Online Application Mistakes People Make

Research first

Most employers know that when the job market is tough, people will apply to just about any position with any company. As a hiring manager with multiple positions open (ranging from an entry level receptionist to a construction project manager), receiving applications from the same individual for every position I have available tells me they are not reading the job descriptions. Ensure you are qualified for the position you are applying for or do not be surprised if your application is quickly rejected.

In addition, research the company (not only the corporate office, but the location of the position itself). Learn as much as you can about the organization by calling the office for more information or visiting if you are physically able to. This information may help you figure out which key words the company may be filtering applications for. As employers may receive hundreds of online applications for one position, they typically look for ways to filter through them quickly. The more you know, the less chance you have of being eliminated in round one.

Location, location, location

Where do you live? Where is the job located? Although technology has certainly advanced and employers can conduct interviews via conference call or webcam, most employers still prefer to interview applicants face-to-face. Interviews are more than just questions and answers. It includes choice of attire, body language, choice of words, and tone of voice among other things. If you live in California and you want to apply for a job in Washington, I strongly suggest you do not list your home address in the state of California. Although you can certainly add a sentence explaining that you intend to or would be willing to relocate, employers who need to fill positions quickly may not be willing to wait for you. I would suggest finding a friend or family member in that state and ask to use their address. Another option would be to open a P.O. Box in that area (assuming the application allows P.O. boxes as opposed to physical addresses).

As a hiring manager, I would prefer to see an address of a hotel room in the state where I am located, as opposed to something thousands of miles away. I am not condoning lying on an application or falsifying documentation. I simply want to stress that if you really want a job in Hawaii, you will find a way to fly there and spend a few weeks at an address, ready to accept a call from a potential employer as opposed to hoping they will not care that you are currently in New York and interviews are scheduled for tomorrow. Your goal should be to avoid being eliminated in round two.

It's all about the money

The economy is in shambles. The unemployment office should remain open 24/7 to accommodate the number of people needing benefits. If you are lucky enough to still be employed, you may be experiencing furloughs, pay freezes, or even worse the fear of possible future layoffs. For the hiring manager, this is the ideal time to find exceptional employees for their open positions. Many people are willing to take huge pay cuts, just to get their foot in the door. Others are willing to take next-to-nothing in pay, simply to be hired and be eligible to receive medical benefits. That being said, if you are used to making 50K and the online application asks for your salary requirements, I would strongly suggest you say open. Of course, if there is no way you can work for anything less than 50K, be honest; however, when employers know exactly what the starting pay is budgeted to be and you are even a penny over that amount, you may be quickly eliminated. Everyone wants to be paid what they think they are worth, but considering today's economy, just remember that people with more experience and/or knowledge may be willing to take the same job for far less than what you would. Do not be eliminated simply because of the dollar figure you entered on the application. If you can make it past round three, you quite possibly could have cut your competition in half. Knowing how to stay on the field is the key to winning the game!