What Do Recruiters Say? Retool Your Job Search Strategy

“For every quality job you see listed, there are probably between 5-7 qualified applicants competing for it. You need to focus on being the top person for that job.” These words were spoken by a recruiter, who specializes in IT and finance jobs, at a Northern Virginia job search support group session last week.

He added: “One of the biggest mistakes people make is to rely on just one job strategy. You need multiple strategies. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool, but only 25% of people get jobs through the Internet. So you need to use a balanced approach. Use the Internet as your after-hours strategy or while you are watching a football game. Don’t make it your only strategy.”

At another presentation last week, a Washington, DC-based recruiter said she wants to see one- or two-paragraph cover letters—nothing longer. She and other recruiters can’t afford the time to read more—and often don’t read cover letters at all, especially longer ones. But, if you want yours noticed and read, your cover letter should directly address the requirements of the job, which you can accomplish in 3-4 bullet points.

Resumes are paramount, she said, and they must have all the most important information on the first page, near the top. That’s a good reason, she added, to limit the amount of personal data you put at the top so it doesn’t take so long to get to what makes you different and valuable. Instead, skip your mailing address and include only one phone number and your email. Including your LinkedIn profile link is okay, if you have a well developed, complete profile. The recruiter also noted that your resume should not have blocks of prose to summarize each job—they will go unread—but rather concise bullet points of your major accomplishments and responsibilities. Wordiness won’t win you a job.

There are no universal answers or magic keys to unlock the way to getting hired, but recruiters like these have a better pulse than jobseekers on what goes on in the job market. They are often the gatekeepers between you and a hiring manager. Maybe it’s time to listen.