Step-by-step: What happens to your resumé after you hit ‘apply’
The job ad has been found, the cover letter has been written, and the resumé updated.
But what happens after you hit ‘Apply’?
In order to give yourself the best shot for the job, there are a bunch of things happening behind the scenes that algorithms and recruiters will be looking for.
According to Hays Australia and New Zealand managing director Nick Deligiannis, who spoke to Seek, here’s what happens in each stage of the application process:
1. You submit your application
What will make your resume stand out from the rest? According to Deligiannis, your skills have to be front and centre. He recommends ordering your information in this order:
Contact details: make sure your email address is professional
Short professional summary: throw in relevant keywords that show off your value and differentiate you from competitors
Work experience: in reverse-chronological order, of course. “Personalise this section for each position you apply for, and add more details for experience that relates directly to the job,” says Deligiannis.
Education and qualifications
2. An application tracking system scans resumes for keywords and cuts out irrelevant applications
Many firms will be using software to sort through applications according to how relevant they are to the job ad – so it’s crucial to integrate keywords used in the advertisement, which will give clues about the hard skills needed in the role.
Some examples of phrases you could scatter through the responsibilities section of your resume could be ‘project management’, ‘governance’, ‘efficiencies’, ‘health and safety’, ‘financial reporting’ or ‘budget management’, according to Deligiannis.
But don’t forget keywords that describe your soft skills, too – like ‘communication’, ‘adapt’, ‘organise’, ‘time management’ or ‘professionalism’ – and the particular software or systems you use. One way to integrate these keywords naturally is by describing your achievements.
And given that the tracking system will be looking out for certain words, Deligiannis also warned against quirky twists to industry-standard positions (scrap ‘director of first impressions’ and use ‘receptionist’).
Be sure to upload your resume in the accepted file format, such as a Word doc or PDF, or your application could risk being unrecognised by the algorithm.
3. A recruiter reviews and short-lists applicants
Recruiters will look at dozens of resumes a day – so what will make you stand out is documenting and quantifying your achievements.
“In other words, add proof that you did your previous jobs well. That’s because it’s your achievements and results that really count at this stage of the resume review process,” Deligiannis said.
“After all, anyone can say they are innovative, but not everyone can say they designed and delivered a new online sales booking system that increased sales by 15 per cent in the first six months.”
4. The hiring manager or decision-maker reviews the shortlist
Here, the shortlist drawn up by a recruiter might be passed onto the hiring manager. Again, it’s important that your successes are highlighted – and one way to get this across is in action verbs, said Deligiannis.
“For example, instead of writing that you managed a team that delivered a 55 per cent year-on-year increase in customer service scores, write ‘I united and motivated a team of five underperformers. After one year our customer service scores had increased by 55%.’
“This not only proves to an employer that you can add value but shows how you can achieve it,” he said.
At the end of the day, the employer will be looking out for alignment between the job description and the application – so speak their language and make it easy for potential bosses to see the value you can offer.
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