When it comes to job applications, we totally get that it can take up a lot of your time and effort. And, it's the first thing that the employer sees of you, so it can be a bit nerve-wracking. But don't worry, there are plenty of things that can make the process a lot smoother and less stressful.
Don’t spend too much time writing huge cover letters or elaborate responses to questions. Employers simply don’t have time to read through thousands of lengthy applications; when it comes to writing they want to see that you’re concise, authentic and to the point.
Invest time researching the company and industry to which you’re applying. Employers want to feel that you’re really engaged in the opportunity and you’ll be an ambassador for their business. There’s nothing worse for an employer than interviewing someone who can’t remember what they’ve applied for.
Employers know when you’ve just changed the company name in your covering letter. How do they know? Because the rest of your cover letter is generic and only about you. Yes there’s definitely aspects that can be used as a template, but personalise your written communication to the employer to showcase what it is that’s motivating you. What do you like about them? What have they done that interests you? What do you find impressive about them? Come on - anything!
The problem? Lots of other people do this, so your writing style ends up sounding very similar to everyone else’s - or even identical! The worst is if you leave the language default as US English.
Although a typo can be an innocent mistake, and it’s definitely not the end of the world, when employers are faced with hundreds of submissions, finding a typo is an easy way to start kicking candidates off a shortlist as it signals a lack of attention to detail. Our top tip, if you can get a friend, teacher or family member to read through something for you before you submit it, this could really help!
Just go for it! You have nothing to lose by showing that you really care - maybe add them on LinkedIn, or drop them an email to say you’re excited to hear back from them or feel hopeful about progressing. What’s the worst that could happen?