Barnes & Noble job application online is certainly for the books. For some, applying as a bookseller in the largest book retailer in the U.S. is a dream job. As it is, there are two ways to apply for a position at Barnes and Noble.

For booksellers, applicants can check out their listing at HotJobs.com or download a job application form from Barnes and Noble website. Still at their website, you can check out their corporate listings, chose the job you want, and email them your resume and cover letter.

Barnes & Noble are proud to claim that their benefit package is “unparalleled in the retail industry,” adding that they are one of the few companies that offer health coverage to part-time employees.

Also, they are “one of the first companies to offer domestic partner coverage.” All in all, they have competitive benefit plans for their employees from insurance to 401(k) plans.

They even have generous merchandise and book discounts for their employees. 

As to the 401(k) savings plan, theirs matches the employees’ savings dollar for dollar, up to 4% of earnings, after only 1,000 hours of service. They also have their paid sick day policy and short- and long-term disability plans which are very important protection if the employee is unable to work due to illness or injury.

Aside from these, they provide basic life insurance equal to your annual earnings, and there are equally very generous variations to this arrangement. Even spouses and children can avail of additional coverage. They have continuing education programs in the form of tuition assistance to those who wants to further their career in the business.

There are other unique company benefits enjoyed by Barnes and Noble booksellers and managers, but you already get the picture at this point.

For the prospective job hunter, applying at Barnes and Noble needs some polishing of your old style. For one, have you looked at your résumé lately? How old is it? When was the last time you updated it?

Have you taken new courses, skills, or other achievements relevant to the job you want at Barnes and Noble? If you did, it’s time you revise your résumé and include everything new about you and your present skills. You may not have been called by other companies not because you are not suited to the jobs, but maybe because your résumé is outdated.

In another vein, you should also try to “stand out from the crowd.” Of course, this is hard to do in an online job prospecting compared to real person-to-person interaction with the hiring manager of a company.

To “stand out from the crowd” cyber-style, use the “hook” in capturing the attention of your prospective employer. Usually, the email subject lines or the first few lines of your response are what hiring managers look at first.

The key is to impress them enough with sincere, well-thought out words for them to read on your email. This will set your email apart from the usual things they read every day. Probably, you might have to update your usual greetings and other areas in your cover letters, too.

In any case, your sincere desire to win the job will probably show in your cover letter.  You just have to remember that Barnes and Noble online job application is for the books, and you better not waste the chance of working there.