Winning at the roulette table

As an employer, we receive hundreds and sometimes even thousands of applicants against a single job posting. So what is the real secret behind getting shortlisted? Fancy Resumes? Pretty pictures? Amazing grades? Is it mostly luck and all the stars aligning together to give you what you desire? How do you stand out within the crowd? I'm afraid it's less mystical and far simpler than that!
Here are some easy tips to help increase your probability of being shortlisted for an interview.

Check for spelling mistakes and typos
Nothing screams out “poor attention to detail” more than an application that is embedded with spelling mistakes and typos. An online resume is your “first impression” to a potential employer, so be ready to magnetize them.
Take the time and make the effort to read your profile over and over again and be on the look -out for the slightest of errors. It really makes a whole lot of difference and showcases you to be a fine communicator who cares about his work.
And believe me; the employers take heed when you put in the effort! So take the time and shine all parts of your application. If you're ever confused and require some advice it's always a good idea to have a fresh pair of eyes glance over your online application before you click apply.

Read before you apply
Before you apply to a job posting, ensure that you have read the job description properly and that the responsibility and requirements of the job is actually in line with your skills and expertise. You may use this information to actually enrich your profile as well as highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments to set yourself apart from others. However, be aware that nothing sets an employer off more than when a job seeker who does not meet the qualifications starts applying to the job posting.
Not to mention, it sets you up for heartbreak too when you wait for weeks and there is no invitation for an interview.  

Do not share too much information
As hard as it may be for some to believe, this means no birth date, religion, hobbies, weight, marital status, parents' names, links to Facebook or personal blogs, children, sexual orientation or life mission statements.
All of this information is your personal property and there should be no platform to even remotely promote biasness. In fact did you know that in some countries, employers can even get sued for asking for such information in applications?

Don't leaving too many fields blank
The online job applications include a series of spaces with titles that require you to fill in the space; some of which are required and some of which are optional. It is important that you fill more than just the required spaces, as you do not want to appear lazy or disinterested.
In fact the more relevant information you put in, the better the employer gets to know you on a professional level. But keep in mind that does not mean you reveal everything! Your resume should ideally not be too long or contain irrelevant information.  

Make your resume easy to read
Ensure that you make your resume easy enough to scan through. The neater the resume, the more usage of bullets and blocks of solid texts make it that much easier for busy recruiters and HR managers to take a glance at your application and get the gist.  
Remember, recruiters have hundreds of resumes to look into, so the easier you make your resume to scan the more likely they are to appreciate it and be drawn to it.
And on that note, Good Hunting!

The writer is the Head of Marketing & Sales at Loosemonkies.com