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How to Get an Employer to Fall in Love with You Before You Even Meet--No Gifts or Cheesy Gestures Required
by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC
 How do you put a love spell on someone you've never even met? Even harder, how do you make an employer, who has seen hundreds of resumes and interviewed a dozen candidates, fall in love with you before he sees you?
Can you put a magic potion in his drink? Send him his favorite coffee and pastry combo every morning? Well, there's a very slim chance that might work. But you don't have to buy a month's worth of coffee for the advice I am about to give you. You can make a potential employer fall in love with you-and it won't cost you a penny.
Here's how:
The search for the one.
The employer is looking for a person with a specific job experience and skill set. You, on the other hand, are looking for a job in your field of expertise. The employer ploughs through hundreds of resumes from candidates who don't even have the experience and credentials he's looking for, but then... he finds your resume.
Remember, recruiters and companies already have hundreds of resumes in their "rejected" list.
Don't waste their time and yours. Apply for a job where your experience matches the requirements in the job post, compatibility is important if you want the employer to fall in love with you.
Know thy audience.
If you want someone to fall in love with you, you'll need to know what they need. In the case of the employer, you can make him fall in love with you by making an effort to understand what they're looking for in a candidate.
How?
Ask! Call the company, check their website and LinkedIn company page. Don't just assume you know what they're looking for based on the job ad.
"What are the skills you're looking for in an ideal candidate?"
"What's the culture and mission of your company?"
You need to gather this information before you send an application and definitely before the interview.
Use this intel to best align your skills and work experience to the company's expectations. You can even portray the best side of your attitude and make the recruiter see how your own goals align with the company's mission.
Write a targeted cover letter and resume that leads with your strength.
Okay, you probably already know this. But I'm including it here because I still see many resumes that begin with educational backgrounds and job history. No, no, no. You're going to miss your chance at love at first sight if you don't start the resume with your value proposition statement.
Also, don't use the recruiter's first name unless you have a prior connection. And to ensure your document doesn't get lost in the huge sea of resumes they receive, address it to the right department and specify the position you're applying for.
Don't forget the basic niceties.
Your potential employer is a very busy person. That's why they're hiring you to do something for them. The interviewer will greatly appreciate your promptness in returning their emails and calls, especially if you show up to appointments on time.
Don't reveal your target salary.
Revealing your target salary removes the mystery. As soon as the employer knows how much you want for salary, they can either label you as "can't-afford" or "cheap commodity."
If you want to ask for a premium pay, and I'm sure you do, give them a chance to see how amazing you are first.
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February is the love month, a time of roses, chocolates, dates and romantic getaways - at least for couples. For many single men and women, however, it's the time of year when they feel most lonely and in some cases, it's also the time when they're most actively seeking for the one.
Has no one asked you out yet?
You would be amazed at how many job seekers (of all levels and backgrounds) lack confidence in their career documents, especially their resumes. Resume-writing experts will tell you that the majority of job seekers they encounter sheepishly submit their resumes for critiques and professional re-writes with one or more of the following statements/questions:
