12 Common Questions about Job Applications and Job Search Hurdles

12 Common Questions about Job Applications and Job Search Hurdles12 Common Questions about Job Applications and Job Search HurdlesWhen hosts webinars for job seekers, we get asked some fantastic questions. Here, weve compiled many of the fruchtwein common questions about job applications, skills and experience, and job search difficulties.If youd like to watch our previous webinars or attend an upcoming live one, check out the Job Search Webinars and Videos section on the blog.Questions about Job ApplicationsQ When looking for remote work, do you ever suggest applying for a job that isnt advertised as a remote position? If you have had success working remotely in the past, is it possible to pitch yourself as a remote worker to a potential employer?This is possible but tricky. Id highly recommend researching companies that already clearly offer remote work and focusing on those instead.If you are going to apply for non-remote jobs in the hopes that they could be convinced, definitely stick to jobs that are easily done from home (office jobs, customer service, any computer work, etc.) and apply to the job as you normally would. In your cover letter, however, mention that if possible, youd love to discuss the possibility of this being a remote job. Or during the interview process, ask about their flexible work options.Q My expertise is in forecasting (sales, budgets, etc.), but I have yet to find a work-at-home opportunity to utilize my skills in forecasting. Would you have any recommendations for my job search?Expanding your job search to the multiple areas that require this skill- sales, business analysis, financial analysis, etc.- might help you have mora luck in your search. You can also search by the keyword forecasting to see job listings that include this skill as part of the overall position.Q What is the best way to respond to salary questions when you have to give an answer before an application is accepted? How do you keep from eliminating yourself befo re you even get an interview?The best way is to speak about your desired salary in sortiments. For example, if you really want $50,000 a year, tell them that based on your experience and skills, and the current market rates for similar positions, you are looking for a salary of $48,000 to $55,000 a year and that you are flexible when it comes to salary levels. Your salary request must be reasonable, within the typical range for that type of job, and you must let the employer know that you are flexible. They just want to know that you are in the same ballpark as they are. Salary.com and PayScale are two websites where you can research salary ranges for your target jobs.BROWSE JOB SEARCH TIPSQ How do you handle applying for jobs with an online application process where you may or may leid be able to include a cover letter or send an email?Large online application systems, also known as applicant tracking systems (ATS) are a big part of the modern job search. If you come across these, there are certain things you can do to maximize your application.Complete every field. Try to include any info that would normally be in your cover letter in the fields offered by the ATS.Upload a portable document format if possible. Make sure it includes both your cover letterandyour resume in one PDF.Find someone at the company who can also give your cover letter and resume to the hiring manager. Youll still have to submit your application through the ATS. But, by getting your resume and cover letter in the hands of the hiring manager, youre much more likely to have a human being read your well-prepared documents.Check out all the details in the article, Applicant Tracking Systems The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.Q What are the pros and cons of follow-up communications once an application has been made?Following up is an excellent way to make your job application stand out and move along in the hiring process, and its something that many job seekers are scared to do. As long as th e job description doesnt explicitly say No follow-ups or No phone calls/emails, its absolutely fine to follow up on your applications.There arent really any cons to following up, but there are a lot of pros. You can reiterate your interest in the job point out your best qualifications once again include any additional info you wish youd mentioned in your application. And making contact with a human being at the company makes it more likely your application will be seriously considered.Learn several different follow-up methods in the article, How to Follow Up on Job Applications.Q Id prefer to send/email a resume and cover letter but some jobs require applicants to register and fill out long applications through an online system that takes forever. Is there a way around this without the employer thinking you are lazy and dont want to register and spend time filling out online applications?If an employer requires that you fill out an online application, they will probably not consider your application unless youve done so. Most employers require this because they want to be ritterlich to all applicants by having them apply in the same manner and submit the same information, and because it helps them keep metrics related to recruitment and hiring.Companies also use their online application system to scan your materials for keywords that match the job description, so its vital to fill these out fully and correctly. Learn how to optimize your resume for an applicant tracking system.Questions about Skills and ExperienceQ What do you suggest when you are looking for a change in career direction? Often you dont have experience in your target industry. How do you get your resume looked at and seriously considered?Two words transferable skills. Transferable skills are the skills you have that can be used in multiple job settings (or transferred across a variety of jobs). Common examples of transferable skills include written and verbal communication, data analysis, rese arch, sales or marketing, public speaking, relationship management, project management, problem-solving, and collaborating with teammates.Consider the work youve done in the past. What kinds of skills did you gain in those jobs that can be used in other career fields? You want to frame your previous experience in a way that employers in new career fields will recognize and think, Oh okay, I can see how this experience would be good for my jobFor details on using transferable skills in your resumes and cover letters, check out, How to Demonstrate Transferable Skills on Your Resume.Q What is the importance of professional certifications? Are they sought out by employers? Do they give you a significant advantage?Depending on the industry, these can be very important. Especially for computer and information technology jobs, these are almost always required and they can be more important than a college degree.Do some research on your target employers and job titles. Read job descriptions in your industry to see if any employers mention certifications as being required or recommended, and thatll give you an idea of how important they are to your particular industry.You might also start a conversation by posting about this topic on LinkedIn. Ask your connections to weigh in on which certifications have been the most helpful in their careers, or which ones they dont feel were worthwhile.TAKE A SKILLS TESTQuestions about Resume Gaps, Discrimination, and Other Job Search DifficultiesQ Do you have practical, specific suggestions for how to address a break in employment due to illness? Im completely recuperated and highly skilled, but have a 10-year spotty section.During that spotty section, is there anything you can include on your resume to help fill in the gaps? All sorts of experiences can count taking classes, attending professional events, volunteering, and part-time or temporary work.Also, in your cover letter, you can include one line that quickly explains that yo u were attending to an illness during that time, but that youre completely recuperated and excited to get back to work. If the application system wont allow you to submit a cover letter, add this to your resume file and submit both at once to make sure employers arent wondering about the reason for the gap.For even more detailed advice, here are some advice articles that address this very issueHow to Re-Enter the Workforce After a BreakLooking for Work During or After Illness (from CancerAndCareers.org, but very applicable for anyone dealing with any illness)Q What about getting past the various prejudices that hiring agents have like age discrimination, not being local, being out of work for a while, being an introvert, not having an EXACT match of skills, etc.?When it comes to these types of biases or discrimination in the hiring process, its important to think about the underlying fears recruiters and hiring managers have. For example, with ageism, theyre usually concerned that y ou wont be able to keep up with all the new information or technology needed, or that youll have too much experience or not want to do work that is below your level. While the general problem of ageism is hard to combat, when you consider the specific underlying concerns an employer might have, you can then strategically address those concerns during your job searchHere are some guides to get around these different types of bias in your job searchVideo How to Deal with Ageism in Your Job SearchHow to Successfully Navigate Job Search Ageism8 Ways to Learn New Skills Online11 Skills Youll Need in the Future WorkplaceTake Over 100 Free Job Skills Tests as a MemberQ I have been out of the job market for a while, but I have kept current with technology. What is the best way to become up to date with my job skills?Great question There are a number of ways to update your skills. If youre a member, you can take our skills tests to see where you might be lacking. You can also read job descri ptions to get a sense of which skills are the most important in your field today.Once you know which skills you should update, here are some specific ways to build your skillsOnline courses to learn the latest software programs, industry standards, and moreCommunity education courses for quick skill buildingCollege coursework or earning a full degree for more in-depth studyApprenticeships, internships, orexternshipsPart-time jobs or volunteeringFor even more ideas, we have several related articles Learn New Skills to Get a New Job, 5 Must-Have Skills for the Future of Telecommuting Jobs, and Why Skills Testing Can Help Your Job Search.Q I have a question about degrees and working remotely. What if you are working on your degree and have several years of work experience- how can you stand out within your job search without a college degree?First, you definitely want to mention that you are working towards your degree on your resume, profile, LinkedIn page, etc. For example, under you r Education section, you might write, bachelors degree in communications, expected December 2020 or Coursework completed towards bachelors degree in accounting.You might also list some of the courses youve completed, especially if they are highly related to the jobs you want. If youve done any large projects as a part of your coursework, those can be mentioned as well. Include details about the scope of the project, whether you collaborated with other classmates or professors, and the outcome of your work.And because you have a lot of experience, on your online profiles and resumes, use the Summary sections to express your experience over your education.SEARCH FOR A FLEXIBLE JOBTo see more common questions asked during webinars - and answers - check out the articles belowAnswers to 8 Common Questions about UsingAnswers to 4 Common Questions about Flexible Jobs and Job SearchingAnswers to 11 Common Questions about Resumes and Cover LettersAnswers to 3 Common Questions About Job Sea rching for Older Workers