Follow These Strategies to Avoid the Black Hole

When you're applying for job after job with no response, it's probably time to rethink your strategy. A job search quickly becomes a black hole when your resume never reach company decision-makers, leaving you with no clue about the status of your application. Employers are increasingly using automated recruitment funnels to weed out candidates. If you want to avoid the black hole, use targeted strategies to improve the efficiency of your job search.

1. Know Your Goal

An ineffective job search often stems from a poorly defined goal. Many hiring managers have an ideal candidate profile in mind, and your application should identify you as a close match. However, it's difficult to market yourself to employers if you're pursuing a wide range of jobs with no clear focus. Refine your list of target jobs by evaluating your skills, career goals, weaknesses and environmental needs. Create a consistent objective and personal brand that gives employers a complete picture of your value proposition, motivating them to reach out to you when hiring.

2. Create Keyword-rich Resumes

Despite the obvious limitations of an automated recruitment process, many companies rely on applicant-tracking software to produce the strongest candidates from a dense list. No matter how much time you spend meticulously customizing every resume during your job search, your application is likely to be overlooked if it doesn't include relevant keywords. Perform simple keyword research to generate skills, titles, software and experiences that are most likely to be required for your target position, especially if you're making a career change. Make sure keywords appear naturally in resumes and online profiles, helping you climb to the top of search engine results.

3. Track the Data

Without solid evidence of what is and isn't working, you may waste value time and resources on ineffective strategies. Take an analytical approach by tracking your job-search activity and comparing goals to results. Recording your progress creates accountability and encourages you to identify areas where you're falling short, such as finding new leads or following up on applications. Instead of relying on your memory, add notes about your interactions with recruiters and hiring managers, making it easier to prepare for screening calls and interviews. Data can provide clarity and show you what techniques are producing the best results, so you can refine and shorten your job search.

4. Expand Your Network

Networking is pointless when you don't know what job you're looking for and must rely on others to seek you out for promising opportunities. Armed with a clear job goal and personal brand, you can communicate your needs to your network and gain referrals for positions that are likely to be a strong fit. Build relationships with your current colleagues, and look for new contacts inside and outside your industry by joining alumni, volunteer and trade organizations.

The recruitment process is challenging and competitive for everyone, but you can navigate out of the void by establishing yourself as an expert at your job. Get the most out of your job search by making connections with influential people instead of sending your resumes through a host of online portals.

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