Job Search Checklist: Do’s and Don’ts

Written by: Curt Willbrandt, Sr Account Manager, iMPact Business Group

When applying to a job posting, I humbly submit the following ideas to improve your odds of being contacted:

Resume Suggestions:

1. Use your full name. First names and last initial are NOT sufficient; most ATS systems do require a complete first and last name.
2. Include your phone number so someone can actually call/text you. No one uses signal fires, carrier pigeons, or telepathy to reach out to candidates anymore.
3. Include your email address. Lacking a phone number, and a valid email address is the next best thing. But if we can’t reach you, you’ve basically removed yourself from consideration before we even get started.
4. Include your current city where you reside. For full on-site or hybrid on-site roles, you DO have to reside within a commutable distance to the office. The logistics of the job are NOT going to be changed just for you, so let us know where you are located and tell us if you are open to relocation when you apply. Don’t make us guess where you are located.
5. Make sure your resume lists relevant work project highlights. Please use a bullet-point format that includes: here’s the project I worked on, here’s what I did on that project, here are the tools I used, and here’s the benefit back to my employer (ROI) from my efforts. These sorts of highlights WILL get you the quickest response. Don’t make us guess if you’ve actually done something. If you do, we’ll assume you haven’t done it.

Process Improvement Suggestions:

1. Don’t apply to a job posting based solely on the title alone. For example, data analysts, data engineers, big data engineers, and related backgrounds don’t actually qualify for a data center infrastructure engineer role just because the word “data” is in the title.
2. Don’t apply to positions that are 100% on-site or hybrid on-site hoping you can convince the employer to make an exception. No one buys the tactic of, “I’ll move after 90 days.” If the work location doesn’t work for you, let’s all agree that this role is not the one for you.
3. Don’t apply to roles you’d love to have but have ZERO experience doing that work. Job postings are put out to the candidate community to list out what is REQUIRED to be considered. We really do want to consider you for the role, but you need to have relevant experience in that job function. No one hires a plumber to fix a problem with their car; they also don’t hire an automotive mechanic to fix their kitchen drain… come on now.
4. Don’t complain when you feel you’re being ignored if you’re applying to the wrong role. Recruiters are already overloaded with all sorts of off-spec resumes, and you’re not going to get called for a role your resume doesn’t show you have experience with. You also don’t get to complain if you haven’t addressed the resume suggestions listed above. Sorry, not sorry.

Bottom line, don’t make us guess how to contact you, what you can do, where you’re located, or how your background aligns with the job.

We do really want to help you find your next career move, so please help us help you — so we can all work effectively together.

About iMPact Business Group

iMPact Business Group is a staffing agency specializing in Information Technology, Engineering, Finance/Accounting, and Business Administration/Process positions. We have locations in Grand Rapids, MI and Tampa, FL with job opportunities nationwide. To connect with one of our professional recruiters, view our job board for all available positions, or submit your resume for consideration here.