Finding a Job After 50 by Jeanette Woodward

Author:Jeanette Woodward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser
Published: 2012-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Online Applications

With the arrival of the Internet, the rules for sending out applications have begun to change. Many employers are using the Web to streamline the hiring process, whereas others still advertise openings and look at applications in the old-fashioned way. This can make it difficult to know how best to approach an employer.

Many corporate and government employers not only allow applicants to apply for job openings on their Websites, but they actually prefer to receive applications this way. Larger employers often use screening software programs to eliminate obviously unsuitable candidates. Let’s imagine that you discover a job that interests you on a Website. You click on a link that allows you to actually apply online. Perhaps you are asked to complete an online form that contains a lot of short-answer, multiple-choice, and yes/no questions. Once you’ve clicked through the questions, you’re then asked to attach your resume, click a button, and, presto, you’re finished. Is this the best way to approach a potential employer? As with so many other questions concerning the application process, the answer is “maybe yes and maybe no.”

If you’re applying for a job in the computer industry, you can usually assume that the people who receive your application are very computer-literate and probably feel more comfortable with computer files than a stack of printed applications. Such high-tech managers may be accustomed to handling nearly all correspondence on their computers. What about other employers? The fear that many applicants have (and it’s often justified) is that the Webmaster created the online application, but supervisors and human resource specialists are scarcely aware that the online form exists. It all depends on how computer-dependent decision-makers have become.

Take a little time to read all the information on the “Employment Opportunities” Web page. See if you can determine whether the employer actually prefers one way of receiving applications. Does it appear that applications submitted online will be considered first? Is the address to which applications should be mailed clearly evident, or is it necessary to search around the Website to find the name, title, and physical address? Employers may never actually get around to the applications that arrive in some unexpected manner.

Next, consider whether you can present yourself well in an online application. Do the questions give you an opportunity to emphasize your most positive qualifications? Do the “cut and dried” questions force you to reveal employment information that your resume and cover letter artfully disguise? Does the online application make it impossible to conceal your age? If you believe that you may not receive full consideration unless you submit an online application, you might go ahead and submit one but follow it with your regular application package. This way, you have two opportunities to make a positive impression.

It’s easy to click the wrong button or make other mistakes when you are filling out an online application. If the instructions are confusing, you may feel uncomfortable and unable to think of good answers. It’s therefore a good idea to print out all the questions on all the screens.

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