NEW DELHI : Apoorva Sikka, 23, knew exactly what her job profile would look like—a combination of strategy, marketing and social media. She started checking online for brands that were “cool" and landed on travel startup Zostel’s page. After reading about them, she reached out via LinkedIn and was called for a few rounds of telephonic interviews. Within two weeks, she was done, and for the past year, she has been handling Zostel’s social media.
Many people have started using social media platforms to reach out to employers, especially amid the pandemic crisis which has resulted in large-scale job losses. But just reaching out and bombarding people with CVs won’t help in landing a job. Your skills and personality matter as well.
Experts say this “modern-day cold calling" is possible because people are accessible on social media. “In such a scenario, being authentic is absolutely necessary. These are hard times, but don’t attempt to fake your identity just to get that interview call. In these super-connected times, it is not difficult to find out the truth," says Kapil Verma, assistant professor (organizational behaviour and HR), Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode.
It’s also important to read up on the company. Reaching out without any research on the brand is a lazy approach and can result in instant rejection, says Ankur Warikoo, founder of hyperlocal e-commerce firm Nearbuy. Warikoo prefers job applications via LinkedIn even if founders like him are active on more info-rmal platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
“Some people send a message on Twitter or Instagram without going to LinkedIn. Some just say ‘hey, this is what I am good at’ and I am left to figure out if he/she even knows what Nearbuy is, and would even be able to contribute anything. Messages without any research reflect the laziness of the person, and I would be inclined to believe that it is his/her inherent personality," Warikoo says.
Most startups also want to ensure you are a good cultural fit. “If I get a message from someone who has not said why they would like to work with us, or how they love travelling—how would I even know if it is someone I’d like in the team? That said, we do love bold approaches backed by research," says Aviral Gupta, chief strategy officer and HR head, Zostel, a network of backpacking hostels.
Therefore, when you opt for online job applications, it is imperative to keep your profile up to date, highlight your knowledge, skills and past experiences in the summary, and be flexible in these troubled times, Verma says.
Another thing to be kept in mind is that most firms do a background check before calling someone for an interview.
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