How to be an early applicant, increasing your chances to get an interview in 4 steps

Every job posting often receives a high volume of applications, sometimes over 1,000. Being an early applicant can significantly improve your chances of getting noticed because hiring tends to follow a “first in, first out” approach.

As a Recruiter, Mentor, and Career coach, I’ve listed below 4 steps on how you can be an early applicant and stand out in a crowded field:

1. Understand the Process

Hiring processes are linear. Companies often make an offer once they find a candidate they like, which means early applicants have a better chance of being considered before the position is filled.

Usually, Hiring Managers stop the hiring process once they have one applicant they want to make an offer to, with maybe one or two backup candidates. This means you absolutely need to be in that first stack of candidates to be seriously considered for a competitive job.

Once they are excited about you joining the team, they’ll invite you for all the rest of the interviews, and then you’ll get an offer.

What happens to all the other candidates?

They get an automatic rejection message or, most of the time nowadays, are ghosted and never seriously considered, just for the simple fact that they were “late” applicants.

2. Use LinkedIn Effectively

To be an early applicant, you should:

• Search for the desired job title or skill.

• Search in the city/country/continent you are willing to work or be relocated.

• Apply these filters:

§  Remote/Hybrid/On site

• Full-time/Part Time/Contract

• Posted within the last 24 hours or the last week for less competitive jobs.

This will help you identify the freshest job postings, ensuring you are among the first to apply.

3. Optimize Your Application Process

Instead of applying to hundreds of jobs daily, focus on a smaller number of well-matched positions. Ensure your resume and cover letter are tailored for each role.

Quality applications pay off more than quantity applications.

4. Prepare Outside of Applications

Use the rest of your time to:

• Excel in your current job and document your impact.

• Freelance if you’re not employed to build your portfolio.

• Improve your skills through professional courses.

• Enhance your personal website to showcase your work.

• Work with a career coach to refine your pitch.

Prioritizing being among the first 100 applicants significantly improves your likelihood of success. By following these simple steps, you will have the possibility to increase your chances of standing out as an early applicant and securing your next interview for your desired job.