Unsolicited job search advice
I just happen to do hiring a LOT for the org I work at (and have been in hiring roles in the nonprofit space since 2007) and here’s a few tips that are bouncing in my head right now, that may be helpful to y’all.
1. Use a personal, but professional sounding, email address. Don’t use your current employer email to apply for a new job. I didn’t think I would have to say this…but I guess I do. (It’s unprofessional and can put you at risk at your current employer if someone is monitoring email activity.)
2. Don’t address your cover letter with “To Whom It May Concern.” Seriously, just don’t do this. I don’t know what archaic place that garbage phrase came from but it reads as standoffish and uninformed. If they state the hiring manger, address it to them. If you can find the logical person who would supervise this role on their company’s website, address it to them. If not, go with something warmer like “Dear hiring manager” or “Dear [CEO’s name]” or “Dear hiring committee.” I’d prefer no greeting on a cover letter at all over a “to whom it may concern.”
3. Personalize it! ANY time you are applying for a job at a nonprofit/social service agency, your cover letter should say something about your personal connection to the mission/interest in impacting their core issues. If it’s a for profit entity, see if you can speak to your alignment w/ some of their core values or other unique attributes of what they do. It shows you are paying attention to them specifically and not just desperately blanketing your resume everywhere. (Even if you are desperately blanketing your resume everywhere, which I get! It’s rough out there! Just remember you want to approach this in a way that makes you stand out.)
4. FOLLOW THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS! This is non-negotiable. Like seriously, when it says something like “title your email with the subject line X” or “send your requested salary range” then you DAMN WELL better put X as your subject line and offer the salary range! Everything is an audition, people. Your behaviors during the application process tell a story about how you will be as an employee and your skills as a professional. If you can’t follow simple instructions that the hiring manager has requested to help her with the task of sorting through apps, it says that you don’t have an eye for detail and no matter how qualified you are, I wouldn’t advance you to an interview. People are on their best behavior when they’re applying and they relax more when they’re hired, so I would be worried that person wouldn’t produce quality work for me. If you need help, have a friend read over the job posting and your application materials before you hit send, just to double check that you have it all gathered correctly.
5. If you see a job posting on a third party site (like Indeed, LinkedIN, or Craigslist) before you apply, google the company/organization first and see if they have their own hiring process listed on their website. If they do, go with that process over the third party site. Resumes that come to me through Indeed and Craigslist are formatted like garbage and almost impossible to read and review easily. I only post jobs on those sites to ensure that I am getting as many eyes on the opening as possible. I always prefer to receive materials straight via email from my org website, because they are easier to read and I get more info that third party sites prevent me from seeing. But many larger entities use places like Indeed or Zip Recruiter as their single source of applicants. So following the instructions trumps everything. If it’s clear that they want you to apply on Indeed, apply on Indeed.
6. If the posting asks that you not call the office with questions, then don’t call the office with questions. See point 4 above. We pay attention that you called when we asked you not to, I promise. Orgs like mine are small and we literally don’t have the staff bandwidth to speak with the volume of applicants who come our way for our open jobs. We have to prioritize our time for our services. This is super common in my sector and so many postings say “no calls please.” I know that sucks if you really want to get a question addressed, but you’ll just need to wait for the interview phase and then PLEASE bring alllllll your questions! We love answering them at that time. That is your time with us to use wisely.
7. If you don’t have at least 60% of the qualifications, it’s MUCH better to not apply. When you apply for jobs that you are obviously not qualified for, you are putting your name out there with the message “I’m not paying attention.” Again, see point 4 above. (HOWEVER, I say this with the caveat that women are often less likely to try to put themselves out there for their next step and think they need to have 100% of the qualifications point by point, so let me reiterate it IS ok to apply even if you don’t meet every. single. bullet point. in the job description. But you should meet a majority of them.)
I know this is super off topic on this blog, but I have my biggest audience here and thought this may help someone! :)