Before you make your "sales pitch" (a.k.a. submit your application), research thoroughly the needs, desires, and problems of your employer. Successful salespeople understand it is critical to get to know their customer first. Yet, most job seekers will just jump right in and submit
their resume without doing any real homework. As a result, they typically get a "no" response or rejection pretty early (i.e., never get the phone screen, or their resume never gets past the ATS).
"Listening" goes hand-in-hand with doing homework. It's not enough to learn about your potential employer. You have to use what you learn to internalize what they are about. While you may not get to talk to someone directly, thanks to social media, companies often produce
tons of material for their employer branding efforts that you can watch, read, or listen to.
If you've followed tips one and two above, you will have a good idea of how to shape your career materials so they really connect with the potential employer. These days, tailoring your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter is expected. Talking about the employer in detail and
relating back to your own experience is required. You must also keyword optimize these materials and match them succinctly to the employer's needs, or be prepared to go in the "no" pile.