You've tailored your resume to the job description. In addition, your cover letter highlights how you're a great match for the open position. You hit the "submit" button on the company's job website. Finally, it's time to sit back and wait for the interview invitation, right? Wrong! Here are 3 important steps you should take after you've applied for the job to increase your chances of getting an interview.
Why you need to do more than just apply online
We all feel a nice sense of accomplishment after submitting a job application online. In particular, many job seekers even pride themselves on the number of applications they submit.
However, most of the time, we don't hear back from the pharmaceutical companies. Especially if we're first-time job seekers in the industry.
Our applications seem to disappear into the internet black hole. As a consequence, we become resentful that we spent all that time applying when nothing came of it.
What happened to your online application?
It's always possible that maybe you've misjudged your fit for the position. Or maybe your qualifications fell short this time.
However, you might actually be a great candidate for the job. But you'll never find out because you didn't hear back about your application.
There could be several reasons why no one has contacted you. Here are just a few possible explanations:
- The HR computer algorithm sorting through applications didn't find enough keyword matches between the job description and your resume.
- A huge number of applications flooded in and overwhelmed the HR associate. This person decided to review only those resumes that came in last week. Too bad you submitted your application today.
- The company already had a strong candidate in mind and decided not to consider external candidates after all.
- The hiring manager decided to interview only applicants from his alma mater (not fair, but it happens!).
Increase your chances of getting a job interview
To avoid being ignored, you need to take these 3 important steps after you submit that job application online. These steps will greatly increase your chances of getting a job interview.
1. Check LinkedIn to see if anyone you know works at that company.
Maybe you'll find that Jennifer, your freshman year biology lab partner, is currently working there. See if there is a good way to stay in touch with her.
While you're checking LinkedIn, this is a good time to make sure that you are well connected with your network. Send invitations to friends, neighbors, colleagues, former classmates and professors, etc.
No need to despair if you are not directly connected with anyone who works at that company. You can always do some sleuthing around the connections of your direct connections to see who they know. In fact, if your contact is connected to someone at the company, ask if you can get an introduction.
2. Make contact with people who work at that company.
Let them know that you applied for a job at their company. A few well-connected people in the company could mean the difference between getting called for an interview and not.
Many pharmaceutical companies offer generous employee referral bonuses. Therefore, your contact might be very motivated to refer you and help you get hired (this is how my graduate school classmate helped me).
You might also use the opportunity to do some research about the job or about the company. What kind of person are they looking to hire for the job? What is the culture of the company?
If you get an interview, you'll be well-prepared to show how much you've already learned. If you don't get an interview, then you'll be top of mind when another opening becomes available.
3. Find out who is the HR lead or hiring manager for the job.
If you know people who work at the company, they might be able to find out who the decision makers are for the job. Ask if they might forward your resume directly to them. There's a better chance that a hiring manager will open emails from a company colleague.
Even if you don't have any direct contacts at the company, you might still be able to find out who the people responsible for hiring are through a Google search or searching LinkedIn.
See if the company posted the job opening on LinkedIn. Perhaps, the HR lead or hiring manager shared it from their accounts. Maybe the company's public website profiled the hiring manager.
If you can make contact with the HR lead or hiring manager, introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the job and how your qualifications are a good match. Request an informational interview to find out more (see how this worked for me).
Not sure how to write that request? Check out our email templates here.
Getting that job interview after applying online
There are so many reasons why you might not hear back from companies after you applied for their jobs online. Your goal is to not let any of those reasons keep you from having a shot at your dream job.
Unfortunately, applying for a job online is only the first step. It's up to you to do some extra legwork to make sure that the right people (the people who make the hiring decisions) know that you've applied.
Following these tips will definitely increase the probability of getting called for an interview.
Last words
Let's say you've followed these steps after applying for a job online. Unfortunately, you find out that the company is freezing all hiring for the next few months.
However, getting this disappointing news is still a win for you. It sure beats complete silence and never knowing what happened to your job application.
Another big win is that if you followed these steps, then you have now made yourself known to people at the company. Make a plan to stay in touch with them. Communicating occasionally will show them that you're interested in the job and the company. When hiring begins again, they'll be more likely to advocate for you.
Do you have more tips for increasing your chances for getting a job interview?