Get the Job: How to Think Like a Hiring Manager

Writing a resume is time-consuming, frustrating, and confusing. Especially if you haven’t done it in a while, what do you include and what do you leave out? A perfect resume has more to do with the person reading it than how you’ve written it. To get a job offer, you need to think like the hiring manager.

Here are a few things you can do on your resume and cover letter to impress a potential employer and land an interview.

  • Customize

    The number-one thing you can do on your resume to attract the right attention is to customize it. Sending over a boilerplate resume is what everyone else does. Showcase not just who you are but why you want this specific job. Do that by using the job description as a script to help you use their language in your resume.

  • Understand Perspective

    You also want to know where the hiring manager is coming from. Every job is a problem that needs to be solved. You need to position yourself from the employer’s perspective to be the answer to whatever questions they’re asking when they start the hiring process.

  • Cover Letter

    Some of this can be communicated in your cover letter. It’s a great way to include information that would normally be left out of a resume. You can make your introduction, describe what you’re looking for, and how you see yourself fitting into their open position. You want them to be interested enough after reading the letter to call you right away.

  • Be Respectful of Time

    Remember that everyone’s time is valuable, including your own. When you’re meeting with a potential employer, always be on time. Be available for phone calls and communicate clearly via email. Being on time will go a long way in impressing a potential employer.

  • Follow Up

    Employers like candidates who take initiative and follow up—without crossing the line. When you follow up, there’s an art to the process. In the interview, ask when they plan to make a decision. Then use that as the date when you will follow up. If it’s concrete, follow up the day before they said. If they tell you it’ll be about a week, follow up in a week. Keep your communication professional but always restate your interest

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Contact InterSolutions to jump-start your career today!