If you’re job-hunting and find a job description that interests you, prioritize it.
Apply early.
Many employers start screening candidates as soon as the applications come in. If you wait until the closing deadline, this causes several problems for you:
1) It paints you as a procrastinator.
2) It shows that you’re not ‘passionate’ about the organization. If you were, you’d follow them and jump on an opportunity that fits your profile.
3) It leaves you vulnerable to technical difficulties. A server or computer crash might push your application past the deadline.
4) It might eliminate you from the applicant pool, if several strong candidates surface on the first few days the job’s open.
I once worked with an employer who told me, “Candidates should apply the day the see the job is listed. We receive thousands of applications for every role, but we only consider the first 100, and often, we’ve reached this number on Day One of the posting.”
Or, as a job description I just read says, “Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the application window. There is a limit on the total number of applications that will be considered. After the limit is reached, the application window will close.”
Also – do NOT submit a boilerplate resume and cover letter. Customize your application, focusing on the job, and not on yourself.
This blog post details the best way to do this – and if you’ve got questions about how to ace the process, book a free consult with me to discuss!
