Is reapplying for a job ever appropriate or worthwhile if you have not heard back? Perhaps you were rejected for the job but have noticed that the job has been reposted. There’s a couple of ways to look at this. You could take a chance and reapply for the job and face rejection again. Or you could reapply for the job and end up getting an interview. In either case, there’s really not much to lose except some time and effort.
How do you go about reapplying for a job?
The proposition of reapplying for a job can be awkward, but there are ways to ensure that your second application will be noticed and taken into consideration.
First, you’ll want to think about why you were rejected or your resume was ignored. Is it possible that your resume was poorly formatted and therefore discarded by an applicant tracking system? Maybe it was something you said or did during the screening interview over the phone?
It can also be something that was completely out of your control such as the company decided to hire someone else that didn’t work out, or the company decided to hold off on hiring someone until now.
Once you have an idea of what may have occurred, you will have a better shot at the job.
Follow these 8 tips to reapply for a job
#1 – Read through the job advertisement carefully.
You will want to notice how the job advertisement was written, the keywords that describe the job, the requirements that may have changed, and the instructions for how to apply. Believe it or not, this is often something that candidates take for granted and skip. You may want to ask a friend to read through the job advertisement with you to make sure you don’t miss anything.
#2 – Review the company website and social media accounts.
Think about how the corporate culture is displayed for visitors. How can you leverage your skills and personality to demonstrate that you are a perfect fit for the corporate culture? When you reapply this time, you may want to include a cover letter that talks to these points. You also want to identify who the point of contact is for the job and send a copy of your resume directly to them.
#3 – Learn more about the goals for the job.
Maybe when you applied before you were only seeing the surface of things. Its important to note the overall goals of the company and how this job will be a part of this. If it’s a management role then dig even deeper into recent news, financial reports, and more to understand how this job fits into the bigger picture.
#4 – Use a different email address when reapplying for a job.
This is a little trick that no hiring manager will reveal. The email address you use to register for and apply for a job is tied to a user account with an applicant tracking system. This means any subsequent jobs you apply for and get a rejected for (whether before or after talking with a recruiter) will be tracked under that user account. Take a fresh approach by establishing a professional email and then re-registering under that email address. This makes you look like a brand new candidate.
#5 – Improve your resume format and content.
It is easy to get in a rut and keep using the same resume over and over again to apply for jobs. In a more competitive job market, you must look at this document as a sales oriented presentation. This means your resume could use an overhaul. Take the time to break down your top skills and include them in a strong career summary at the top of your resume, just under contact information. Include your employment experiences going back only 10 years. Use job-specific keywords to come up when a hiring manager searches their pool of applicants. Do this for every job you apply for.
You can generate a list of keywords here:
#6 – Connect with colleagues.
Make use of the connections that you have in the industry to gain insight about the company and its hiring practices. If you know of others who have worked at the company, invite them for coffee and approach the topic of getting referred this time. Learn if there are issues happening within the company influencing hiring decisions currently, or if there are new opportunities opening up soon.
#7 – Follow up as often as necessary.
Here is where a lot of candidates simply give up. Once getting a rejection, they walk away and never follow up. This is not a good way to get a job. Instead, think like a salesperson and don’t take “No” as your final answer. Send a thank you card to the recruiter you spoke to letting them know you appreciate their consideration and understand their decision at this time. Then, check back in every two weeks with alternating emails, phone calls, and mailed copies of your resume.
#8 – Increase your odds of being hired.
In many communities, companies only hire through staffing agencies or associations. Be sure to increase your odds of getting on the radar with a dream company by registering for all the staffing and temporary agencies you can. Join industry associations, volunteer with community organizations where you can attend events and business mixers in your region — very often for free. Make strategic contacts and establish yourself as a highly-skilled expert looking for a career opportunity. All of this activity makes you more visible to employers.
Remember to take the time to create a brand for yourself as a job seeker through a combination of your resume and online social media profiles. Be proactive and consistent and those companies rejecting you will be knocking on your door with job offers.
