these guys see thousands of resumes and just scan them. you're a number. Make it simple, like REALLY simple and clean and only put relevant stuff. I repeat, only relevant stuff. I'd also highly suggest actually calling ahead and trying to speak with someone, not HR, just someone who's senior and basically cold call them to say you're in the industry, looking for something new, you're really interested in the company, do they have even a couple of minutes to talk with you about what their experience is like. then slip in there somewhere if they've heard of anything available, who would they recomend you speak with (there or anywhere else), and could they pass anything forward as a favor. Then when you call the HR person you can name drop (I was just speaking with X and they mentioned you had an opening for Y, when's a good time to sit down and speak about this?, etc) hope that helps, good luck.
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post #4 of 9
4/14/10 at 3:58pm
Network like crazy. Unsolicited resumes are either tossed or entered in a database for keyword searches. Resumes forwarded by an employee will actually be read, and get top priority for interviews. Make full use of LinkedIn - get recommendations, write up detailed descriptions of your job history, request connections from everyone you know.

Try going the informational interview route - "Hi, I'm interested in learning more about your company, your market and the industry that you are in. Are you available to meet up for coffee to share some of your experiences with me (no homo)?" During the session, along with asking intelligent questions about these subjects make sure to ask for contacts - "Do you know of any other companies that are hiring? Is your company likely to add any positions in the next few months? Can you refer me to anybody else who would be willing to sit down for a similar discussion with me?"

It's less common in the IT world than in some other areas, but you might be surprised by how receptive people can be to this kind of approach, and again, it puts you at the top of the line when a job opens up.
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post #5 of 9
4/14/10 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Classter View Post
I've often included "Candidate for X" or something like that. You could talk about it in your cover, not as a negative like "I don't have this yet", but as a positive like "I want this soo much that I'm working on X as we speak", or "I'm always looking to get better, hence taking the X certification".

once you've sent it in, that's it.
keep in mind these guys see thousands of resumes and just scan them. you're a number. Make it simple, like REALLY simple and clean and only put relevant stuff. I repeat, only relevant stuff.

I'd also highly suggest actually calling ahead and trying to speak with someone, not HR, just someone who's senior and basically cold call them to say you're in the industry, looking for something new, you're really interested in the company, do they have even a couple of minutes to talk with you about what their experience is like. then slip in there somewhere if they've heard of anything available, who would they recomend you speak with (there or anywhere else), and could they pass anything forward as a favor. Then when you call the HR person you can name drop (I was just speaking with X and they mentioned you had an opening for Y, when's a good time to sit down and speak about this?, etc)

hope that helps, good luck.

Exactly.
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post #6 of 9
4/14/10 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Classter View Post
I've often included "Candidate for X" or something like that. You could talk about it in your cover, not as a negative like "I don't have this yet", but as a positive like "I want this soo much that I'm working on X as we speak", or "I'm always looking to get better, hence taking the X certification".

once you've sent it in, that's it.
keep in mind these guys see thousands of resumes and just scan them. you're a number. Make it simple, like REALLY simple and clean and only put relevant stuff. I repeat, only relevant stuff.

I'd also highly suggest actually calling ahead and trying to speak with someone, not HR, just someone who's senior and basically cold call them to say you're in the industry, looking for something new, you're really interested in the company, do they have even a couple of minutes to talk with you about what their experience is like. then slip in there somewhere if they've heard of anything available, who would they recomend you speak with (there or anywhere else), and could they pass anything forward as a favor. Then when you call the HR person you can name drop (I was just speaking with X and they mentioned you had an opening for Y, when's a good time to sit down and speak about this?, etc)

hope that helps, good luck.

This is my concern. I don't want to waste all my top picks when in 3 months or whatever i'll have something significant to add to my resume that will then already be lost in the pile. The thing with a lot of people in IT is that they say they're working on the higher end certifications but never actually get them.
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post #7 of 9
4/14/10 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
This is my concern. I don't want to waste all my top picks when in 3 months or whatever i'll have something significant to add to my resume that will then already be lost in the pile. The thing with a lot of people in IT is that they say they're working on the higher end certifications but never actually get them.

Hmmm. In a sense that is an opportunity for you - you send in a resume without the cert, but mentioning it in the cover letter. In three months, once you've finished it, you send an updated resume with a new cover letter that references the earlier resume and adds that "I wanted to provide an updated version of my resume, please note that I have now completed my X certification."
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post #8 of 9
4/14/10 at 5:35pm
if you're worried about your top choices, maybe think about applying anyway to all your tier 3 guys. it'll take you about 3 weeks at least to hear back from them and get any first rounds, which A) gets you interview practice so you can get back into the flow plus improve your answers to the same questions, and B) when you start applying to your tier 2 and 1 guys, you're always saying things like "I'm in the process of interviewing with several firms", or "I've had a few offers so far, but I really like you guys more", etc indicating that others have already decided you're worth looking at. could be a personal bias but I think once it's sent in and someone knows your name and throw's it in the "no" pile, you might as well move on for a while. Just put the degree on there so visually they'll check mark that you've got it, and put the note taht it's not quite completed with a simple "Candidate for". I don't know your exact position, but I'd be surprised if not having that one thing you're working on would suddenly make you unqualified... If you're a good candidate, there's lots more they'll be considering, so it really shouldn't make much of a difference.
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post #9 of 9
4/14/10 at 6:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Classter View Post
if you're worried about your top choices, maybe think about applying anyway to all your tier 3 guys. it'll take you about 3 weeks at least to hear back from them and get any first rounds, which

A) gets you interview practice so you can get back into the flow plus improve your answers to the same questions, and

B) when you start applying to your tier 2 and 1 guys, you're always saying things like "I'm in the process of interviewing with several firms", or "I've had a few offers so far, but I really like you guys more", etc indicating that others have already decided you're worth looking at.


could be a personal bias but I think once it's sent in and someone knows your name and throw's it in the "no" pile, you might as well move on for a while. Just put the degree on there so visually they'll check mark that you've got it, and put the note taht it's not quite completed with a simple "Candidate for".


I don't know your exact position, but I'd be surprised if not having that one thing you're working on would suddenly make you unqualified... If you're a good candidate, there's lots more they'll be considering, so it really shouldn't make much of a difference.

No, not having it doesn't make me unqualified for any of the positions i'm applying to. I already have the certification that's most directly relevant to the positions i'm applying to. The other one is just a very big plus to anyone considering me as a candidate because it certifies skills in a completely different, but more related by the day, technology area. It means that if I'm being considered for jobs at IT consulting firms, I can be used for more than one type of project because I'll have expertise in more than one area.
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