What really happens between application & interview

Ever wonder what hiring managers are doing with all these resumes?

There are many steps recruiters and HR types must take to even get you in the door for an interview. How much work can it be, you ask? To give you an idea, here's a list of the steps I take.

And just as a side note, regardless of what company I work for, all companies will have a similar structure to the following:

Step 1: Read resume

If there are mistakes but the candidate is qualified, possibly decide to overlook fairly large quantity of typos in resume and attempt to try and arrange to interview the candidate anyway.

Step 2: Paperwork

Enter candidate into database/company system.

Step 3: Do a quick internet search

Search candidate to see if any incredibly offensive issues float to the surface, blocking their chances of being hired, let alone interviewed. (Yes, us HR types do this. More on that topic in a later article.)

Step 4: Call the candidate

Call with the intention of doing an initial phone interview with them to see how they sound and represent themselves in a candid conversation with me. If they sound rather "alive" and "with it" and can keep up with me on the phone, I will book an interview for them with my boss. If I can't get ahold of the candidate, I leave a message, then email as a follow up to let them know I left a message and would like to speak to them. Depending on the person I'm trying to reach, phone tag can ensue for days if the candidate is not readily available. Make sure your voice mail message is professional (And FYI- if it does ensue for days because you aren't readily available? That's going to frustrate me and lessen your chances for getting an interview.)

Step 5: Email confirmation

Email confirmation of our mutually chosen time for their interview, as well as directions to our office is sent out. Depending on the level of the position they will be interviewing for, I will include website links for them to review about our company so they can be prepared.

Step 6: Prep file for boss

Prep file for my boss to use during the interview. This includes their resume, a cover letter if there is one, and any pertinent information I've gleaned from the internet that I want my boss to be privy to. If I've chosen to have my boss interview someone with a resume full of typos, I have to physically go into his office ahead of time and explain why I thought it was acceptable to bring this person in, despite their obvious mistakes. This can take extra time, a further review of the resume on his part, and possible head hanging in shame on my part.

Step 7: Reminder

Call and/or email job candidate the day before interview to remind them of their appointment.

See right there? That's a minimum of seven steps… And that's just to get you through the front door.

It took me a lot of time to go through those seven steps… Possibly hours depending on the particular candidate. So if you aren’t checking to make sure that your application or resume isn’t full of spelling mistakes or errors (like an objective that doesn’t match the job description), don’t be surprised when you don’t hear back.