Stuck In Job Applicant Purgatory? How To Get The Process Unstuck

If you think employers are making it harder to get a job, you’re right. Employers believe they have the leverage and are using all sorts of tactics to lengthen the hiring process. Here are just a few:

• Multiple rounds of protracted interviews

• Tests/presentations/case studies

• Heavy focus on cultural fit

• Taking their time to make final decisions because they know they have multiple qualified candidates in the pipeline.

Unfortunately, as a candidate you have little recourse and not a lot of influence on the time and trajectory of a hiring process. Right now, employers are not in a rush and you have to judge on a case-by-case basis if what you’re being asked to do is worth your time. When you do pursue open positions there are strategies to mitigate employer sluggishness. Here’s a few ways to get the process unstuck.

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Cast a wider net than you may normally be inclined. Don’t apply to jobs you don’t want, but have as many pokers in the fire as possible. There is a myriad of ways this may be to your advantage. For example, an offer by one company sometimes triggers action from another. A company that drags you along may drop on your list while another job you hadn’t given serious thought to becomes a front-runner. Diversify. Apply to some jobs a little bit outside your box and see where they go.

• Do your homework. You can avoid getting bogged down in a lengthy and time-intensive job process by researching a company’s culture. If you don’t think you’d be a good fit, move on. Don’t get caught in a loop over a job you’d turn down if offered. However, if you think you’re perfect for Company XYZ’s fast-paced, analysis-driven environment, go for it. In an interview, push your professional attributes that best fit with the culture.

• Be a recruiter’s friend. If you’re working with a recruiter making their life as easy as possible is to your advantage. Do NOT stalk your recruiter; nothing turns a recruiter off more than the person who calls five times a day when there’s nothing to discuss. Be available. Answer recruiter messages and questions quickly. Make it a priority. If a recruiter calls a bunch of people, the ones who respond quickly get in on the action. Be cooperative. If you agree to something, stick to it. Be an ally.

• Demonstrate value. If employers can be selective, they will. In interviews, you can counter by demonstrating the value you will bring to your new role. Hiring managers can read your resume and see what you’ve done for other people, it’s your job to let them know what you’re going to do for them. As part of your response to every question, let them know how you will add value. Really push that narrative.

• The next steps. At the end of interviews, candidates are typically asked if they have any questions. You should ask about the next steps. This may be your only chance to get details of how their internal process will progress. Don’t pepper them with questions, but if you can find out how long it may take before a decision is made, or when a subsequent round of interviews begins, you’re empowering yourself to steer the next steps in your direction (so to speak).

• Use references and thank you notes to your advantage. Use every tool at your disposal to make your candidacy distinctive. References demonstrate that other people value what you do. Thank you notes show you value what other people do. Small, traditional touches like that can be a differentiator.

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.