How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - Applying For Jobs - General Information
In 99.9% of
cases you will be sending a CV either with your letter of
application or attached to the email. Indeed I find it difficult to
think of a situation where you wouldn't send a CV, so your
correspondence should be kept light and to the point. Too much
waffle in the covering letter/email, and file 13 or the delete
button will beckon! The reader will switch off totally, and you
will have lost. You should aim to point the reader to salient
points in your CV by highlighting them in the cover letter/email.
The points you highlight should be skills or abilities you know
you have that are also requirements of the job.
For example, if the job advert or specification
states that good organisational ability is required, you might add a
line to the effect;-
You will note from my CV that I have managed the
administration department for three years, where my strong
organisational abilities have improved the departments performance
by three man days per month.
The idea is to highlight two or three key points
that re-enforce your application and suitability for the post.
Points that will encourage the reader to want to read your
full CV details. To make him think that you can do the job for
which you are applying. To reassure the reader that he will
not be wasting his time in reading your details. You can do this
with actual skills as well as attributes, again depending on what is
required by the job specification.
I believe that, in doing this, you have to be a
little bold, blow your own trumpet (let's face it, no-one else will
blow it for you, will they?). The bottom line, though, is if you do
not show confidence in your skills and abilities, this will show
through to the reader. If you do not inspire confidence in the
reader, then you will not be called for interview.
Another point on written applications. It is always
better, if at all possible, to address your correspondence to
someone personally. Even if you are applying to an advert that just
gives a reference number, it is well worth trying to find out the
name of the person doing the hiring and addressing the application
personally. I like to do this for three reasons.
-
It will make the correspondence more personal,
and therefore the reader more disposed to your application.
-
It will show that you have initiative (ie; to
find out who the decision maker is). I know I keep repeating it,
but remember, initiative is one of the main personality
characteristics that employers look for when hiring new staff.
(You will remember this by the time you get to the end of
this site!)
-
t will differentiate you from the rest who
did not bother! This gives you a little head start. Don't
forget what I have said a number of times (I know I keep
repeating this as well!), every advantage is worth
having, no matter how small. This is a major competitive
situation.
It
may not be possible to do this, especially in today’s world of
automated applications online…but if it is, go for it. If it is not
possible, follow the instructions you are given.
There are a number of ways in which you can make a
written application, these are as follows.
Next Page -
Responding To A
Specific Advert
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