Are you a hiring manager inundated with resumes from hundreds of job seekers applying for the same position? Here's a tip from Liz Ryan: Be an applicant gatekeeper. Take it for its literal meaning, managing flow and traffic of applicants that will actually be considered and entered on the list of people to interview. Aside from the usual cover letter and resume, a gate would be another request that asks a candidate to do something out of his/her accustomed habits. For example, you can ask the candidate to send a paragraph about the Company's latest product. Surprisingly, the majority of people will not follow these instructions and so you are able to weed out unqualified individuals who are lazy or simply cannot follow instructions. This is the opportunity to screen basic writing/grammar skills before deciding to call the applicant as well. You can save time and guard the overflow of resumes that will not likely be what you are looking for.

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