Dave Tyburski’s guide

Step-by-step Process for Applying to an Open Job

NOTE:  Prior to any job search you must do the following:

  • Discuss your want/need for a job search with significant other, family, friends, dependents, etc.
    • Topics such as salary, benefits, location, transportation, day-care, vacation, job responsibilities, etc should be covered.
  • Open a free LinkedIn account if you don’t have one already.
    • Your LinkedIn account should read as a CliffNote-version of your resume.
    • Send requests to everyone you know in and out of the industry.
    • More potential employers are sourcing candidates from LinkedIn rather than spend thousands for Monster, Dice, CareerBuilder, etc…
  • LOCK DOWN YOUR FACEBOOK, MYSPACE OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL NETWORK, BLOG, ETC…SITE PRIOR TO JOB SEARCH!!!!!!!!!!
    • I can’t express this point enough.
    • Even your profile picture could be “offensive” to someone…even if it was a sweet little girl holding a puppy.
    • Google yourself to find any other material in cyberspace that may prevent you from getting an interview/job.

Without further ado……

  • Find opportunity via
    • indeed.com
    • linkedin.com
    • theladders.com
    • pghtech.org
    • Company’s direct website.
      • Be sure to check the company’s website regardless, so you can research the organization.
    • Customize resume to job description
      • Take note of individual “requirements” as they are mostly written in order of importance
        • Your resume should reflect this order
        • Do not embellish or fabricate
          • You can count on having questions asked pertaining to every item in your resume
        • Resume layout with experience:
          • Summary
            • Make this short, sweat, to the point. Taylor to each job you are applying for.
            • Summary of skills
              • 6 to 8 bullet points spread across two columns
              • Bullets should pertain to description of job you are applying for.
  • Professional Experience
    • Use month/year start/end date
    • Chronological method with most current position first
    • Toot your horn with your experience
      • Be selfish. Use “I”, “Me”, “My”.
    • Resume length should apply to scale below
      • 20+ years of experience should encompass 3 – 4 pages
      • 7 – 20 years: 2 – 3 pages
      • 2 – 7 years: 2 pages
      • 1 – 2 years: 1 page
    •  Education
        • <School Name>, <city, state> – Degree, Major
          • Only see GPA if overall score is 4.0
        • Certifications
          • Type
          • Date acquired
          • Cert # if applicable
        • DO NOT attach references!
          • These can be used by the company or staffing firm you are applying to, to identify more candidates for the position you are going for.
          • Have them ready to send when asked during the interview process
            • Be sure to have recently spoken with your references to ensure they will give positive feedback of your professional experience.
          • Apply online
            • Double check your electronic resume document for typos.
            • Have someone else review it as a triple check.
            • Only add cover letter if “required”
            • DO NOT submit salary requirements unless “required”
              • If “required”, mark up your current compensation by 5-10%.
              • 5-10% is a realistic bump, unless you feel that you are tremendously below market value.
              • Identify the Hiring Manager and/or the H.R. manager
              • Network! Network!  Network!
              • Research LinkedIn
                • You may know someone in common
                • Company’s website
  • Contact Hiring Manager and/or HR Manager
    • Call (if you have the number) within 24 hours of submitting resume online
      • State “I apologize for the interruption, but I recently applied to the xxxx position I found posted on xxxx and just wanted to make sure you are in receipt of my resume.”
      • If no answer on first shot, leave a voicemail stating “I recently applied to the xxxx position I found posted on xxxx and just wanted to make sure you are in receipt of my resume. I will email a copy directly to you just in case.  I look forward to hearing back from you.  Understanding you may be busy, if I don’t hear back, I’ll give you a call in a few days.”.
  • Email resume to Hiring Manager and/or HR Manager

This may take you out of your comfort zone, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease…or the job in this case.