Applying for Jobs in 2022

As a newly graduated adult in the Human Resources industry, I have been getting a lot of questions regarding how people should be applying for jobs.

In 2021, in order to get my first real internship in HR and internal marketing, I applied to a total of 47 open jobs. While this was in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic, 47 applications seems like a lot for a summer internship.

With a rise of HR professionals becoming active on social media such at TikTok and Instagram, I have heard that applicants need to go through an entire process when applying for job, jumping through hoops and going out of their way to land an interview. But do these actions actually help you land that interview?

Some yes and some no.

As someone new to HR and has experience hiring processes first hand, here are the things I recommend doing when applying for a job in 2022, no matter the field:

1. Before applying, look at your current resume and collected skills. Sit down and look at your past accomplishments then compare them to your dream job, or at least the job you'd like to apply for. What kind of activities in your past jobs have showcased your skills and impress a future boss?

1. For example, have you helped or led on a new project? Have you participated or managed in any large scale or management based company meetings? What projects have had an impact on your last department and was there any positive feedback? Update your resume and make sure it's formatting can go through an ATS, Applicant Tracking System. Usually the simpler, the better.

2. Go online and look for open job positions you are interested in. Don’t be afraid to apply to jobs that may be right outside your past experiences. In my experience, companies would rather have an employee ready and willing to learn instead of an employee stuck in a set list of tasks.

3. Match your resume to the job. If you are comfortable, look at an open job position and change the wording in your resume to match the job description. I wouldn’t copy and paste the description, but if your skills match the ones that job required, use similar wording, but don’t forget to showcase what makes you unique!

4. After applying, think about a quick cover letter or follow up email you could send to the lead recruiter. Did the application have recruiter contact listed? If so, I would recommend sending a cover letter email showcasing your excitement to hear back and link any project sites you may have.

1. For example: "Hello Mrs. Jenna Smith, I just finished my application for the Human Resources Manager position at your Houston office location. I am excited to have seen the open position and hope to hear back! If you would like to see some of my work, the following link has some of my past projects: www.jackienovelli.com. Hope to hear back. Thank you!"

2. Don’t be afraid to write a follow up email after a couple weeks if you haven't heard anything. Sometimes it takes a while for recruiter to sort through applications, and a reminder of yours can show your interest.

5. Have some extra time? Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn or follow the company's page. Usually the more active you are with that company, the more likely your name will pop up.

Okay so did I actually do all five of these steps for every single one of the 47 jobs I applied for? No, absolutely not, BUT, the jobs that I did hear back from tended to be the ones I sent recruiter emails too.

Over all, I don’t think applicants need to go out of their way to apply for a job, but I do think the more active you are with the open position and its company, the more likely the hiring parties will notice your name.