If you’ve been submitting job applications online to countless job postings and not receiving any responses, you’re not alone. Many job seekers have experienced the effects of the “Black Hole of Resumes.” You submit your resume online to a general mailbox that has thousands of other resumes submissions from multiple job postings. You expect that your resume and cover letter will be reviewed by a diligent human resource professional that will recognize your skills and call you for a job interview but this is highly unlikely when applying on a company’s website.

As companies layoff employees and cut cost in every way possible to mitigate the effects of the downturn in the economy, Human Resource departments are not an exception. HR professionals are experiencing layoffs as well and as a result HR departments are understaffed and overworked. To make matters worse, they are receiving more resumes than ever due to the high unemployment rate. So as you press the “submit” button on the application for your dream job, understand that up to 500 other candidates may be apply to the same position with the hopes of being called for a job interview. Additionally, this job posting may be 1 of 20 job postings being managed by a recruiter. The chances of your resume even being viewed are slim to none.

So how are some people getting multiple job interviews despite these odds and landing positions quickly? There are many factors that play into a successful job search and landing a job. There’s the format and effectiveness of your resume, the persuasiveness of your cover letter, how closely your resume fits the job description etc. Two of the often overlooked factors are:

• Where you post your resume – By posting your resume on websites that have a relationship with employers, like www.socalcareernetwork.com , you greatly increase the chances of your resume being viewed and being contacted for an interview. Employers have decided to make an investment in these websites because they see value. In order to get a return on their investment they look for candidates here first.
  
• Creating a personal connection with the recruiter. This can be done through a telephone call or email sent directly to the recruiter expressing your interest in the position, which greatly increases the chances of your resume being reviewed and receiving a call for a job interview.

As a job search consultant at www.AttractJobsNOW.com  I’ve helped many people get job opportunities quickly during these challenging times and I’ve found this to be one of my most successful tools in helping job seekers get job interviews. So, how is it done? How do you find the recruiter managing a job posting and get their contact information?

The easiest and most effective way is to use your network to find someone who works at the company and ask them to research the job posting on their internal job site. Most mid-sized and enterprise companies post the hiring manager and recruiters name on internal job postings. If you don’t have a contact at the company, the alternative is to ask someone with a large network to help you acquire the information.

We’ve noticed a sharp increase in the number of job seekers using our “Personal Contacts” service where we utilize our vast network to provide our clients with direct company contacts for their job postings of interest. Clients then send a personal note to the contact and have had great success in getting responses and interviews.

The bottom line is, having personal contact with a recruiter gives you a tremendous edge in the job search process and enables you to work around “The Black Hole of Resumes.”

Jerome Young, Founder of www.AttractJobsNOW.com