Only apply for jobs you want. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
It’s a message that bears repeating because so often people get stuck in a pattern of applying for everything they could possibly do, and then they get frustrated because they’re not hearing anything back. But if you’re doing that, you’re essentially spamming the job boards, so of course you’re not getting replies. The people deciding who to interview (and that’s after the computer program has “looked” at the applications) are looking for people who want the job—and, of course, can do it.
That means that your task as you apply is to demonstrate those two things. And that means customizing your resume and cover letter to show those two things. For the resume, match your language to theirs as much as you can, making note of things they say often in the job posting, as that likely means it’s important to them. For the cover letter, tell them why you are interested, and be specific. You can mention what’s exciting to you about the position or the company, and you can explain why you’re a good fit. Don’t be afraid of words like “enthusiasm” but do avoid cliches and phrases that don’t really mean anything (“optimizing results,” “thinking outside the box”) unless those are used in the job description. And whenever possible, show what you mean. In the resume, that means giving some kind of result (“leading to a 17% rise in readership,” or, “5 or 7 participants reported greater comfort with the software”), and in a cover letter, that means showing context (“excellent writing skills, as shown by 5 published articles” or “high degree of familiarity with Salesforce, learned through on-the-job trainings”).
You can see that this is a lot of work, which is one of the reasons I recommend applying for things you actually want. Spend time editing your application materials, showing how you’re a good fit and how your background prepares you for this next job. Let your excitement show, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.
The job-search is hard enough, so take these steps to make it a little less painful.
