How Most Employers Find Out More About Job Applicants
If you are looking for a job the way you fill out the application form really matters. It is the only way to make a prospective employer aware of what you have to offer. So, you need to make a good first impression.
There are tons of articles out there that tell you how to write a resume. But, not many that provide you with an insight into what employers do when they receive your application. So, I thought I would fill that gap a bit, by explaining what resources prospective employers use to find out more about job applicants.
Searchable online databases
The first thing a lot of firms do is to use something like a White Pages search. This tool and others like it enable a prospective employer to instantly find out a little more about you. For example, they look at whether your address and contact details match the ones you used on your application. Naturally, if they find discrepancies in this basic information, that is a bit of a red flag for them.
Later, they use these same databases and the ones the authorities hold to check that potential candidates have been honest about their criminal records. Some firms also search to find out if you have been registered as having financial difficulties. This is especially the case if you will have access to sensitive information or be handling large sums of cash.
If you do have a criminal record, seek advice about what you should put on your application. Generally speaking, the more honest you are about such matters the better things will be for you, in the long run. There are many firms out there who are more than happy to give ex-cons a chance provided they are honest with them.
Look at your social media
These days a lot of firms ask you to include details of your social media accounts on your application. They do so because they can learn quite a bit about what type of person you are by looking at them. So, it is a good idea to tidy them up so that you put your best step forward, so to speak. You can find out how to do this by reading this short article.
Check out other areas of the web
If you have the time and passion blogging about your work can be an excellent way to raise your profile and make a good impression. So, if you have a YouTube channel, website or share what you write in other ways be sure to reference this in your resume.
Increasingly companies are doing an in quotes search for the name of the person they are recruiting with maybe their home town. They do this to find news reports and forum entries. So, being involved in charitable work or changing your things for the better is a great way to stand out. If you are lucky some of what you are up to will be written about and posted online for potential employers to find.
Ask for written references
The old-fashioned approach of asking previous employers for written references is making something of a comeback. This is especially the case if you have shared an email address they can use to do so. Some prospective employers will even write back and ask a few questions about the job applicants reference they have received.
The above is not an exhaustive list. But, knowing some of the main ways prospective employers find out more about job applicants should help you to be able to present yourself in the best possible light.
