Stand Out in Your Search: 10 Tips from ERIE's Talent Acquisition Team

We’ve all been there: sending out what feels like hundreds of applications and getting no responses. Or feeling uber confident after an interview only to receive a rejection email. The good news is, you’re not alone.

While Erie Insurance may not be able to tell each individual candidate exactly why they didn’t progress to the next step, we can give you access to some tips from our talent acquisition department on putting your best foot forward.

How to Improve your application:

• Make sure your resume is readable. Your resume is the first impression of who you are and what you can bring to the position. You can check with these experts on how to properly format your resume.
• Adjust your resume to fit the job. What a hiring manager looks for in a customer service position is different from one in sales or human resources. Let’s say you have a few years of retail experience. Well, if you’re applying for a customer service role, you’ll want to include information on how you interacted with customers. If you’re going for a sales position, you’ll want to expand on any sales quotas or product knowledge you have.
• Check the job requirements. Read through the job description and requirements to fully understand what this job encompasses. If a position asks for three years of experience, be sure your resume shows you have that relevant experience.
• Do you need a cover letter? Even if it isn’t a requirement for the job, it never hurts to add a well-thought-out letter that elaborates your relevant roles, responsibilities and experience. Maybe you have a story about a time you helped a customer that really shows off your service skills – great! We recommend a cover letter that tells a deeper story than the bullet points from your resume.
• Notify your references. You don’t need to know someone at ERIE to get a job at ERIE. Choose references that have worked closely with you, support you and know what you can bring to the table. This could be past employers, co-workers, professors or volunteer coordinators. Check ahead of time to make sure they’re comfortable speaking on your behalf, then be sure to let them know when you do use their name so they’re prepared when they get a call or email from a talent acquisition partner.

How to nail the interview:

• Prepare for a virtual interview. At ERIE, our talent team utilizes virtual interviewing as a way to get to know candidates early within the process. Despite the different setting and some technical aspects, virtual interviewing is nothing to be scared about. Check out these tips on how to master your virtual interview.
• Do your homework. Take the time to research the company. Do you know their mission statement, products they sell, awards they’ve won? In your research, you might even find information you didn’t know and want to learn more about. Jot down those questions so you have them handy.
• Prepare a little – but not too much.Review the job description and look up some behavior-based interview questions. Employers might ask for specific examples from your work history where you have demonstrated skills or behaviors that are needed for the job. While you want to be prepared for any question that comes your way, remember the interviewers want to get a sense of your personality, too. Don’t get bogged down in answering “everything right” – just be yourself.
• Be honest. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t be afraid to say so. It’s better to be up front with your interviewer if you don’t understand the question or can’t think of an appropriate response. We’d rather you be honest than hear you stumble and give what sounds like a fake reply.
• Don’t forget to follow up. Whether by email or handwritten note, remembering to thank your recruiter and interviewers goes a long way. A thank-you note is a great way to reiterate your interest in the position, too. Make it personal by mentioning something specific you discussed during the interview that excited or energized you.

Bonus Tip:

• Reach out to your network. Don’t be afraid to seek out networking events or contact old colleagues to help build up your professional network list. When looking for a new career, your network is often the first group you can turn to. From being your reference to helping you find job leads, your network can even offer insight into careers you never thought (like…. maybe a career in insurance?)

Social media is also a great way to expand your network and to keep on top of current career opportunities. We suggest giving Erie Insurance Careers a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or take a look at our LinkedIn page for the latest in ERIE news and job opportunities.

View Open Positions at ERIE

Whether you’re actively seeking a new career or just need to spruce up an old resume, test out these tips and consider applying for a career with us. View all of our current job opportunities that fit your skill set and become a part of the ERIE family.