It’s happened to all of us. You go online to look for a new or better job and do everything you’re supposed to. You search through the job postings on an employer’s website. Then you find an opening that fits your skills and experience perfectly. And, after following directions and submiting your resume… nothing happens.

Nada — it’s just the great, unbroken silence of the Internet. You’re in the Resume Twilight Zone. The big, black-hole in cyberspace.

So, what can you do? First, I think it’s important that we understand what’s happening at the other end. As you probably know, employers receive thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of resumes a week. Their systems are all but overwhelmed by the torrent of e-documents rushing into their e-mail inboxes and resume management systems.

Some employers have the technology and staff resources to handle it — they’re the ones that send you a reply by e-mail indicating that your resume has been received. Others don’t; their recruiting departments have been downsized to almost nothing or their budgets have been slashed so much they can’t even afford a computer or both. And these employers are the ones that operate like big, black holes. And, unfortunately, the second group is much larger than the first.

Does this mean you shouldn’t even bother with the Web? Of course not. There are 2 million new jobs advertised online every month. But, if you want improved job search results, you will have to practice the old “application two-step.” Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Move your right foot forward. Submit your resume

• Make sure you are, in fact, fully qualified for a position. Don’t be a “graffiti applicant” and apply for jobs where you don’t meet the specified requirements.
  
• Thanks to word processors, the days of submitting generic resumes are over. Tailor your resume to the job. Highlight those aspects that make you the strongest candidate you can be.
  
• Follow the submission instructions exactly. Don’t attach a resume, if the employer asks you to embed it in the body of an e-mail, and vice versa.

Step 2: Move your left foot forward. Network your way into the company

• Get in touch with friends and colleagues to see if any of them (a) work for the company or (b) have friends who do.
  
• Check your professional and trade associations and your college/school alumni group to if any of your fellow members/alums work for the company.
   
• Once you’ve networked to someone in the company, contact them and (a) tell them about your desire to work there and (b) ask if they will take a copy of your resume to the Staffing Department and give it to the recruiter who is filling the opening you seek. In most cases, they’ll be flattered that you asked and happy to do so.

In today’s tough business environment, no one can just waltz right into a company. To make sure you don’t get lost in the tsunami of applications flooding companies, use the “application two-step.” It takes a bit more work, but it beats getting lost in the crowd.