Do you hate applying online?

You know, filling out all those fields and hoping that your application actually gets there and they read it?

I haven’t found anyone yet that is in love with using online applications for employment.

I don’t like them either! I have wrestled my way through many of them on behalf of clients who threw in the towel or didn’t even know where to begin.

Mailing a resume or dropping one off seems a lot easier but not many companies let you do that anymore.

To diminish the pain, here is my prescription for greater success with online applications:

Note: I am a PC user. If you use a MAC, you may need different directions.

I find it much easier if you have a text version of your resume (and if you are using a cover letter, a text version of that too). Here’s how!

1. → Create your resume in Microsoft Word format first

(or if you must, other compatible word processing program) even if you are applying online. Some online applications take the Word version easily others don’t.

You want a presentation resume at interviews and networking.

Creating your resume in an eye-appealing layout does something for you psychologically too. It is easier to visualize your talents and remember your accomplishments.

Some people might think all they do is fill in the forms online so they don’t need to write a resume but then you are going to miss keywords and struggle to figure out your accomplishments.

In addition, if you follow this formula, you can use it over and over again with minor changes for other applications. Otherwise, you will be starting from scratch each time.

2. → Convert MS Word document into plain text.

Save the document as a .txt version and select the “allow character substitution this time as you save it. I will give you more instructions later. For this example, I used the Global Marketing Executive Sample which is already fictionalized on my website.

3. → Reopen the document in MS Word, use the “find and replace” function

Replace any odd characters which are probably your bullet points now converted into “?” marks. I use “replace all” and replace the “?” with “+” most of the time.

Double-check to see if anything you didn’t want converted also changed. Lately I find that the em dash “—” that I use between dates also gets changed to a “+” and I don’t want that so I change it back to a “-” hyphen.

4. → Reformat your Keyword section

It will have issues with bullets but is probably all jammed together. I make this into a long list.

5. → Check formatting and remove any “Page Two” information headers

The document becomes one long document at this point.

6. → Set the margins

1 inch top, bottom, and left, and 1.25 on the right which will now paste better.

7. → Save as Plain text one more time.

Select the “insert line breaks” option this time.

8. → Reopen in Notepad.

MS Word will try to use its own formatting if you stay in Word so you need to move to Notepad, the very basic word processor that comes with your laptop or PC.

Yuck, huh? That’s just a snapshot of how the text version looks but this is what you need to get you started on online applications.

Bonus directions:

9. → Now armed with your new text version of your resume, you start by filling out all of the fields that the application asks for.

Some applications will let you upload early and others will want you to upload your resume later in the process. Using the text version to cut and paste in all the areas of the application. Your formatting will not change.

10. → Answer everything fully.

Make sure you have available information like supervisor names, salary, specific months and years of employment, supervisor phone numbers, and supervisor e-mails before you start.

A few applications let you put the MS Word version into them but often the formatting is destroyed in the upload process. Using the text file will save you headaches.

After you submit the file, follow up by phone. If you are unsure about how to follow up and when to follow up, I covered that in 11 Tips for Your Phone in the Job Search.

This should get you started, but remember I know all that and I get frustrated! Every application format is slightly different and there are areas of customized questions that you need to be ready to answer.

Photo Credit

The challenge was the bathtub drain, a reoccurring problem related to many factors: the normal hair, soap, and dirt that build up over time. A house perpetually under construction means more drywall dust and other debris  goes down the drain.

More than one plumber suggested tree roots from our Linden tree contribute. Whatever the cause, the reality is that the bathtub drain was once again backing up and the swirling water around my feet was starting to get deeper every day.

Armed with a plunger, I bravely attacked the back up, getting an upper body workout in the process, but to no avail. I gathered the baking soda and vinegar and created a mini-tornado and plunged some more. The baking soda and vinegar were going into standing water, making my solution less effective. I gave up for awhile and walked away. Coming back to a drained tub with no confidence that I had solved the problem.

At that point, I realized I was wearing my new white sweater. Once in awhile, I actually plan ahead. I put an old sweatshirt on, lined up a bigger bag of baking soda and the bottle of vinegar, and wiped up the debris created by my last plunging exercise. I covered the drain with baking soda once again and poured vinegar watching for the mini-tornado effect, followed by warm water and more plunging. Success!

The right tools, using them properly, and being prepared for the project helped make it go smoother. The job seeker often skips planning ahead, rushing to find opportunities without the right tools.

Examples:

1. Any resume is good enough, after all, it is just a list of former jobs.
2. Accomplishments, I don’t have any.
3. Posting a resume online will solve the problem and land the new job.
4. Networking doesn’t matter.
5. I don’t have anything that even vaguely resembles a network.
6. What hidden job market?
7. Prepare for the interview, how?
8. Send a thank you letter?

Success comes to those who plan ahead. Those that don’t find themselves watching other people succeed. It’s still a tough market out there but opportunities are growing for those that plan ahead.

photo by David Barrie

When I was interviewed by Ken Bishop, the Way-Cup Show personality from 89Q, it was very first time for an interview as Julie, the career marketing communications professional and Design Resumes.

In the past, I did multiple interviews for print, radio, and television but in my prior role with Wausau Whitewater.

Ironically, I was also taught how to write effective press releases by a journalist because of Wausau Whitewater. In fact, my work with Wausau Whitewater brought me considerable notice.

Design Resumes held the contract with Wausau Whitewater. Not Julie Walraven, which makes it even funnier that during that whole time, my now 25 year old business never had a single mention in local press. The dual e-mail signatures with both Wausau Whitewater and Design Resumes didn’t make me a resource. My focus was on helping the non-profit grow and draw media attention.

Self-imposed brand confusion.

I thought that media would see me as a resource without me having to do much. But I thought wrong. I really did need to develop my own brand outside of Wausau Whitewater. I needed to network, as Julie, career marketing professional.

Lost my identity.

Oh, my Design Resumes clients provided a strong referral base and the business grew. Success story calls come frequently like the one from a client who said he was hired on the spot for a position matching his talents and heart’s desire. But as a career marketing professional, I failed to market me, creating brand confusion.

What Job seekers do wrong

• Job seekers often think that all they need is to answer an ad or post their resume on an online application and they will get the job.
• Or they blame the employer when they don’t get the job.
• Marketing a job seeker is not much different than marketing a business or product. You have to have a recognizable brand or product. And then you have to drive up demand.

I was good at finding creative ways to get people to come to Wausau to paddle on the whitewater course. I went where they were. On the boater boards, on Facebook, on e-mail lists targeted to paddlers in multiple large metropolitan areas, I used print strategies, newsletters, and direct marketing. In other words, I networked and marketed. I could have used those same strategies for me and my business.

Brand Development for Job Seekers

• Job seekers often don’t understand how important brand development (who are you?) is to their job search strategy.
• They throw out resumes to every ad they see instead of focusing on the jobs that really match their talents.
• Sometimes they don’t even stop to figure out what that talent is.

If you live this way for your whole life, tossing your job application in to everything, you will most likely be one of those unhappy employees who is stuck in a job they hate. Instead, if you think about what jobs you would really enjoy, focus on marketing yourself from that vantage point, you will end up in a career you love that you can have for as long as you want. Market pressures may intervene and you may have to change companies but if you are really doing what you love, you will be marketable.

Joy sells! Misery doesn’t! And brand confusion of not showing who you are and what you offer makes it difficult for anyone to “want” you.

How it all Started

We updated and refocused the client’s resume on Monday afternoon and submitted her resume for two positions in the dental field. I’ve worked with this client previously for positions in other industries so I had already gained her trust. I coached her that she should be prepared that the dental field in our area is fairly saturated and many of the new dental hygiene graduates from the area will apply for dental assistant or lab positions to get their foot in the door. (I have done resume and career development seminars to the students in the dental hygiene program for the past 7 or 8 years, so I understand the market.) My client has 11 years of prior experience as a Chairside Assistant but it isn’t within the last 10 years. The positions were advertised on Career Builder and I train my clients to network whenever possible, so I cautioned her to understand that it might be challenging to get an interview. I have had clients with success on Career Builder, I just don’t want the job boards to be their primary source for positions and I want them to work on actual networking whenever possible.

Interview Scheduled

Amazingly, she called Tuesday to say she was scheduled for an interview at one of the two targets. We agreed she would stop by yesterday morning for new prints of her resume and references. We talked about her objectives. She was nervous but determined to make a good impression.

The Interview

This morning she called to share what happened. The interview scheduled at 11am with an orthodontist was very detailed. After meeting with him and answering a battery of questions, she went to work with the dental assistant and go over instruments, procedures, and other details of the job. After that she was asked to return to the practitioner and he expanded on some of the prior information and then asked her if she would like to return in the afternoon to observe. She agreed she would do that and spent the afternoon watching the staff work directly with patients. This interview ended up to be about four hours of her day yesterday but she left feeling as though it would be a great place to work.

I am well aware of team interviews and detailed company tours for many positions as well as multiple interviews for a position, but this was still unusual from my experience. My client’s attitude was excellent. We discussed many of the questions and her answers and agreed that it went very well. She also shared that the dentist from the other position also contacted her and gave her a phone interview.

She was off to write a thank you note next after I coached her on what content she might like to include.

What did I learn?

Career Builder postings can result in quick responses and interview requests. Interviews can surprise you, so be prepared for longer time commitments.

What I knew already

Interviewing styles differ from position to position, company to company.

What can you learn

Be prepared for the unusual and stay positive throughout the experience. Each interview opportunity is the chance to learn more about interviews in general, build confidence, and grow in industry knowledge. Practice good business etiquette in every phase of the job search. Never forget the thank you note.