Job applications are the first step in a weeding process that determines whether or not someone will be useful for the position the employer’s looking to fill. There are two kinds of people that apply for jobs: those who hope they’re useful – the applican’t, and those who are certain they are useful – the applican. So if you can make yourself an applican and determine your usefulness or worth to a company before you even apply, you can better direct your job search and increase the chance you’ll be noticed by the right employers.
In every other use of the word “apply”, it generally means something is being used for some purpose. For example, “apply a bandage” to a wound. There’s no implication that the medical personnel are going to “apply” a bandage that might not help heal your wound. Could you imagine? You’re in the emergency room with an injury and you’re told that they “hope” the bandage stops your bleeding?
Of course not – so why should you put your time and effort into something you’re not sure is going to work? In other words, when you “apply” for a job, it means something different. Nothing is guaranteed, and nothing is certain.
However, there is a little self-examination you can do to increase those application odds and determine whether you are an applican’t or an applican:
1. Can you get an insider’s referral?
Referred candidates are 30 times more likely to get feedback or an interview than non-referrals! If this is you, then you’re already improving your odds. Now that you’ve been referred, your endorsement speaks louder than the words on your resume.
2. Do you know anything about the company? Are you sure it’s where you want to work?
Let me tell you a story about an interview I conducted recently: Guy walks in, he’s interviewing for a position with a university that happens to carry the same name as a famous city in California. I asked him what he knows about the school that he supposedly wants to work for. He replies, “Well, I just found out before the interview that you guys are located in Michigan,” he laughs nervously and continues to bury himself, “the whole time I thought I’d have to move up-state if I got hired.” The lesson here should be obvious – if you don’t know anything about the company, then why would I ever believe your answers about what you could do for me?
Furthermore, you might look into an organization and realize that it’s actually not for you. Location, culture, work environment – screen them just like the employer screens you. You’ll learn that sometimes, they may need you more than you need them, so give yourself some credit and do your homework first. Would you go on a date with someone if you already know you have nothing in common? Well, maybe if you thought they were attractive – but just in the same way that a high salary is attractive, if it’s not a good fit, it’s not going to work out in the long run.
3. Lastly, Are you qualified?
All too often people apply for jobs they’re not qualified for. If you need to have passed an exam, be certified, or have a certain education level to be qualified, you can’t fake it. If you’re honest with yourself about what you can do and what you know, then you’ll be better off compared to applying to everything you see and always hearing “no”. The more you apply, the more you hear “no”. The reason isn’t you, it’s statistics.
Well, which are you, the applican’t or the applican? Hopefully by now, you’re done hoping, and you’re an applican. You got referred, you were knowledgeable about the company, and you were qualified. You proved you were useful, and now your skills will be put to work.
Most applicants won’t be hired…but those that apply themselves and do their homework will. So make yourself useful; I’m certain people will notice.