How to Get Hired: A Look Inside the Hiring Manager’s Mind

Earlier this year, we embarked on the significant task of hiring a new writer for our team. I use the word “task” deliberately; sifting through 259 applications is a monumental effort for one person. It was an exhaustive process, but also an incredibly insightful one. It provided a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what makes an application stand out—and what makes one fall flat.

If you’ve ever sent an application into the digital void and wondered what happens next, this is for you. We’re pulling back the curtain to share the lessons we learned and the thought processes that guided our decisions. This isn’t just about how we hired one writer; it’s about providing you with a roadmap to navigate your own job search and dramatically increase your chances of getting noticed.

Understanding Why the Role Exists

Before you even begin writing your cover letter, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental reason a company is hiring. No business posts a job opening for fun; they do it to solve a problem. Perhaps they need to increase content output, improve their marketing efforts, or free up senior team members to focus on higher-level strategy. Your first mission as an applicant is to figure out what that problem is.

In our case, we needed more than just a wordsmith. We needed someone who could dive deep into complex topics, maintain our specific brand voice, and consistently produce high-quality content that would resonate with our audience. The job description was our first attempt to communicate this need. For an applicant, decoding that description is the key to framing your entire application. You need to present yourself not just as a candidate, but as the solution to their specific problem.

The Application Form: Your First Impression

Many people see the application form as a tedious hurdle. From a hiring manager’s perspective, it’s the first and most critical filter. We designed our application to do more than just collect resumes. We wanted to see how applicants think, how they write, and whether they can follow simple instructions.

We included a mix of questions, from asking for writing samples to more open-ended prompts designed to reveal personality and passion. A well-crafted application form helps us assess several key traits at once:

Attention to Detail: Did the applicant answer every question thoroughly?
Writing Skill: Is their writing clear, concise, and error-free, even in short-form answers?
Enthusiasm: Does their personality and genuine interest in the role shine through?

Think of the application as your opening statement. A rushed, incomplete, or generic submission tells the hiring manager you’re not truly invested.

The Power of “Weird” Questions

In our application, we included a few questions that might have seemed irrelevant at first glance. Prompts like, “What’s a project you’re passionate about outside of work?” or “Teach us something in a few paragraphs” are not there to trick you. They serve a vital purpose: to weed out applicants who are on autopilot and to identify those with genuine curiosity and character.

These questions help us gauge cultural fit and see the person behind the resume. A generic answer about “working hard” is forgettable. An answer that passionately explains the intricacies of beekeeping, building a custom mechanical keyboard, or mastering a complex recipe is memorable. It shows a capacity for dedication, a willingness to learn, and an interesting mind. Don’t be afraid to let your unique personality show; it’s often your biggest differentiator.

Stop the “Shotgun” Approach to Job Applications

One of the most apparent and disappointing trends we saw was the “shotgun” approach: applicants who were clearly sending the same generic resume and cover letter to dozens, if not hundreds, of companies. These are incredibly easy to spot. They often forget to change the company name in the cover letter or provide answers that are so broad they could apply to any job, anywhere.

This strategy is fundamentally flawed because it prioritizes quantity over quality. As a hiring manager dealing with hundreds of applications, I’m not looking for someone who just wants *a* job; I’m looking for someone who wants *this* job. A tailored application that speaks directly to our company, our mission, and the specifics of the role will always stand out. Take the extra 30 minutes to customize your submission. Mention a specific article you liked, connect your experience to our company’s values, and make it clear that you’ve done your homework. This effort does not go unnoticed.

Show, Don’t Just Tell: The Importance of a Portfolio

When hiring for a creative or skill-based role like a writer, your resume is secondary to your portfolio. Stating that you have “excellent writing skills” is meaningless without proof. We needed to see the work. Applicants who provided a clean, professional, and easily accessible portfolio immediately moved to the top of the pile.

Your portfolio doesn’t need to be exhaustive. Three to five of your best, most relevant pieces are far more effective than a folder of 50 mediocre ones. Here’s what makes a great portfolio:

Relevance: Showcase work that aligns with the style and subject matter of the company you’re applying to.
Quality: Ensure every piece is polished and free of errors. This is your professional highlight reel.
Accessibility: A simple website, a professional profile on a platform like Medium, or even a neatly organized Google Drive folder with clear links is perfect. Don’t make the hiring manager hunt for your work.

If you have ghostwritten content you can’t publicly claim, describe it. Explain the topic, the target audience, and the goals of the piece. This demonstrates your experience even when you can’t share the final byline.

The First Cut: Easy Ways to Get Rejected

With 259 applications, we had to be ruthless in our initial screening. The first round of cuts wasn’t about finding the best candidate; it was about eliminating the ones who made it easy for us. The bar for this initial “weed out” is often surprisingly low. Here are the most common reasons an application was immediately discarded:

Typos and Grammatical Errors: For a writing position, this is an instant disqualifier. It shows a lack of attention to detail where it matters most.
Not Following Instructions: If the application asks for a PDF and you send a Word document, or if it asks for three samples and you send one, it signals that you either can’t or won’t follow directions.
Incomplete Applications: Skipping questions is a major red flag. It suggests laziness or a lack of serious interest.
Generic Cover Letters: A letter addressed to “Dear Hiring Manager” that simply rehashes a resume is a wasted opportunity.

Avoiding these simple mistakes is the easiest way to ensure you survive the first cut and your application is actually reviewed by a human.

How to Handle Rejection (or Silence)

The reality of any hiring process is that most applicants will be rejected. Often, you won’t even receive a rejection email; you’ll just hear silence. It’s frustrating, but it’s rarely personal. With hundreds of applicants, it is logistically impossible for a hiring manager to provide personalized feedback to everyone.

There are countless reasons you might not hear back that have nothing to do with your qualifications. The role might have been filled internally, the budget might have been cut, or the company’s priorities may have shifted. Don’t let the silence discourage you. Instead, treat every application as a learning experience. Review your submission. Could you have tailored it more? Was your portfolio as strong as it could be? Use each attempt to refine your approach for the next opportunity.

Final Thoughts: Your Application Is a Story About You

The hiring process can feel like an impersonal, algorithm-driven machine. But behind every decision is a person trying to find the best possible fit for their team. Your job is to make their decision easy. You do that by submitting a thoughtful, detailed, and personalized application that tells a compelling story about who you are and what you can do.

By putting in the effort to understand the company’s needs, showcasing your best work, and letting your personality shine through, you move beyond being just another resume in the stack. You become a real person, a potential colleague, and the clear solution to their problem. That is how you get hired.