In theory, every candidate who applies for a job has the same likelihood of landing it based on qualifications.  In reality, however, that is sadly not the case.  Research from StartWire shows that “more than one-fourth of jobs were filled with candidates who applied within the first two days of a posting”, with one half of jobs filled by candidates who applied within one week of the live posting.  So what’s the moral of the story?  Apply early!  Most of these hiring managers want to hire right away, so getting your application in early greatly increases your chances of being chosen.

Chris Forman, CEO of StartWire gives tips for how to get your resume in first.  Here are a few tips:

  • “Find a friend” – When possible, find an internal contact within the company who can refer you.  If you don’t have a contact, don’t be afraid to network!
  • “Plan for a daily dose of openings” – Many job sites (Indeed, CareerBuilder, etc.) will send you a list of posted ads matching your criteria.  Have these sites automatically send you a list so you can review the new openings daily and catch them early!
  • “Remember: Not all jobs are posted” – Set up a job agent to help you learn about the more hidden positions.