You’ve probably been there. Staring at a job posting, fingers hovering over the keyboard, wondering if this could be the one. Maybe your current role feels like a pair of shoes that don’t quite fit anymore, or perhaps you’re fresh out of school, ready to prove yourself.
Job hunting isn’t just about firing off resumes and crossing your fingers. It’s about strategy, self-awareness, and sometimes a bit of luck. But luck tends to favor those who prepare well.
This guide will help you think through the things most people overlook, the details that separate candidates who get interviews from those who get silence.
Things to Think About When Applying for a Job
Applying for a job can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable pieces makes everything clearer. Here are twenty critical considerations that will strengthen your application and boost your chances of landing that interview.
1. Research the Company Like You’re Dating Them
Before you even open that application form, spend real time getting to know this company. I’m not talking about a quick glance at their homepage. Pull up their LinkedIn, scroll through recent posts, check their Glassdoor reviews, and read their latest press releases. What projects are they excited about? Who are their competitors? What’s their culture actually like, beyond the corporate jargon?
This matters because generic applications die in the pile. When you understand what keeps this company up at night, what problems they’re trying to solve, you can position yourself as the solution they didn’t know they needed. Your cover letter transforms from “I want a job” to “I can help you achieve X because I understand Y.”
2. Match Your Resume to the Job Description
Every job you apply for deserves a customized resume. Yes, every single one. Take the job description and highlight the key skills they’re asking for. Then make sure those exact skills appear prominently in your resume, assuming you actually have them.
If they want “project management experience with cross-functional teams,” don’t just say you “worked on projects.” Say you “managed cross-functional projects involving marketing, engineering, and sales teams, delivering results three weeks ahead of schedule.” Use their language. Applicant tracking systems scan for keywords, and hiring managers scan for relevance.
3. Your Email Address Says More Than You Think
Still using that email address from high school? You know the one. Time for an upgrade. Create a professional email address with some version of your actual name. FirstnameLastname@gmail.com works perfectly. SkaterBoy2003@hotmail.com does not.
This seems small, but hiring managers notice. Your email address is often the first impression you make, and it signals whether you understand professional norms. Make it count.
4. The Cover Letter Isn’t Dead
Sure, some companies don’t require cover letters anymore. But when you have the chance to submit one, take it. A strong cover letter gives you space to tell your story, to connect the dots between your experience and their needs in ways a resume can’t capture.
Here’s the thing though. Your cover letter shouldn’t be a boring recap of your resume. It should answer one question: why you and why this company? Share a brief story about why this role excites you, mention something specific about the company that resonates with you, and explain what unique value you bring. Keep it under one page. Three or four solid paragraphs will do.
5. Social Media Is Part of Your Application
Hiring managers Google you. This happens. They check your LinkedIn, scan your Twitter, and maybe peek at your Instagram if it’s public. What will they find?
Clean up your digital presence before you start applying. Make your LinkedIn profile shine with a professional photo, detailed work history, and endorsements. Review your other social media accounts. Those party photos from 2019? Maybe make them private. That angry political rant? Consider if it represents how you want potential employers to see you. You don’t need to erase your personality, but you do need to present yourself professionally.
6. Timing Your Application Matters
Apply early in the hiring cycle whenever possible. Many companies review applications on a rolling basis, which means they’re making decisions before the posted deadline. The first candidates often get more attention simply because hiring managers are fresh and enthusiastic.
Try to submit your application early in the week, ideally Monday or Tuesday morning. There’s some research suggesting applications submitted on these days get more views than those sent Friday afternoon when everyone’s mentally checked out for the weekend. It’s a small edge, but why not take it?
7. References Need a Heads Up
Never list someone as a reference without asking them first. This should be obvious, but it happens more often than you’d think. Reach out to your potential references weeks before you start applying and ask if they’re comfortable vouching for you.
Give them context too. Send them the job description, remind them of projects you worked on together, refresh their memory about your accomplishments. The more prepared they are, the stronger their recommendation will be. A reference who fumbles when the hiring manager calls can sink your chances faster than almost anything else.
8. Salary Research Prevents Awkward Moments
Know what you’re worth before you apply. Check sites like Glassdoor, PayScale, and LinkedIn Salary to understand the typical pay range for this role in your location. Factor in your experience level and any specialized skills that might command a premium.
This research protects you from accepting too little and from pricing yourself out of consideration. When the salary question comes up, and it will, you’ll be ready with a reasonable range backed by data rather than guessing or freezing up.
9. Your Gaps Need a Good Story
Taking time off work isn’t a career killer, but how you explain it matters enormously. If you have employment gaps, address them proactively rather than hoping nobody notices. Hiring managers always notice.
Maybe you took time off to care for a family member, or you were dealing with health issues, or you went back to school. Whatever the reason, frame it honestly but positively. Focus on what you learned or how you grew during that time. Volunteer work during a gap? Mention it. Freelance projects? Include them. The goal is to show you remained engaged and productive, even if you weren’t in traditional employment.
10. Skills Need Proof
Listing “excellent communication skills” on your resume means nothing without proof. Instead of claiming you’re great at something, show it through specific examples and achievements.
Replace “Strong leadership abilities” with “Led a team of eight junior developers through a complete platform migration, reducing downtime by 40% and mentoring three team members to promotion within 18 months.” See the difference? One is empty words. The other is concrete evidence that makes hiring managers lean forward and pay attention. Apply this thinking to every skill you list.
11. Follow Application Instructions Exactly
If the job posting asks for a resume, cover letter, and portfolio in PDF format, send exactly that. Not Word docs. Not a link to your website instead of attachments. Not a cover letter in the body of an email when they asked for an attachment.
Ignoring instructions signals you either can’t follow directions or don’t care enough to try. Either way, it’s a red flag that often leads to immediate rejection. Show you can follow basic requirements by actually following them.
12. Proofread Like Your Career Depends on It
Typos and grammatical errors are application killers. One survey found that 58% of resumes contain typos, and most hiring managers will reject candidates over spelling mistakes. Read your application multiple times. Then read it again. Better yet, have someone else review it with fresh eyes.
Grammar checking tools help, but they’re not perfect. They miss context errors and awkward phrasing. Print out your resume and cover letter. Reading physical copies helps you catch mistakes your brain skips over on screen. Check company names, job titles, dates. Double-check everything.
13. Your LinkedIn Profile Should Match Your Resume
Discrepancies between your LinkedIn and resume raise red flags. If your resume says you worked somewhere from 2019 to 2021 but LinkedIn shows 2019 to 2020, hiring managers wonder what else isn’t accurate. Keep your professional profiles synchronized.
Beyond matching dates and titles, make your LinkedIn profile robust. A complete profile with recommendations, endorsements, and a strong summary can be the difference between getting contacted and getting passed over. Some recruiters rely heavily on LinkedIn searches, so make sure you’re findable with the right keywords in your profile.
14. Consider the Commute Before You Apply
This one’s practical but often ignored until it’s too late. How far is this job from where you live? What’s the commute actually like during rush hour? Can you sustain this twice a day, five days a week?
A brutal commute drains your energy, cuts into personal time, and can make even a great job feel miserable. Factor in commute time and costs before you get invested in an opportunity that might not work logistically. If the job is remote or hybrid, clarify the expectations upfront. Some companies say “hybrid” but expect you in the office four days a week.
15. Company Size Changes Everything
Working at a startup feels completely different from working at a Fortune 500 company. Small companies often mean wearing multiple hats, faster decision-making, and potentially higher risk. Big companies usually offer more structure, established processes, better benefits, and clearer career paths.
Think about what environment matches your work style and career goals right now. If you thrive on variety and can handle uncertainty, startups might energize you. If you prefer defined roles and stability, established companies might be a better fit. Neither is better or worse, just different. Know yourself before you apply.
16. Read Between the Lines in Job Descriptions
Job postings tell you what a company values through what they emphasize and how they phrase requirements. Phrases like “fast-paced environment” often mean long hours and frequent deadline pressure. “Wear many hats” can signal unclear role boundaries. “We’re like a family” sometimes means poor work-life balance.
Look at how they describe their ideal candidate too. Are they seeking someone to execute their vision, or someone who brings new ideas? Do they want years of experience or potential and coachability? Understanding the subtext helps you decide if this is really a fit and how to position yourself in your application.
17. Your Portfolio or Work Samples Matter More Than You Think
For many roles, especially creative or technical positions, your portfolio speaks louder than your resume. Curate your best work samples that directly relate to the job you’re applying for. Quality beats quantity every time.
Make your portfolio easy to access and professional in presentation. If you’re sending a link, test it from a different device to make sure it works properly. If you’re attaching samples, label files clearly with your name and the project description. “JohnDoe_MarketingCampaign_2024.pdf” is much better than “final_version2_revised.pdf.”
18. Network Your Way In
Applying cold through a company website puts you in competition with hundreds of others. Getting referred by an employee who works there dramatically improves your odds. Many companies have referral programs that incentivize employees to recommend strong candidates.
Check your network before you apply. Does anyone you know work there or know someone who does? A quick LinkedIn search might reveal connections you forgot about. Reach out genuinely, not just to ask for favors. Express sincere interest in the company and role, ask about their experience there, and if the conversation goes well, ask if they’d be comfortable referring you.
19. Follow-Up Shows Interest
After you submit your application, waiting in silence feels terrible. A thoughtful follow-up email a week or two later can help. Keep it brief and professional. Reiterate your interest, mention something specific about why you’re excited about the opportunity, and politely ask about the timeline for next steps.
Don’t follow up excessively, though. One email is professional persistence. Multiple emails start looking desperate or pushy. If they ask you not to follow up, respect that. Some companies have strict processes and genuinely can’t respond to individual inquiries.
20. Apply Even If You Don’t Meet Every Requirement
Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet about 60% of qualifications, while women typically apply only if they meet 100%. Don’t let a perfect match on paper hold you back. Job descriptions are often wish lists, not absolute requirements.
If you meet most of the key qualifications and the role genuinely interests you, apply anyway. The worst outcome is hearing no, which leaves you exactly where you started. The best outcome is landing an interview where you can demonstrate your potential. Companies hire for potential and culture fit as much as for existing skills. Let them decide if you’re right for the role.
Wrapping Up
Job applications require thought, preparation, and attention to detail that most people rush through. Taking time to consider these twenty factors separates you from candidates who blast out generic applications, hoping something sticks.
Each application is an opportunity to present your best professional self. Treat it seriously. Research thoroughly, customize thoughtfully, and present yourself authentically. The right job is out there, and these strategies will help you find it faster.