Applying Online You will almost always apply online. There are certain tricks that can help you ensure you are successful. Make sure your resumes and cover letter are tailored specifically to the position and employer. Just as important, incorporate specific “keywords” into your resume and cover letter. Employers often receive thousands of resumes for each position, and they enter keywords into their resume management system to select resumes for consideration. In other words, if your resume doesn’t match their qualifications or use the keywords they use, they will probably never see it. Examples of keywords: self-starter, detail-oriented, B.A. experience, etc. You can significantly increase your chances of being selected by addressing exactly how you meet each of the qualifications they are seeking. If you do not do these things, your chances of being selected for consideration are almost zero. Employer’s websites often require you to complete a registration process and possibly an application as well. Fill out each item completely and if something doesn’t apply to you, enter “not applicable”. If you have the opportunity to submit a cover letter, do so, but tailor it to the specific position you are applying for. If there is more than one position you are interested in, select the one you like best and apply to it. If you apply to more than one it makes you look desperate or unsure of yourself. Once you have submitted your application materials, if you have any contacts at the organization, let them know you applied. They can then follow up with Human Resources for you if they wish.
Don’t Get Scammed College students are prime targets for scams. Not every listing on job search websites are real jobs - from multilevel marketing schemes to selling magazine subscriptions in malls to home-based pseudo employment, there are all types of job search scams. Marketing/advertising is often a unifying theme with such organizations. The best way to protect yourself from scam artists, and identity theft as well is: never post your resume on a public job search site. Monster, CareerBuilder, and other large national sites seem to attract these scam artists, who troll posted resumes for victims. Instead of posting your resume on a job search site, you should be searching them proactively for possibilities. Almost no one gets a job/internship by simply posting their resume somewhere and waiting for a phone call. It just does not happen like that.
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