Employers are always looking for ways to make the job hiring process more efficient. They do not want to waste company time or spend money to fly candidates in for interviews, which do not always end up in a hire. In order quickly weed out candidates, employers are pre-screening applicants before spending time or money for an interview. This pre-screen usually involves searching for your presence on the web: your social networking profiles, your blog and forum comments, and any other interactions where you have left a digital “bread crumb” online. Based on these bread crumbs, you may be more or less likely to make it to the interview stage. Employers might also even check your credit score for proof that you are timely and responsible.

Generally, the hiring process goes like this:

1. An employer posts a job opening.
2. You apply for the job with your resume and cover letter.
3. You are either immediately rejected based on your resume, or move on to the next stage.
4. If you move on, the employer will check your web presence. This helps them make a “second cut” without wasting time playing phone tag, interviewing or covering a plane ticket for the applicant.
5. If your web presence doesn’t get you cut, employers then follow up on your references. (This can happen before or after the interview).
6. If you remain qualified, the hiring manager will then set up an interview. (There may be follow-up interviews as well).
7. Based on your in-person interview, the hiring manager decides whether or not to hire you.

There can be variation from this job hiring process in instances where a potential employer will request to see your portfolio, an item that can be handled through a website, or if the employer has an intense interviewing process where they might conduct multiple interviews over the course of a few weeks.

The hiring process may also be more or less involved depending on the type of position. If someone is applying for a non-paid internship, the application process will be less rigorous than the process for an upper level management position.

With this knowledge in hand, master each item in your career toolkit in order to land the kind of jobs that will make your life fulfilling. (That is what it’s all about, after all). This means spending quality time on:

1. Your resume
2. Your cover letter
3. Your web presence
4. Your references
5. Your interview skills/preparedness

Spending too little time on any one of these areas may lose you an ideal position! Don’t let yourself be unprepared for the next big opportunity. Work on these five items in your job toolkit and you will be well on your way to career success.

Author: RJ Sherman

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