Provisional Blog

As one of the top employment firms in Spokane, Washington, we know that many times a real person isn’t screening your resume when you first submit it. In fact, most large companies, and many mid-size ones as well, using tracking systems to help sort resumes via a list of keywords and other qualifiers like former employers, years of experience, and schools attended. Unqualified candidates are then cut, while those deemed qualified are submitted to the company’s hiring manager or HR team.

This is a big time saver for employers receiving hundreds or thousands of resumes for a single opening. However, as one of the top employment firms in Spokane, Washington, we know if you’re a job candidate, it can seem like you’re submitting your resume into a big black hole of uncertainty.

So what can do to make sure you make it past the tracking system, so a set of human eyes sees your resume?

The single best way is to make sure you’re applying for jobs in Spokane, Washington that you are actually qualified for. You’d be surprised at how many completely unqualified candidates apply to jobs online because “hey, you never know” and then become miffed when they never hear back.

If you are qualified, here are some additional tips to make sure you don’t get scanned out of the running by tracking software:

• Use keywords from the job description. For instance, if you’re applying for a retail management position, make sure your resume includes keywords like “retail” and “manage.”
• Use keywords from the company’s website. Are there certain words the company uses on their website to describe their mission, vision, and/or values? If so, try to include those in your resume. For instance, if their website states the company is committed to supporting the community through fundraising and volunteer work and you’ve done volunteer work in the past, then include that information in your resume.
• Keep the format of your resume simple and clear. That means no fancy fonts or cluttered type. Otherwise, you might confuse the tracking system.
• Don’t ever lie. Some scammers have gotten their resumes through tracking systems by including certain false credentials and keywords in white type. But most recruiters and hiring managers are aware of these tricks and you’ll only hurt your reputation if you get caught lying or doing something unethical.

And keep in mind that while the tips above can help you get past the first round of cuts, the very best way to ensure your resume gets in front of a human – and you land a job interview – is through a referral from an existing company employee or mutual colleague.

If you’d like some additional help finding out about jobs in Spokane, Washington, give us a call. As one of the city’s top employment firms, we can connect you with some of the leading employers and opportunities in the area.