Topic: How to successfully apply for a job (CV, letter, interview)

Topic: How to successfully apply for a job (CV, letter, interview)

   When applying for a job, you will need to send in a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter. If you end up on the employer's short list, you will most likely be called to an interview.

I.         CV

How to make a compelling CV:

   What is a CV?

Curriculum Vitae: an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications. Another name for a CV is a résumé.

   Your CV must impress a potential hiring manager in a short period of time. Your aim is not only to show you can do the job, but also that you will be an asset to the organisation.

   As well as good content and appropriate format, the wording of your CV is crucial.

1.       Speak to the hiring manager’s needs.

   Research the organisation and the challenges of the role so you can put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. What problems do they need you to solve? Where will you be expected to make a difference? Then work out what career accomplishments, skills and talents you’ll need to demonstrate to perform well in the role.

   Write a strong career summary or professional profile highlighting your talents. You can make a great initial impact in a few sentences which summarise your unique value: your greatest achievement, how you contributed to a company, or any special skills that are vital to the role.

   Use the keywords in strategic places in your CV: in your career summary, key strengths and career highlights sections.

   Choose keywords that reflect the seniority of the role. For example, if applying for high-level positions, make sure you describe your leadership or management skills over lower-level skill sets.

2.       Be credible

   Choose success stories which are relevant to the role you’re applying for. You can organise your stories into different themed groups, such as by skill-set, or by the key requirements mentioned in the job ad.

3.       Overcome any doubts

   If some of your experience or skills come from a different sector, you’ll need to demonstrate how they apply to the role and are relevant.

   In the case of transferable skills, give specific instances of what it is you can do, and quantify these examples. If your skills are technical or role-specific, identify what it is about the skill which makes it transferable or applicable. For example, if you’ve customised WordPress themes for different clients, your skill lies in being able to bend technology to make custom applications / sites.

   To find the real impact of your skills, consider what they mean to the company. How does applying your skills improve efficiency, productivity or customer retention, for example?

4.       Keep it concise

   In most cases, CVs beyond two pages in length will not get read. Keep your CV concise and focussed on the job you’re applying for. Trim excess information and delete all irrelevancies, such as experience dating back more than 15 years, unimportant or obsolete skills, and puff – meaningless cliche phrases such as “team player”.

   Instead of a “I was responsible for…” style of writing, use strong action verbs such as “streamlined” or “slashed costs” to give a more vivid picture of what you did.

   Aim to write in small, easily digestible chunks of information, rather than in dense paragraphs. This makes it easier for your reader to find (and remember) key information.

5.       Let your enthusiasm shine through

   Although your covering letter is a good place to explain why you particularly want the job or to work for that company, your CV should also reflect your excitement about the opportunity. Make sure that the language you use conveys a genuine interest in the job, as well as pride in your previous accomplishments. Use a range of vocabulary to stress, rather than obscure, your unique value and past achievements.

II.     Letter

   How to write a successful application letter?

   You are looking for a job? a good letter of application may help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.Therefore, A Covering letter will convince a future employer that you are the best fit for the role and organisation.

   The letter of application should follow the general guidelines for all business letters. It should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion and It should be short (1 page A4), keeps fonts and formatting simple.

Give your cover letter structure:

·             Format and Style:

   Include your contact details (top right) and the organisation’s details including addressee (left, above the salutation).

·             Date the letter

   Find out the name of the recipient and spell it, the organisation and everything else correctly. Contact the company to find out the correct contact details.

·             Content

   The Introduction : In the introduction you should detail the job you are applying for, and, if relevant, the circumstances that have led to this (for example an advertisement, or the recommendation of an agency). Keep it short and sweet.

   The body: The body of the letter provides you with an opportunity to present yourself to the employer:

o  Tell the reader about your present job and why you are looking to move on.

o  Explain why you are suitable for this job.

o  Emphasize the skills you have which make you particularly suitable for the job.

o  List briefly the personal qualities you would bring to it.

o  Answer any specific questions posed by the advert or job details

    It is important not to write too much, however. Two, or at most three, short punchy paragraphs are much more effective than two sides of rambling prose.

   The Conclusion: The conclusion should round the letter off, leaving the reader with a positive image. Tell them when you’ll be available for interview (and for work) and that you look forward to hearing from them. Remember to be brief: try to keep the entire covering letter to one side of A4.

   Lastly, remember to include the same contact information used on your resume on your cover letter as well.Make sure you have included your name, address, home or cell phone number and e-mail address.

III.   Interview

Preparing for before the interview:

-       Know yourself. Know what your personal and career goals, and how they fit with the company’s goals. It can be a good idea to do some research on the company beforehand

-       You should also study the job description carefully, and be able to talk about the skills you have that are listed in that description, as well as other skills that may apply to the position.

-       Practice answering questions: The prepared questions, answers that will help you feel more confident in the interview process. Do not be embarrassed to have hard questions to answer.

-       Dress well: This will help you feel more confident and impressed with the initial recruitment.

During the Interview:

The first few minutes are crucial; studies have shown that interview form their overall impression of applicants within the first four minutes of the interview. Be sure to keep in mind the following basic things:

-         Stand tall

-         Make eye contact

-         Shake hands firmly

-         Be polite; use the fomal address of Mr…, Ms…, unless invited to do otherwise

-         Wait for invitation; do not sit until invited to do so. Sit Straighe and tall and look attentive and enthusiastic

All of these things indicate that you want to be there and that you are calm, confident and professional.

-         The body of the interview will likely begin with the interviewer giving a detailed description of the job. This is an opportunity for you to ask intelligent questions and demonstrate what you know about the position and the company.

-         The main portion of the interview is all about you, the applicant. You will be asked to answer questions about yourself: your skills, applicable studies and training, past work experience, etc.

-         Remember to make eye contact, keep your answers succinct but thorough, and focus on the positive. Be enthusiastic and use good grammar; do your best to avoid too many “um”s, “ah”s, “you know”s and other such fillers.

-         Don’t fidget or exhibit other distracting nervous mannerisms, and don’t offer any negative information about yourself or criticize previous employers.

-         Remember, this is your chance to make a great impression in person and get the job you want. Make sure you are well prepared and practice answering questions before the interview. During the interview be sure to make eye contact, shake hands firmly, sit up straight and show enthusiasm. Be confident and give it your best.

After the interview:

5 things you need to do after the interview

-         Continue the job search: It’s not over till it’s over. An interview does not guarantee you the job.  You must be aware that you were interviewed along with other applicants – probably in a long queue. So until you receive that phone call congratulating you for being chosen to work for the company, continue sending those resumes

-         Say thank you: You lose nothing by sending a message of gratitude to the company or the interviewer.  Just send a simple thank you note for having considered your application.

-         Evaluate:  Right after the interview, recall what happened. What went wrong? What went right? What can be improved? These are questions you have to ask yourself and take time to truthfully answer. Evaluating your recently concluded interview can help you do better in the next Q&A you will encounter. Being better in the next interview can bring you closer to your objective.

-         Remember the difficult questions: Take note of the questions you were asked during the interview, especially the difficult ones. You might just encounter them again. In succeeding interviews, you will be able to anticipate some of the questions and come prepared to answer them. You should be able to impress them the next interviewer – better than the last time.

-         Make a follow-up call: It’s never wrong to call and ask about your status. Just don’t be too nosy or pushy.  Sometimes the HR Department appreciates a call and sees it as indicator that you’re a very determined applicant. On the other hand, being too persistent might give the impression that you are impatient; this could impact your application in a not-so-great way.  Keep the word moderation in mind.