Halfway there: What it means to be shortlisted, and how to improve your chances

Finding a job can be likened to running a marathon, both in terms of the jubilation that comes with crossing the finish line and the inevitable exhaustion that must be endured along the way. When it comes to a long, arduous trek like that, reaching the halfway point frequently serves as an encouraging reminder of just how far we’ve come.

Athletic aspirations aside, being shortlisted for an open position or job can very much be seen as reaching a symbolic halfway point in the hiring process. You’ve advanced past the first crop of applicants and subpar resumes, and now find yourself among the more rarified air of candidates likely to be called in for an in-person interview.

It’s often said getting started is the hardest part of any endeavor. Well, successfully landing on your dream job’s shortlist is an undeniable sign your quest to land a lucrative new gig has set off on the right foot.

What does it mean to be shortlisted?

So what exactly is a shortlist in the first place? Nowadays, when an employer or organization posts a new position to be filled, a steady stream of hundreds if not thousands of applications pour in from interested candidates.¹ Decisionmakers simply don’t have time to review every single one of those applications in most cases, which means the first batch of submissions undergo initial screening by someone else (or simply an AI program). 

Those determinations culminate in a shortlist of candidates selected to move on to the next phase of the screening process, usually via an interview, assessment of some kind, or combination of both tasks. So, if you hear back from an employer after submitting an application about moving forward and continuing to discuss your candidacy for the position, chances are you’ve been placed on a shortlist of attractive applicants.

While being shortlisted by no means suggests you’re a shoe-in for the position, it does serve as an important indicator that you (and your resume) did something right that caught readers’ eyes. This is one of the toughest tasks associated with landing a job right now, as figuring out how to stand out amid a sea of well-qualified candidates is one of the most asked questions job seekers struggle to answer today. 

How to improve your odds of being shortlisted

The absolute best way to improve your chances of being shortlisted and called in for an interview is to rack up as much relevant experience and accomplishments in your field as possible. That being said, there are a few other bits of strategy to keep in mind.

• Keywords: Add in as many relevant keywords and industry-specific phrases as possible throughout your application that are directly mentioned by the job listing itself.² Readers (both human and digital) will be looking for that diction specifically while parsing through your resume. For example, if an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) doesn’t see enough pertinent keywords on your resume, in all likelihood your application will not be shortlisted.

• Take advantage of any professional contacts: In life, sometimes who you know matters more than what you know. If you have a former colleague, manager, mentor, classmate, or old friend currently employed at the company you’re aiming for, it’s always worth reaching out to see if they can put in a good word for you. 

• Consider a custom resume: A one-size-fits-all resume will be sufficient for plenty of job listings, but if you’re not going to be content with just any position, consider putting together a customized resume that will speak specifically to the skills and traits being pursued by your top employment choice. Again, this should include keywords and terms clearly mentioned in the job listing posted by the employer.

• Avoid fancy or elaborate resumes: It can be tempting to dress up your resume and application in the hope of capturing the attention of readers, but in most cases added design elements like extra columns, text boxes, colors, and graphics do more hiring harm than good. Human readers don’t have time to spend extra seconds searching for the meat and potatoes of your work experience, and automated ATS systems will likely reject a resume flatout that doesn’t adhere to conventional formatting expectations.³

^1. How to Shortlist Candidates for Interviews (With Criteria Examples)

^2. How do you add keywords to your resume?

^3. Why AI might be rejecting your resume