The How-To Career Guide: Applications

So you’ve found the job you really want, but how do you make it yours? I’ve always found the application process the hardest part.

How do you make yourself stand out from all the other resumes the recruiter is receiving?

There are a few ways to do this.

Your resume

Firstly, make sure your resume is perfect.

A good way to approach it is to put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. If you were potentially receiving hundreds of applications, what would you want to see? Think about the process they are likely to go through. They’ll begin by glancing over each one and sorting them into categories (I used to sort them into ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘maybe’).

Your resume is your key to the ‘yes’ pile. Spend some time thinking about how to get it there. Here are some tips:

• It needs to be clearly laid out and easy to read.
• Format, format, format. Use dot points, bold headings and leave spaces between sections.
• Make it short and simple. Two to three pages is an ideal length (yes, even if you’ve been in the workforce for years and years).
• Use a minimum of detail. For example, the only time you should put details of the subjects you studied at school is if you were there in the last two years. After that, you can simply state the school and the level you reached (and the year as an optional extra).
• Don’t include a photo. It just isn’t necessary (and you can never look the way you want to be seen in a resume picture).
• Give the recruiter an idea of the types of things you’ve done, elaborating only slightly on those that are really relevant, but keep them wanting more. Make them want to ring you for more details.
• Ask advice from someone whose opinion you value, but don’t let anyone else write your resume. A good recruiter will look at more than the obvious; they’ll look at the layout and the way things are written. This is your chance to show who YOU are.

Remember – short, simple, to the point. If you were a recruiter, would you look at your resume and think, ‘too hard, too much to read’?

Your application letter

Always, always, always include an application letter. Don’t ever send a resume without one; it’s too impersonal and recruiters are inundated with resumes sent randomly, and you don’t want to be mistaken as one of those.

An application letter is your chance to introduce yourself and convince the recruiter that you are the right person for the job.

Some tips for writing your letter:

• Again, keep it short and simple. Half a page is good, but an absolute maximum of one page is fine.
• Think about why you’re right for this job and communicate that.
• Do some research into the company and address the reasons you believe you’ll be a good fit into the organisation.
• Have a good read of the job advertisement and directly address key points. For example, if they’ve stated they are looking for someone with good organisational skills, give a short example of the ways you display that.
• If possible, ring to ask more details about the job first, so that you have even more to include in your letter. Even if you only get as far as the receptionist, ask for the name of the person you need to attention your letter to, and do so – the recruiter will notice that you’ve taken the time to research.
• Remember, you’re selling yourself – don’t be afraid to talk about how hard working you are and all the reasons why you’re perfect for this job.

Your application letter is the best way to make yourself stand out from all the other applicants, so put some time and effort into making it personalised towards this particular job.

Follow up

Within a day or two, it’s a good idea to give the recruiter a call to make sure they received your application.

At least, that’s the guise you’ll use for ringing, but while you have them on the phone you should talk to them about yourself and the job.

Some tips to following up on your application:

• Try to speak to the person in charge of recruiting for that role.
• If at first you don’t succeed, try again. If one phone call doesn’t get you an interview, call again a couple of days later. And then again. (I remember having no stand-out applicants for one role I was recruiting for, except for this person who kept calling and calling. His application hadn’t been great, but after a few calls I gave him an interview just to get him off my back. He interviewed well and I gave him the job.)
• Be forward, but not pushy or aggressive. Always remain polite.
• Ask for details: about the job, when they are hoping to have it filled by, when interviews will be taking place, their process for hiring. Arm yourself with as much information as possible – this will stand you in good stead at the interview.
• Reiterate why you’re the perfect person for the job.

Good luck!

In part two of the how-to guide to managing your career, we’ll give you tips for blitzing the interview. In part three, we’ll talk about how to get that all-important pay rise.