iMPact Business Group is a staffing agency specializing in Information Technology, Engineering, Finance/Accounting, and Business Administration/Process positions. To connect with one of our professional recruiters, view our job board for all available positions, or submit your resume for consideration here.
We receive quite a few job applications via Facebook. It’s a convenient way to apply for jobs, with the click of a button, maybe answer a quick question or two and off the application goes. But on the other end, someone is reviewing your application and deciding whether or not to take action on it, and more often than not it will not get a response. Once in awhile a good resume comes in that will make it to the next step, but it’s the exception, not the rule. Here are some of the most common mistakes we see with Facebook applications, and what you can do to avoid them and make your application stand out.
Read the job description
Make sure you have actually read the job description carefully to make sure you are qualified for the job you’re applying for. You may also encounter a few questions at the end of the application that the employer will want you to answer. Responding with something that shows the employer that you have read and understood what they are looking for in a candidate, and correlating that to your application, background, and experience will go a long way toward the recruiter or employer wanting to take a closer look at your application. On the other hand, if for example there’s a link to where you’ll be able to submit your resume, and you write in “please let me know where I can submit my resume” will signal that you’re not paying attention to details, which is a red flag. So be sure to read the job description carefully so you don’t miss any important instructions or other relevant information.
Work history
Just like LinkedIn, Facebook allows you to enter in your employment history. You’ll want to make sure this is filled out as it will be passed on to the person looking at your resume. Before submitting your application, you also have the option to review and remove or add parts of your job history. It is not always necessary to show every position you have held; especially if it’s from many years ago and not relevant to the position you’re applying for. The key thing to remember is that the person receiving your application will see everything that’s on the application when you submit it to them.
Profile picture
It’s not common, nor recommended, for applicants to include a photo of themselves when submitting a traditional resume. However, when submitting through sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook, your profile picture will be automatically passed along to the employer. While in job search mode, be sure to have a professional profile picture. It can be more casual than what’s expected on for example LinkedIn, but keep in mind that even if you have a great resume, a profile picture in poor taste can derail your application.
Questions
The employer may also ask a few questions pertaining to your application. Make sure that you give these a little bit of thought and answer them accordingly. Skipping them completely will signal to the employer that you’re not interested enough in the position to answer their questions. While keeping your answers short, use them as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the information in your work history and the job description to describe why you’re interested in the job, and why you’ll be a good fit. Avoid jargon such as “I’m a hard worker”, “I’m dependable”, “I need a job” etc. What do YOU specifically have to offer the company for the specific position at hand? Mention previous relevant experience, specific accomplishments, or if you’re changing careers mention how previous experience and other skills you have still make you a good fit even if it’s not directly obvious from your work history.
Finding your next job opportunity with iMPact
Before we start working with a client, we will research them, have in-depth conversations with their hiring team and visit their facilities to get to know them, what makes a candidate successful there, and their company culture. To connect with a recruiter and find out about our currently available opportunities in Information Technology, Accounting/Finance, Engineering, and Business Administration/Process, please visit our job board or download or mobile app. Or, submit your resume here for general consideration to connect with one of our experienced recruiters in either our Grand Rapids, MI, or Tampa, FL location.
