Lisa Wheatly
Are you one of those people who randomly apply to jobs, trying to send as many applications as possible? Oops, we’ll have to do something about that. You’re practically spamming. If you’re sending meaningless applications without paying attention to all details, you’re ruining your chances to be considered as a candidate.
A job application is a process. You have to do few things before making the final step. We’ll give you a list of things to do before sending that job application.
Have a general idea of what you’d like to do, but you still need to evaluate your #skills and past #experiences. Take the time to think what you can offer and what job would meet the needs you have.
What skills and accomplishments make you stand out from the competition? Maybe you’re applying for a job at social services, but you have some skills in graphic design, so you could help the organization with its marketing processes. Think of something you can really use.
Then, explore what the positions you would like to compete for require. Do the requirements match your skills? If not, do something to gain the needed skills, or shift your focus to a lower position until you get there.
Search your name on Google. What do you see? Are there any inappropriate photos? Maybe some nasty comments you made on social media? Maybe there’s nothing at all, or another face appears under your name?
If you want to be really competitive on the job market, you’ll have to work on your online reputation. The potential employer will see the exact same things when they do research online. You don’t want them to see another face or any embarrassing photos from years ago.
There are few things you need to do to improve your online reputation:
• Get rid of all photos you wouldn’t want a hiring manager to see. Take off the tags or make them private if you’re the one who published them.
• Work on your LinkedIn profile! That’s the first thing you want someone to see in the results when researching your name.
• Start blogging! That’s the best way to boost your reputation. When a hiring manager sees your blog and realizes your knowledge and skills would be useful for their organization, you’ll immediately get a call for an interview.
Have you been sending out the same #CV or #resume for years? Are you planning to send the one that got you the previous position? That’s the wrong way to play this game.
Your resume needs a serious update! Hiring managers are looking for creativity and attention to details. The resumes that were acceptable five years ago don’t attract any attention today. If you have no idea how the perfect resume looks like, you can always get yours updated by a professional service.
So you see an ad for a position that looks just perfect for your skills. Do not apply before getting information about the company! A smart job candidate knows they have to look out for themselves. The last thing you need is to get a job at a company you don’t even like.
Who will you address the application to? Dear Hiring Manager is okay, but it doesn’t make your cover letter special and personal.
Once you get enough #information about the company and you like what you see, you should make an effort to find the name of the #hiringmanager. If that information is not available at the official website, you can just make a call at the company.
Whatever you do, never start the cover letter with To whom it may concern.
The resume shows your skills and accomplishments, so it’s okay to send the same one with different applications. The #cover letter, however, shows why and how you’re the best fit for this particular position. You have to write a new one for each position you apply for.
In the era of LinkedIn, #networking is easier than ever. You can easily locate current employees of the company you want to look for. Reach out to them! This is an awesome way to network and get noticed as a candidate.
Once you locate a current employee, send them a message to introduce yourself. Show you’re interested to know more about the company. Maybe they can give you some tips and insights that will make you a more attractive candidate. In the best case, they can recommend you to the employer.
Lisa Wheatly believes analytical thinking and an enquiring mind are her strongest points, and she does her best to put them to good use. Lisa has had an experience in opening couple businesses. Bes...
