Answering a Job Ad Quickly is Critical to Job Search Success

Almost all job ads you see will have an end date on them, and others will say, “Open until filled.” The latter requires a response right away for obvious reasons. If you choose to delay sending in your application, you might be too late and lose out on a great opportunity. This is why answering a job ad quickly is critical to job search success.

Definitive-Ending Ads

The former type of definitive-ending job advertisements needs to be applied as soon as possible as well. Though a company may say that the deadline for an application is at “Noon on Thursday, November 29, 2016”, there is no law that prevents them from closing the competition sooner. Though the word “competition” may seem a bit harsh, that’s exactly what it is—a competition. The sooner you send in your resume, the better. If a company has received a specific number of applications before the closing date, they may wish to pull the ad and turn away other potential candidates.

Submit in a Timely Fashion

Furthermore, by submitting your resume in a timely fashion and not waiting until the last minute, you convey your enthusiasm for the position, organization skills (i.e., already having your resume/application package ready), punctuality, and other qualities of that nature.

The application process may be lengthy. You might start responding to an ad online on the company’s website and realize that you need to do more than submit a resume. Since you chose to respond to the advertisement immediately, you’ve allowed enough time to locate additional documents, request a driver’s abstract or criminal record check if necessary, and research the organization’s goals and philosophy.

Another reason to respond to a job ad in a prompt manner is that some companies contact you as soon as they have read your resume to schedule an interview. They may not wait for the closing date. If this is the case, you are given a greater opportunity to research the company and practice for your upcoming interview.

Remain Enthusiastic

Moreover, if an ad is fresh in your head, you’re more likely to maintain enthusiasm. However, if you choose to mull it over for a few days, you may start having doubts, lack the energy to apply, or forget about it altogether.

Applying to one position can also spark an interest in applying for others. X position may be better than Y;l it’s still a good idea to apply for more than one as a backup. If you replied to a job and regret it, you can always pull your application or turn down an interview. Just because you’ve applied doesn’t mean that you have to take the job. However, it is definitely better to respond sooner rather than later.

Need additional help? Reach out to Candace to learn more!