Does applying through a company website ever work?

[Anonymous]

I'm starting to feel like sending my resume & cover letter through a company's job portal is like sending a message in a bottle. Have any of you gotten jobs this way?

Also, hiring managers: how important are cover letters these days? Several sites don't even ask for them, so I'm wondering if the rules have changed.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

I'm curious too.

[Anonymous]

You will be much more successful getting a new job through your network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will be much more successful getting a new job through your network.

Company website applications are a formality. I’d give you less than 10% that you’ll get a call.

[Anonymous]

That's the only way my company hires. Granted internal applicants use a different portal.

[Anonymous]

I've gotten interviews through website applications but never offered a job. I think it is a formality unless they are completely blown away by you. I've had more luck with industry-specific sites where you are invited to submit a resume to the actual hiring manager.

[Anonymous]

That's how I got my current job at a big government contractor. It is a bit of a specialty field, so they only get a handful of applicants per job announcement. I imagine more general positions like admin assistant might need some networking.

[Anonymous]

I had success (several times) applying through company websites then sending a follow-up email to the hiring manager.

[Anonymous]

Well I have gotten 3 jobs and 5 offers by virtue of just applying from websites but I am technical so less ‘who you know’ to sooommeee degree

[Anonymous]

I'm a hiring manager. We occasionally hire people through the web site, but it's rare. We prefer to hire someone who comes recommended through people we know, and we often get resumes sent to us that way. That's where we usually start and have success. But for junior level positions especially we sometimes don't have referrals and so will bring in a handful of people who applied online without any connection.

I've been a hiring manager for 2.5 years and have never even seen a cover letter.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It was in 2005 but it did happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a hiring manager. We occasionally hire people through the web site, but it's rare. We prefer to hire someone who comes recommended through people we know, and we often get resumes sent to us that way. That's where we usually start and have success. But for junior level positions especially we sometimes don't have referrals and so will bring in a handful of people who applied online without any connection.

I've been a hiring manager for 2.5 years and have never even seen a cover letter.

What industry?

[Anonymous]

I was hired in 2016 by Northrop Grumman by applying on their website. It was a great opportunity, with decent pay and excellent benefits, but I left recently.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We hire propel that way.

[Anonymous]

I am a hiring manager at a big company. I got my own job through the website and have since hired a number of people that way as well. When I have an open position, the HR recruiter reviews each application. If you are recommended, it helps but it’s not a must.