The thing you may not realize is that each company is required by the Federal government to track their applicants (specifically to ensure that the company's hiring practices are not discriminating or doing otherwise illegal things). So the next time a company recruiter says this to you, understand that it is for legal reasons, not because they want to herd you.
The exception to the cattle herding that I've seen is actually by Boeing. At my career fair, they actually did not accept any resumes in hand, they required all applications, resumes, etc to go online. More specifically, they required that you do a job search on their website and apply directly to positions you were interested in. I honestly didn't apply because I didn't want to spend 5 hours of my valuable time applying to 20 different jobs for one company. You may have a different opinion on that (or you may really want to work for Boeing); To each his or her own.
Now that we're past the cattle herding, let's talk about actually applying online. There are some secrets to filling out the application that will make it stand out, while saving you time in the process (remember, time is vital here, since you have multiple companies to apply to!). One point is to make sure that you fill in all the sections as completely as possible, with job dates, supervisors and all other pertinent information. Make sure that this information matches the information on your resume - exactly. Have a text document (yes, I mean text editor, not Word) of this information so that you can copy and paste it right into the online forms.
You also want to have a text (again, .txt) version of your resume available for easy copy and pasting. Some companies still don't have the ability for you to upload a Word or PDF version of your resume.
The final secret to this game is that you have to realize that some companies search through the "database of resumes" by using keywords. If you are only applying for a specific job, then you want to make sure you tailor your resume for this so that your resume has those keywords they are searching for. Take a look at the job description on the website and ask yourself "Self, if I were the hiring manager here, what keywords would I use?" See how you can bend your resume to make those keywords fit, it shouldn't be that difficult. Worst comes to worse, you can probably fit them into your objective.
As you become more familiar with online applications it will be easier for you to fill them out correctly and efficiently. One of the best suggestions to filling out a great job application - especially online - is to make sure you have all your information and that it is accurate and concise. Be succinct - don't use more words than you have to, as there is usually limited room on the application. When you fill out the application, use the essential points. Your resume will contribute additional information.
You may of come across this type of interview already in your career of trying to get now what is the most prevalent entry level , student or part time job of many in our working and employment jobs and careers. This is the online interview. The drill is you ask at the customer service desk of your local big box electronics / office equipment / hardware / grocery or other ?big box? retail store. Either at the customer service desk itself or on the website itself you are told that to apply for an ?exciting position and career? that the proper (and only procedure) is to fill out the ?online interview?. Many job seekers and applicants think that these online or ?computer assisted? interviews are a lark, that they really do not count. However it is very simple ? in previous years it may have been a physical person ? a secretary or assistant that was the keeper of the gate. In the year 2008 it's an automated system. If you do realize that if you do not fill out the online application form ?correctly? you will be screened out of the system promptly.
It's all a numbers game. The applications are filed according to an answer score, sorted as such and emailed to the store manager or human resources person who does the employment interviewing. At the most that hiring authority will receive two piles. Pile one (which you hope to be in if you want a chance at a screening interview) and pile 2 which is usually not even looked at.
The question becomes then ?How do you I get in the correct job screening selection pile?? The answer lies in anticipating the questions, and giving the ?correct ?or expected answers. Two points here - one ? it is never a wise or ethical idea to lie. You will only be found out in the future. The second here is that your ultimate goal is to get the job employment screening interview as a stepping stone to be offered the job.
You have to remember as well that those hiring are also trained in a system. The turnover and movement of managers around the company locations is often on a fill in basis ? and as needed. As such management makes decisions based on a system and on ?the book ?: or ?manual?. All of this works to your favor if you understand how it all works.
The basic rules are to tell them what they want to hear. Second never tell a lie. If it's not in your favor then do not tell a lie. Simply do your best not to bring it in the interview or in this case the online screening interview. Often the questions are very telling and apparent in the desired answer. Often as you complete the interview you may find that the skills that are desired are often at odds with each other. It's as if the online interview was written by a number of different people ? all who wanted different skill sets. In most likelihood the interview was completed by a committee ? each member of which had totally different preferences for the workers they hired. After all the long committee meeting, the members may have had enough of the frustrating exercise, and then threw up their hands to agree and get the ordeal over with. Then it's left to computer programmers, who are often technical engineer types, to put all these conflicting questions into online interview format.
As an example you may have a series of questions dealing with customer empathy and always serving customer needs. The correct answers here are that the ?customers needs, wishes and preferences are paramount?. The next series of questions may well deal with company polices- that the company policies and rules are always paramount.
These rules should never be questioned or disputed- not by you and certainly not the customer. The series of questions in sequence one may be from a successful sales trainer ? with a sales orientated response. After all ?nothing happens without the sale?. Yet the questions in sequence number two may well come from the customer service department .Enforcing and enforcement of company rules, polices and procedures are paramount- no matter what the final effects and results are. The correct answer to any of the questions on the online form is the answer that will get you into pile number one which will afford you the chance of actual face to face screening interview.
That's what all is about ? without buying a ticket you cannot win the big lotto. In the same way unless you are in employment application screening pile one you will have no choice whatsoever at that initial screening interview which is the first and primary focus of the employment interview process. Fill out that ?online interview? or ?online interview application ?correctly.
Both Robert Halgren & William Piker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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