Applying for a job can be stressful. You can find yourself caught between optimism about the jobs you’ve applied for and stress that you may not get a job at all.
There are, however a couple of things you can do to improve your chances of being a successful job seeker.
Do’s
Read the job advertisement.
Of course, you want to know who the job is for, what you will be doing, and what is required of you before applying. That’s what most people scan for in those few seconds. But there is much more information that you can potentially find in a job posting if you spend more than a minute reading it.
Make Your Application User-Friendly
Keep it short – resumes of one or two pages, and cover letters of no more than five succinct paragraphs, are more likely to be read in full. For resumes, use lists with bullets, clear headings, and easy-to-read typography. Be mindful of applicant tracking software, and use common industry terms and keywords that are likely to capture the attention of robots as well as humans.
Applying for Jobs (Blindly) When You’re Not an Obvious On-Paper Match
Nobody’s sitting around deducing what you might be good at or why you might make sense for any particular job. When you apply online, if your resume and cover letter don’t speak to the specific needs and deliverables of the job—and spell out exactly how you are going to meet them—no applicant tracking system is going to even find it.
If you’re not an obvious match (on paper) for a job, you either need to figure out a way to make yourself one (i.e., gaining new skills, taking on volunteer opportunities or freelance work to boost your resume), or find an opportunity to explain your rationale for applying directly to a hiring manager (i.e., show how your previous work experience in your current field would translate seamlessly to this new job).
Expecting “I’m a Fast Learner” Will Clinch Anything for You
Unless you’re applying for a job that is, by nature, entry level, you should pretty much assume that the decision makers are on the lookout for someone who can hit the ground running. Does this mean you’ll never land a job in a new industry? Not at all. But if you’re pressed in an interview on why they should take a chance on you, don’t think for a moment the hiring manager is looking for “Because I’m a fast learner.”
Think about how the aggregate of your skills and experiences (no matter how unrelated) may actually make you a great candidate for that role. If you’re clear on why you’d be perfect for the job, it’ll be a heck of a lot easier for the decision makers to feel confident about hiring you, even if you’re a bit green.
Thrust Your Resume on Strangers before You’ve Spent 10 Seconds Building Some Rapport
Would you ever walk up to a stranger and propose marriage? Of course you wouldn’t. So why do you think it’s remotely OK to find someone who works at your dream company and—before you’ve even gotten to the “How about that crazy weather?” stage of small talk—shove your resume at him, with a plea to take it on over to the manager? That’s not networking, that’s ambushing.
If you meet a contact or find a great connection, look for ways to build a relationship before you ask for a job.
Calling the HR Person, Recruiter, or Hiring Manager with Ridiculous Frequency
There is a very fine line between “confident, proactive professional” and “desperate dude who will not stop calling us.”
If you haven’t heard back about a position, follow up nicely by email after your original thank-you note.
Job searching isn’t easy, nor can it be boiled down to a single, perfect formula. But if you eliminate the tactics that don’t work (or make you look flat-out foolish), and start replacing them with more effective alternatives?
Use bulleted lists on your cover letter
Many recruiters don’t read cover letters as they are often lengthy. “Keep your cover letter short, about 100 words, and use bullet points instead. Remember, your CV is not a book.”
Create an easy-to-read CV.
If your CV is not appealing to a company, they will not bother reading it. CV;s that are typed in capitals are a strict no. no. Ensure that your CV is easy to read, have dates of your experience and education in chronological order, and always spell check to ensure that you have no grammatical errors.
Be descriptive. When you list your experience at previous jobs, give lots of details. “While you add details, take care to keep it short. You need to “sell” yourself”.
Include contactable references. Before you consider listing someone as a reference, make sure that they know that you’re listing them.
Be flexible. When you apply for a job, you may not get what you want. There may be other vacancies within the company, if you do your best with your CV and your interview, who knows, you may get something even better.
Do take your time
If you’re doing them right, applications take time. Make sure you aren’t hasty; check your spelling and punctuation. Be thoughtful in each of your answers to any questions on the application. Some may seem simple and straightforward, but don’t take anything for granted or brush anything off.
Do follow up
If it’s been a few days and you haven’t heard anything back regarding your application, don’t be afraid to follow up. This is something that many people don’t do, but it’s an extremely important part of the process. Making contact shows your persistence and your interest in the position and will set you apart from the rest of the pack, which is, after all, exactly what you want.
Don’ts
Spending 100% of Your Search Time Submitting Online Applications
If trolling the job boards is your primary search tactic, you’re looking at a long road ahead. Realize that, for every job you pursue, at least one or two people are going to find a “connection” at that company. And they’re going to use that “connection” to get a direct introduction unless your application is being moved by an executive search company who will automatically represent your potential and strengths in which case you don’t need connections to support your application.
Lie
“Don’t lie about your experience, as companies and recruiters do credit and background checks. If you lie, you’ll definitely not be employed. Be honest; tell the interviewer whether you’ve had any experiences in the past that may influence your chances of employment.”
Limit Your Job Search
Don’t limit your search by only applying to positions that meet your exact criteria. Instead, having an open mind (remember, you won’t know exactly what the job entails until you interview) when reviewing the job ads will increase your applications and increase your chances of getting an interview. The more flexible you are, the more options you’ll have.
Don’t apply to jobs “just because”
It can be easy to catch the bug and want to apply to any and every job that’s out there—after all, the market isn’t stellar. However, make sure you apply to places where you could really see yourself working, not just to any place you find along the way. Use your energy for jobs you truly want.
Skip the details. You may have prepared a good CV for your job application but when you email your CV or apply online, your CV can be rejected. “If you’re emailing your CV, have a good subject line; tell the person who you are and what job you’re applying for”. The person reading your email may have 100 other messages to read so ensure that your email is detailed and stands out.
Forget to read. When you write your objective line at the top of your CV, remember to read the job advertisement first. For instance, if the employer asks for someone who is “hard-working” make sure you mention this. “It will capture my attention first as I know what I am looking for”.
Be afraid to follow up. “If you have sent your CV or gone for a job interview, you can follow up after a week”. Following up will show that you’re interested and it makes you stand out. Don’t, however, pester the employer.
Don’t allow yourself to get distracted
When you’re completing job applications, find a quiet place where you won’t get interrupted, whether that’s your room, the library, a coffee shop, or somewhere else. You want to be thinking only about your job application and nothing else, and it’s too easy to let your mind wander when friends or family are around.
Don’t keep your cover letter the same
When you’re applying to jobs, it’s important to tailor your cover letter to each specific position to which you are applying. While it is more time-consuming to create a custom cover letter for each job, it is well worth it. If you use a generic cover letter, it’ll be pretty obvious, and will signal that you aren’t willing to put in the extra effort. And if you aren’t willing to put in effort when you’re simply applying to a job, chances are you won’t be a hard worker at the company—and that’s definitely not the type of person employers are seeking.
Do your best to avoid the phrase, “Dear Sir or Madam” in your cover letter; it’s very impersonal. Do your research to find out to whom you should address the letter. Sometimes it’ll be in the job listing itself, but other times you’ll need to do a little digging. The fact that you took time to find the name will resonate with the employer.
“Following these tips won’t necessarily get you a job, but they could help improve your chances. Remember, each job sector is different so make sure you do your research before you apply for the job you’re aiming for.”
