Evaluating Responses

If you follow the steps and craft a good cover letter and resume, 0:00 tailoring it to the application, then you should start getting responses. 0:03 Even after customizing your applications, don't expect to get 0:07 a callback from every single one. 0:11 The process could look something like the following. 0:13 You send out 100 applications. 0:16 You receive 20 responses, of which you initiate contact with 18. 0:18 Of those 18, you get past the first stage, whether it's a screening interview, 0:23 phone interview, or something else, with 15 of them. 0:27 And of those 15 phone interviews, 9 result in an in-person interview. 0:31 Of those 9, you nail 3 of them, and then you have 3 offers to select from. 0:36 Be optimistic. 0:40 It is definitely a numbers game out there, especially in this economy. 0:43 Don't think that you can apply to one or two jobs and succeed nowadays. 0:47 Of course, there are going to be exceptions. 0:51 Some people may be the perfect fit and only apply for that one job and get it. 0:53 But in general, if you're looking for a job, you want to cast a wide net, 0:58 so you bring in more results. 1:02 When you start getting responses in, there's a certain craft 1:04 to managing them as well, so you make the most of it. 1:07 I recommend having a separate email address for your job search. 1:10 If any of you have used a job board before, 1:14 you know that long after you find your job, 1:17 you will keep getting emails from these job boards. 1:19 Having that separate email address makes it easier, so you don't clutter 1:22 your regular inbox. 1:26 Okay, so how do you manage your responses? 1:28 Now what I'm about to mention aren't any sort of official tips. 1:30 They're things I've read about and done myself that make a lot of sense. 1:33 But they're not must-dos, by any means. 1:36 They're what I find works best. 1:39 First off, when you get a call from a recruiter during a job search, 1:41 just let it go to voicemail. Don't pick it up. 1:45 Now that seems highly unusual, but let me explain. 1:48 When you apply for a bunch of jobs, say, 50, 1:51 you're not going to remember the details for every single job off the top of your head. 1:54 Remember, we're tailoring our applications. 1:58 So when we talk to anyone from the company, we want to know 2:01 all our facts, the background about the company, 2:04 and anything about the individual who we're going to talk to. 2:07 We need to be as prepared as possible. 2:10 If you pick up the phone straightaway, you're going to be caught off guard. 2:13 You will have to simultaneously figure out what the position was 2:16 at this company that you applied to, what details you mentioned in the application 2:20 that was pertinent, and listen to the person on the other end, all at the same time. 2:24 It's a lot to do, and you will start to get nervous and forget a thing or two. 2:29 I once applied at a very large corporation. 2:33 This corporation had several departments with the same position 2:36 and multiple postings across the company. 2:40 So I applied for the same job within three departments at the same company. 2:42 When I got the call, I had to worry about knowing which department 2:47 it was and how to customize my message based on the job requirements. 2:51 So instead, just let it go to voicemail. 2:55 Now this obviously means having a really good voicemail message in place. 2:57 Mention who you are and a brief message saying you're unavailable. 3:02 If you have a time you want them to call specifically, 3:06 you can leave a time in the voicemail message as well. 3:09 Once they have left a voicemail, listen to it. 3:11 Write down the company, the job, and the name of the person who called. 3:15 Now go refresh your memory. 3:19 If you used a job board, all your applications will be saved to your profile. 3:21 Go over the job posting, your elevator pitch, cover letter, and the resume you sent in. 3:26 If you had done background research on the company, 3:32 its culture and values, pull it all up. If not, research it. 3:35 Finally, try and find some information about the person who just called you. 3:40 A few years ago, this would have been impossible. 3:44 But with everyone on LinkedIn and all sorts of social media nowadays, 3:47 you can get an idea of who you're talking to and how to relate to them. 3:51 Now, armed with all the information, you can call them back. 3:56 You're as ready as you could possibly be. 4:00 So what do you talk about on this phone call? 4:03 Now most of the time, the employer, HR person, whoever it is on the other side, 4:05 will tell you more about the position. 4:10 If they don't, ask them. 4:12 If what they say has additional points not covered in the job posting, 4:15 adjust your elevator pitch and responses to suit the new information. 4:18 This first interview is just a test to see if you match up to the job, 4:22 a screening interview, of sorts. 4:27 If you have prepared your elevator pitch and cover letter well, 4:29 you can just knock each item out of the park by reading off your bulleted list, 4:32 saying why you're absolutely perfect. 4:37 Be enthusiastic when you're doing all this. 4:39 Smile when you're talking. 4:42 Now that may sound absurd, but it really comes through your voice. 4:44 Some people even suggest setting yourself up in a professional environment when calling back. 4:47 Sit at a desk, somewhat well dressed, instead of lying on your couch in shorts. 4:52 It makes you feel more prepared, and it comes through to the interview. 4:57 If you are no longer interested in the position since you applied for it, 5:01 this is the time to let them know. 5:05 Even if you don't want the job, be professional about it, 5:07 and let them know you're no longer interested. 5:10 If you do a great job, you will get past the screening interview 5:13 and progress to either a more job-specific phone interview 5:17 or even an in-person interview. 5:20 Let's talk about that next. 5:23