The hiring process seems like it takes forever when you are looking forward to your next paycheck. When it comes to hiring management, more people and steps may be involved. As the job seeker, all you can do is be patient and prepare for the next phase.
Recruitment procedures vary by company, but most follow the same steps. After hiring managers announce the job, they review dozens to hundreds of candidates. Learn more about the employee selection process and what to expect.
Before starting your job search, you should have a resume ready to submit with your application. You can find resume builders and templates online that let you just enter your information. Most resumes have the following sections:
- Name and contact information so recruiters can reach you
- Professional objective as a personal introduction
- Education, degrees, certificates, licenses, and other credentials
- Work history to show relevant experience
- Hard and soft skills that relate to the position
You may include additional information as it relates to the position. Resumes for actors and others in entertainment can have photos, and culture-driven companies may value interests, hobbies, and volunteer work.
Wondering how to get a job without experience to put on your resume? Go into detail about your education, community outreach, and volunteer work. You can show how your skills are transferable to the position you seek.
The hiring process is a little different for creatives. A company may need to see examples of experience. Some jobs that require a portfolio include:
- Artists
- Photographers and videographers
- Graphic and website designers
- Software developers and computer programmers
- Writers and editors
- Models and make-up artists
- Cake decorators
- Interior designers
Businesses may hire a creative based on the portfolio. If you want to know how to get hired by creating a portfolio, look up what makes a great collection of your work based on your industry. A writer’s portfolio, for example, could be five writing samples that are similar to the content they would create for the job.
You may need a digital portfolio so you can send potential employers a link with your application and resume. For in-person meetings, bring a hard copy of your portfolio.
The employee onboarding process can be monotonous for hiring managers. Make yourself stand out from other applicants by writing a cover letter to go with your resume and application. The cover letter should be unique to the specific position, and a good cover letter entices the hiring manager to review your resume.
Basic cover letters include:
- Contact information
- General salutations
- Introduction of the letter’s purpose
- Details on why you are a qualified candidate
- Closing information
Cover letters with typos or generic content may make a recruiter skip over your application. But cover letters that mention the company’s mission, enthusiasm for the position, and desirable employee skills can pique hiring managers’ attention.
Want to know how to get a job fast and improve your odds of being hired? Apply to A LOT of jobs. Job sites list hundreds to thousands of professional positions. Some make the application process as easy as clicking a mouse.
First, you should adjust your cover letter for each application. Applying for a job can take a few minutes to an hour in some select cases. If you are applying to several types of jobs, you may need to tweak your resume before applying.
Applying to dozens of jobs a day can be draining, so try to pace yourself to four or five applications a day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to get eyes on your resume, but you should submit your application as soon as possible.
Hopefully, a hiring manager will reach out to you to set up an interview. You can also contact the human resources department about a week after submitting your application. Try to schedule the interview in the early afternoon and the middle of the week.
Before going to the interview, research the company and the role. Hiring managers may see you as a diligent candidate if you know major names and projects in the company.
Practice your answers to common interview questions, like:
- “Tell me a little about yourself.”
- “What are your biggest strengths?”
- “Out of all the candidates, why should we hire you?”
- “Why do you want this job?”
- “Tell me how you think other people would describe you.”
How well you do during the interview will determine if you get the job. You may come across as a better hire if you are well-spoken, have thought-out answers, and know details about the business.
If you are wondering how to get a job in HR, you can speak with someone in that department. The human resource department is responsible for the entire employee onboarding process. Representatives may schedule the interview, print copies of resumes for supervisors, and file applications as new hires or denied candidates.
You may have more than one interview, especially if you seek a management role. The first interview could be with the hiring manager or someone in recruiting. Subsequent interviews could be with higher-ups and people you would work with directly.
The company may require you to take a skills test to prove that you can do something. For example, part of the hiring process for writers and editors is taking several writing tests. Writers often have to do these tests before scheduling an interview.
If the role involves a computer or certain applications, the hiring manager may ask you to complete some tasks using the system. Some jobs may require a typing test, for example.
Many employers have a drug-free policy and require employees to take a drug screening test to verify they do not take drugs. You will need to go to a third-party laboratory to leave a urine, blood, or hair sample for testing.