hen you apply for a job, your main priority should be making sure your application gets put on the job interview pile. Nothing can beat relevant experience and/or education, but even if you have those things there are a few pitfalls even the most qualified people can make that will see your application ending up on the ‘no’ pile.
It’s one thing to nail a job interview, but the first step to getting there is a killer application.
After recruiting for nine new positions at my work within the past year, I have become a ninja at picking and discarding applications, because I just don’t have the time to waste. As an experienced recruiter, I’ve come up with 5 tips for getting your resume in the yes pile…
1. Fill in all the requirements
It seems like it shouldn’t even need to be said but submitting an application without all the required information is an excellent way to get your application dragged and dropped to the recruiters desktop trash can.
Read the requirements for the application carefully and ensure your application provides everything asked for. No more and no less. If the job ad requires a cover letter, provide one. If the key selection criteria is provided, address it. It may seem like a pain in the bum, but I’ve never seen a job ad that advised “attention to detail not critical”.
2. Put your name on it
The number of times I’ve printed twenty or more job applications to hand over to someone else to review and been unable to match the selection criteria with the resume is ridiculous. Why waste your time putting together a killer selection criteria if the recruiter is going to lose it once it’s printed because they can’t figure out who it belongs to?
Put your name on the application and all associated documents. Better yet, put your name in the footer of the document and have the whole thing in one document so it can be printed in one go.
3. Watch your spelling, grammar and formatting
Make sure your application’s spelling, grammar and formatting is correct.
When you’re claiming good attention to detail or advanced computer skills, your application is the first place the recruiter will look for evidence of those claims. Spelling, grammatical and formatting errors can be an easy way to demonstrate you are not as good as you claim to be.
If the recruiter has difficultly printing your application because your resume is set to “Letter” instead of “A4” that is going to irritate them, particularly if they’re printing 60 or more applications at once. You don’t want your resume to be the one that ruined their work flow.
4. Write good selection criteria
Any job ad or position description where the selection criteria is specified should have an accompanying document outlining how you meet those needs. Writing good selection criteria is no different to writing a killer essay, and should follow the same format. I learnt to write a great essay following a simple rule I know as “The Sexy Rule” or, to be more accurate “The SEXE Rule”.
Statement: Repeat the selection criteria, re-framed into how it applies to you.
Explanation: Expand on the criteria, demonstrating your understanding of what the recruiter is asking for.
eXample: Provide an example that backs up your claim.
Extension: Link the example back to the question.
5. Don’t chase the recruiter
Contrary to popular advice, calling or emailing the recruiter to follow-up on your application with queries about when you’re going to hear back a few days after the job closes isn’t a good way to make a positive impression.
Like my point about setting your application to letter instead of A4, a high maintenance application indicates a high maintenance person and can put you at the bottom of the pile if you’re not sitting right at the top.
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How did you nab your last job interview? Any tips you can share?
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P.S Did you know there’s a Smaggle newsletter? And Smags on Facebook? There are lots of awesome life tips and Beyonce in both of those places.
14 Comments
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I have never spent so much time on a job application.. but I nailed it. The Resume, cover letter and key competencies criteria was meticulously mulled over for spelling, grammar as I only had one shot to demonstrate ‘excellent written communication skills’. I also used Canva to write all my docs. The job was for social media and content manager so I had to display some sort of creativity so I used canva and set it out a little different in a nice looking font. I also did some LinkedIn stalking to ensure the person I was submitting it to would appreciate the creative design of it. I got the job – woo!
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LinkedIn stalking is a great tip Rebecca! I think it’s the electronic version of calling to introduce yourself so the recruiter remembers you – I have had people that applied for jobs add me on linked in and when I saw their name in the pile i was like oh I remember them and then went and checked out their profile – so your linked in profile is a great place for all the extra detail you’d like to include in your criteria response but can’t fit in!
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Two fantastic tips there! Tailor the formatting of your resume to the job and recruiter and add them on LinkedIn. Someone I know recently got headhunted from LinkedIn so it’s a great place to get noticed.
Full disclosure: My LinkedIn profile is awful
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Author
Oh brilliant! What I great idea – I never thought to use canva on a job application!
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Great tips Tamsin! My friend has just asked for help with creating a new resume for him for a job he really wants so this is perfect timing x
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You’re very welcome! If you need one on one assistance just ask!
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Such great advice – I’ll be coming back to it if I ever apply for another job!
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Gosh I am SO glad I haven’t had to do one of these in nearly a decade! One of the perks of the journo industry I suppose. Great tips though, from someone who subs and writes resumes, I love this post!
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Thanks Em! I know what you mean – I haven’t applied for a job in years!
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So glad you approve!
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I haven’t applied for a job in nearly 10 years but I have assisted with a few recruitment processes and definitely agree with these tips. I’ve also worked for a recruitment company and saw all manner of crazy resumes. Further tips: don’t use Comic Sans, don’t include a Studio 2000 style glamour shot and do not list “Workout Videos – Belly, Bums and Thighs!” as one of your interests.
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Oh yes! Arial, Calibri or Verdana!
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>Don’t chase the recruiter
Yup… this is true with so many things in life. Badgering people about when they’re going to reply just makes you look desperate and makes them not want to reply to you. Have faith that if they do want to hire you, or go on a date with you, or whatever, that they will most definitely get back to you 😉
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