Guarantee yourself an interview call with these 7 steps

Attaching the same CV and generic cover letter for all job applications slims your chances of a call-back. Try the following steps to stand out amongst the "undifferentiated, irrelevant and boring applications".

Apply to a select few openings rather than indiscriminately applying to hundreds. Spend a decent amount of time researching about the organisation, digging into the problem they are solving and how they are solving it.

Write a two sentence elevator pitch that covers the umbrella questions - why do you want to work here? What excites you and why should they be excited about you? This shows you are genuinely invested in the company and wish to add more value to them.

Next, put on your stalking hat and scour the internet for everything the organisation has been upto. Bring yourself to speed on their recent launches and visions for the future. It also helps to connect with employees of the company via LinkedIn/Twitter.

Dump your age-old cover letter and dole out one specific to the company. Mix up the two sentence elevator pitch and any recent company activity on Twitter/LinkedIn to grab eyeballs.

Keep the ball rolling even after you've applied via the conventional method(s). Reach out to current working employees, share your elevator pitch with them and let them know which position you are rooting for. The power of grapevine communication is unparalleled.

Stand out by a mile through involvement in in the company's work. Siddharth Mohan, founder of Yembo calls it the "Something They Will Always Remember (S.T.A.R.)" moment. Example: for a sales job, call a prospect. To nail a tech job signup or use their products.

The power of follow-ups should never be underestimated. Check-in with a friendly email about your application or drop a text to the employees you had reached out to before.

These seven steps will help you get one step closer to that interview call you've been waiting for. Even if you are unable to walk through all of these, the idea of knowing the organisation and customising your resume before applying certainly gives you an edge.