Courtesy of Booking.com
- Yvonne Agyei runs Booking.com’s worldwide recruitment efforts, and her team gets about 400,000 applications a year.
- She said that standing out in a huge applicant pool is about being prepared, thoughtful, and genuine.
- Even if you have a gap on your resume or career hiccup, that doesn’t necessarily take you out of the running.
The number of applications Booking.com receives every year is staggering: 400,000, to be precise.
But how can anyone stand out among hundreds of thousands of applicants?
We asked Yvonne Agyei, Booking.com’s chief people officer, who is responsible for recruitment worldwide. Along with her 500 colleagues in human resources, Agyei selects candidates from piles and piles of resumes. Only one in 15,000 applicants is selected for a job at Booking.com.
Here are her best tips to distinguish yourself when thousands of people are applying for the job you want:
1. Adjust your resume and cover letter to the position
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“Customize your CV and cover letter and any other material to the specific role you are interested in,” said Agyei.
And don’t be too modest: “Don’t be afraid to show relevant skills and experiences that you may have gained through a personal passion or hobby,” she added.
2. Study, study, study
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“Do your homework,” said Agyei. “Spend time understanding our corporate culture, values, and mission. Make sure you take a look at our website and apps.”
Whether or not you want to work at Booking.com, this is good practice for any interview. “Learn as much as possible about the company before applying, and certainly when you are invited to interview,” she said.
3. Come with questions
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As you read up on the company, write down your questions.
“Come and ask questions about how we work and why — unlike others — we focus on certain areas,” said Agyei. “Be curious and show us that you have taken the time to think about what we do and how you fit in with our future plans and ambitions.”
