Applying to jobs in 2024

Follow this step by step guide of how I would apply

Author

Michael Ly
06 Feb

Read Time: 6 min

Hi networkers,

Not too long ago I wrote an article on how I would approach job searching today.

But it dove into a lot of the theory, not so much the execution.

And I learn best by example. So what better way to show an example than actually applying for a job?

I decided to mock apply to a new grad role at Scotiabank and in today’s article, I’ll show you the 5 steps I took.

🏁 Here’s the route for this week’s run:

🎙️ Job Application Steps

💡 Apollo: Find Emails on LinkedIn

📍 Go-To Networking Events

TOPIC
Job Application Steps

Step 1: Keyword Search

Recruiters don’t like students who come off as desperate - those who seem like they’ll accept any role.

Okay, to be honest, most of us probably would…but don’t let them know that!

It’s best to have an idea of what you want.

I like tech and strategy, so I found a similar role by searching company sites and LinkedIn Jobs.

The keywords I used to filter for student/grad roles were:

1. internship

2. student careers

3. co-ops

4. grad roles

For simplicity, I was only looking at Scotiabank, so I came across this role.

If you’re looking at multiple companies, I’d select at least 1 role per place.

Step 2: Recruiter Search

I value coffee chats with recruiters a lot. If they go well, they can guarantee an interview round with the hiring manager!

Here’s how I found who I wanted to talk to:

  1. I went to LinkedIn.com 

  2. In the search bar, I typed Scotiabank > View Page

  3. On their page, I went over to “People”

  4. Under “People” I filtered for two keywords, separately.

    1. first “talent” and then

    2. “recruiter”

  5. From my filters, I got something like this:

  6. Then, I chose at least 5 people to cold message.

Step 3: Cold Messaging

Ok so I found my company, role, and the recruiters, but what the heck do I say?

Well, let’s start with the right approach…

❝

Don’t be interesting, be interested.

Michael Ly

Think about it, recruiters get hundreds of DMs daily from people asking for chats. How do you differentiate yourself?

You have to express genuine curiosity about them first. Doing so will make them more eager to reply.

Here’s an example. In one of the recruiter’s profiles, I found this:

Before Scotiabank, she was, a lifeguard in Hamilton, worked for Mercedes-Benz, and did a TA role at McMaster!

There are many things I could ask, like how she transitioned from lifeguard to comms, or what interested her in teaching consumer behavior.

Here’s something I would write:

Hi Beth,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Michael and we connected on LinkedIn yesterday. I noticed on your profile that you’ve been in diverse fields from working at Mercedes-Benz to teaching at McMaster!

As someone trying to pursue their field of interest, could you share some insights on how you broke into your fields?

For context, I’m a recent graduate with a background in operations and was looking at the Catalyst rotational program. I’d love to discuss the details of it. Thank you for your time!

- Michael Ly

Step 4: Applying

Once you’ve messaged your 5+ people, the last thing to do is apply.

Scotiabank doesn’t take resumes but with most other companies, this is when I tailor my resume and cover letter to their role description.

  • For how to tailor your resume, click here

  • For how to tailor your cover letter, click here

Step 5: Follow Up

The last step is being consistent!

What I’ve learned is you can do everything right and still not hear back.

Which is normal. There have been several times when I had to contact the same recruiter 4-5 times to get a response.

I tend to follow these guidelines:

Situation

Response

👉 I just contacted the recruiter

Wait 48 hours, then send a follow-up

👉 I sent a follow-up but no response

Wait an additional 72 hours, then send a 2nd follow-up

👉 I’ve sent 2 follow-ups but still nothing

Wait 1 week, then send 1 last message

Remember that it can be a numbers game.

If a recruiter doesn’t get back, move on to the next one.

I was contacting at least 5+ a week. If you’re looking for a metric, try aiming for 5 contacts a week too!

Actionable Steps

Hope this was helpful! Go ahead and apply to 1 posting this week using these steps! It can even be the role I used as an example!

Until next week, best of luck! 🍀

-Michael Ly

TIP/TOOL OF THE WEEK
Apollo: Find Emails on LinkedIn

This week’s tool is Apollo! LinkedIn is a bit saturated which is why I contact recruiters via email.

But not all recruiters list their emails. That’s where Apollo comes in! It’s a handy Google extension that lets you find any email on LinkedIn.

Once I started cold emailing, my response rates shot up.

Get it for yourself here! (It’s free too)

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