Job Search and Networking

Responding to an online job posting

Once you've found a job that you'd like to apply for, it's important to take the right approach when responding to the job posting. Your response will directly affect the employer's decision to contact you for an interview. Here are some things you can do to improve an online job application:

• Research the employer online and read through their company website, if available. This will help you to determine if the job posting is genuine. It will also be helpful to know as much as you can about the employer when you are applying and interviewing for the position.
• Make sure that your resume is up-to-date and clearly demonstrates how your skills relate to the position you are applying for. You should also add more detail to your most relevant work experience and emphasize why your work history qualifies you for the position.
• Your cover letter should explain why you are a good fit for the position. You can edit a cover letter that you've already used for another application, but make sure you tailor it specifically to the position. Some employers use computer software to screen initial applicants, so be sure to include specific phrases found in the job posting. This will prevent you from being automatically excluded from certain positions.
• A resume and cover letter need to look professional, which means that they must be free of any spelling or grammatical errors. Your computer's spell checker won't catch everything, so be sure to double-check your resume and cover letter before sending them off. You can also ask a friend to read through them to see if you've missed anything.
• Some online job postings will ask you to send your resume and cover letter by email, while others will direct you to an online application. If you are submitting your resume and cover by email, you should paste them into the body of the email, and include them as attachments. To learn more about sending a resume online, see our Resume Writing lesson on Preparing Your Resume for the Internet.
• If you don't hear from the employer within a week of sending your application, send them an email or call to make sure they have received your application and to restate your interest in the position.