Application automation: The pros and cons of Web job searching

Unemployment is at an all time high. The last time we saw percentages like this was in the 80's. A lot has changed since then and when it comes to jobs, recruiting online has become a HR's dream. Or maybe not?

With the ease of posting information online now, job openings can be announced to tens of thousands of people (maybe more) in very little time and with minimal effort. In return, job postings online can be responded to with hundreds or thousands of job seekers eager for the position. Imagine getting hundreds of mailed-in resumes. With PDF resumes simply attached to an email, employers can easily scan documents–searching for keywords can make interpreting experience a matter of matching certain words– and delete undesirable ones at the click of a button. Is this the way to find a motivated person? It just might be. When you get hundreds of responses in the same way, the one or two that do it a little different will stand out.

When applying for jobs, seekers are confronted with message like, "Due to the number of responses, we cannot assure you a response..." The effortlessness of emailing a resume out causes a barrage of responses, making the time to narrow down perspective hires even greater. This also leaves a huge window for job seekers. Take advantage of a task that is all to familiar in this economy. The same process and tools that employers can use to find employees can be used by job seekers to increase their potential for an interview.

Let's first consider what was just said. If everyone is emailing their resumes, look for a way to stand out. Is an address or phone number given? If you are provided with additional information take advantage of it. Email them your stuff, but perhaps snail mail them a copy of your portfolio and resume. It is a lot harder to get rid of a nicely presented printed portfolio than a PDF. Don't get discourage persistence pays off.

Observe your targeted audience. If you do not get a confirmation email from the perspective employer, there are other ways to ensure that they took the time to look at your portfolio online, and if they didn't, it may be time to contact them again. Google Analytics provides job seekers with an invaluable tool—a means of observing where people are visiting your site from. If you email a resume to an office in a certain location, see if you get a hit on your site from the general area. This will provide you with a peace of mind, and ensure that your message is reaching someone.

Taking the above page from Google Analytics (minus the big dot which is my IP address before I filtered it out of my results) I can see exactly who is visiting me from my resumes that I sent out. I noticed hits to my site the day of, or after, I sent out a resume and portfolio link.

Making sure people are looking at what you send is only the first step, but a crucial one. If your message isn't delivered, it may be time to rethink your strategy.