How to Reply to a Job Post
Replying to a job post gives candidates the first opportunity to make a good impression by following requested steps, providing a great resume and using clear, actionable communication when requesting consideration. Writing a cover letter (even if not requested), researching the company, tailoring their resume to highlight experience that most fits the requirements of the job and making themselves available for additional communication can help candidates stand out among their competition.
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Instructions
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Review the job posting to ensure you are a good fit for the position. Carefully review the job description and ensure the job described falls in line with your previous work or academic experience. Take note of the required work history, degree and specific skills. Ensure your resume reflects a match between those requirements and your experience prior to replying for the position.
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Follow the response process indicated by the employer. If the job has been posted on a career website, check the job posting information to confirm how the employer wants to receive your application. If the job was posted on a jobs website like Monster or CareerBuilder or directly on the employer's website, you will need to create a candidate profile on the website to apply to a job posting. Using your active email account, create a user name and password to create a candidate profile to reply to future positions. Complete contact information including your phone number and email address for correspondence. For other websites like Craigslist, the employer may request candidates email a resume and cover letter to a designated email address.
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Create a cover letter tailored for the position. If you are emailing your resume, use the body of your email as the cover letter. In the subject line of your email indicate you are replying to a job posting and indicate that a resume is attached or included in your response. In the body of your email, after the salutation, compose three or four brief paragraphs explaining: why you are sending the communication, the position you are applying for and where you saw the posting, why your experience makes you a good fit for the position and your best professional qualities. Provide contact information and make yourself available for a phone call or on-site interview.
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Personalize your correspondence. If the job posting indicates a recruiter name, use the recruiter's name to demonstrate your attention to detail. Confirm the contact person, if available, in the job posting.
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Send your resume in the format requested in the job description. Near the close of the posting, the recruiter will indicate how to submit your resume. If the resume is going to be scanned through a database for review, the job posting may indicate a plain text copy of your resume. This version is stripped of any html code that may not be read by the system receiving your resume. To create a plain text version of your resume, open the document file, click "save as" in your word processing software, and keep the file name the same. Change the "save as type" field to, "plain text." Carefully review your new file and correct any formatting errors that may occur in changing the file type, then save the document again. If you are applying through an employer or job website, upload your resume by following the prompts indicated by the site as you edit your profile.
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Re-read your cover letter and send it with your resume. If sending as a separate document, be sure it is saved in the same file format as your resume. If you are emailing your resume, ensure you use the email text box to include the cover letter content. Attach or upload the desired resume version that best suits the job posting. Confirm the email address against the email address included in the posting. Submit via email or through the online application form and if possible, confirm transmission through the website or your email provider.
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References
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