7 Ways To Get Your Foot In The Door At Any Company

“If I could only get my foot in the door…”

This is a phrase we have heard many job applicants say.

Truth is, the job market is flooded with many job applicants who are competing for similar positions.

In such a competitive job market, preparing well to stand out from the crowd is the only way that will help you get that dream job.

So, how do you connect with employers and ensure you get your foot in the door?

Here are 7 ways to do just that.

1. Follow The Company On Social Media & Interact Online

Most companies have social media platforms which include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok and even blogs. These platforms offer multiple ways of interacting online.

If you are targeting specific companies, make sure you follow them on social media, like their pages, comment on their posts and review their pages for daily updates. Retweet their posts on Twitter and share their blog posts as well.

This will give the company an impression that you are interested in them.

2. Submit Your Marketing Materials to The Employer

Try unique ways to impress the employer because other candidates may be doing the same thing.

Apart from sharing your CV with a potential employer, come up with a strong cover letter that shares your story to the employer. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

3. Apply for Open Positions

Research indicates that 15% of available jobs are advertised on job boards, meaning that 85% of the positions are open.

Although this is not the most effective way to stand out, it still works. To increase your chances of getting an interview, ensure that you customize your CV to be professional. This can be done by adding relevant keywords that will make CV be ATS friendly.

4. Connect with The Company Through LinkedIn

Take advantage of LinkedIn to deepen your connections with the company.

Visit the company’s LinkedIn page and get to know more about the company. This will help you connect with employees of that company who may be helpful to you in terms of referrals when there is an open position. They can also suggest groups which you can join to be able to get updates about job openings.

5. Understand Their Recruitment Process & Build Relationships

Thorough research will help you understand the company’s recruitment process. You will therefore know if they involve external recruiters when recruiting for certain positions. If they use external recruiters, you can connect with those recruiters and express the interests that you want to work with a certain company.

6. Connect and Engage the Employer

Research to find out who the manager is and try creating a connection. In case there is a challenge facing their company, you can offer a solution. If you have resources you can share that can be helpful, then you can do so before expressing your interest in working in their company. After some time, you can request a meeting and phone call to discuss ways you can contribute significantly to their company.  

7. Request for Informational Interview

Request for an informational interview in a specific department you would like to get information. This will help you ask questions that you may not find on the internet. This will help you explore the company’s culture and structure.

Finally,

With persistence, you can get your foot in the door at almost any company you can find. Make use of as many resources as you can, including as many social networking options as you’re comfortable with to build a web of connections with your target companies. The result will be more interviews and more job offers.

All the best!