I am currently looking for a new remote job. Upon reflection of my previous successes of finding employment, I noticed a pattern of what works and what doesn’t. It turns out that old school tactics is the clear winner in most of my success of landing a job. I have found that it’s getting more difficult in this digital age to employ these analog techniques. I’d like to explore what’s changed and how I can innovate the methods of making myself stand out in a sea of digital applications.
Let’s start with how applications have changed and what it means moving forward. Digitization of employment applications have made organization easier for hiring managers but makes filtering candidates more difficult. The old school method of filtering applications consisted of separating a stack of applications by how neat an applicant’s handwriting was. Handwriting provided a unique metric because it quickly demonstrated an applicant’s effort and their desire for the job. Quick and messy handwriting reflected a rushed and unimportant attitude which could be interpreted as a negative attitude toward work. Good penmanship showed the applicant took the time to carefully fill out their applications making it easier for the hiring manager to read. With the advent of digital applications, this whole process has changed. I had to find new ways to stand out.
I always try to send a physical cover letter, resume, and photo of myself using snail mail. This may not always be possible, but it will give me a definite edge when they are considering applicants that go above and beyond. I like to do some research on the company I am applying for, look up the chain of command, and send my documents directly to the person that has the discretion to hire and fire people. Even if my documents are tossed aside on their desk, it does produce a recency bias when a meeting for hiring candidates come up. Even if I have no idea who to send it to, I send it to the highest position and hopefully they forward it to the appropriate person. Unfortunately, cover letters are often ignored and resumes only come in when a couple rounds of filtering have occurred. That’s where a photo comes in handy.
A photo gives me a definite edge because it puts a face to a name. This tactic utilizes the same technique used by memory athletes to recall a very long sequence of numbers by attaching them to an image in their mind. I took the time to have a professional photo taken using a professional camera. After being edited, I made sure to save copies for future use or professional profile pictures.
I never meet the hiring requirements when applying for a job. The hiring requirements are up to interpretation and are not a strict guideline. If anything, it’s filtering out the people who don’t even want to try. I figure it’s better to try to apply for positions I may not be qualified for and let them decide if they want to train me or not. If I can demonstrate that I’m a smart and a quick-learner during an interview, then they may reconsider their requirements. Who knows, maybe the only other option they have is someone who is more qualified but maybe got recently terminated for integrity issues.
I always try to reword my duties and responsibilities to focus and match the description of the job I’m applying for. For example, it may be a position for a specialty like case management. I’m familiar with the basic job responsibilities and know they’re looking for specific experience in this field. I review my experience and look for similar work I’ve done before. If I’ve had experience that can mirror their workflow, it’ll give the employers the impression it will be an easy transition. This is what I call smoothing out the edges because it’ll give me a reasonable explanation for applying for the job and am seeking something new.
Enthusiasm is contagious. I really do get excited learning something new. With experience, I lose that enthusiasm. So when I’m applying for something completely out of my niche, my enthusiasm is authentic and that makes a great impression during an interview. I like researching the field, find things I want to learn about it, and show that I’m willing to learn. I believe emotion can trump logic in certain situations. Especially if the emotion is positive and you can leave them feeling good. The best way to do that is face-to-face.
I always go in person whenever possible. Armed with a resume, I’ve gotten several jobs just going into a place and asking for the highest ranked person there. I introduce myself with an assertive voice, strong handshake, offer my resume and let them know I’m interested in a position. I’ve gotten several jobs using this method even when they were not even hiring. Sometimes I’d get calls several months later when they did have a need. Going in person is really rare nowadays and is a great way to make an impression. When there is no physical location, I hunt for that elusive email address and go the annoying route.
Persistence is being annoying to the point that they hire you to make you stop. If I can get my hand on an email address and depending how bad I wanted it, I’d send an email everyday regardless of what the response was. If I suspect they block me, I write from a different email address. Eventually, they will give in. This is a secret I learned in Think and Grow Rich. When there is something I really want and am willing to fight for, don’t give up until I succeed. Even if means becoming that person that creates great discomfort whenever I don’t get what I want. It conditions others to think long and hard before telling me no. I can do this with snail mail and telephone calls as well. The saying is if you can’t beat them, join them. In my case, the only way it’ll stop is if they hire me. Wish me luck although I only consider it a matter of time. I hope the analog advantage works for you.