This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
10 Ways to Make Your Job Application Stand Out ¶
As a communications practitioner, I've seen my fair share of job applications. Recently, I was appointed to a shortlisting committee for various positions in my organisation, and what I thought would be an exciting undertaking turned out to be disappointing instead.
Despite receiving over 500 applications, only a dozen candidates qualified to proceed to the interviewing stage. This is because applicants made simple but costly mistakes. It is essential to note that your job application is a demonstration of your attention to detail, which is often outlined as a key skill in most job descriptions.
Here are 10 simple ways to make your job application stand out:
- Put contact information: During the shortlisting exercise, I noticed that several applicants had met all the qualifications, but we could not reach out to them because they did not leave any contact information.
- Avoid attaching your photos: Photos provide grounds for discrimination on the basis of looks, age, or skin colour. Avoid giving employers a reason to judge your character or competence before they meet you.
- Label documents clearly: Most organisations now require applicants to send requisite documents via email. To make recruiters' work easier and your application neat, label your documents for easy identification.
- Scan related documents continuously: Some documents, for example, university transcripts usually have multiple pages. When sending via email, scan multiple pages into one pdf file instead of each scan being saved as a separate file.
- Use a clear scanner: It takes no effort to ensure that the text on your scanned document is clear and readable.
- Attach a cover letter: An applicant's ability to express themselves is judged based on how well they write their cover letter. Always take time to prepare a tailored cover letter emphasizing your strengths and past experiences that make you the best fit for the position.
- Do a social media clean-up: In today's digital age, employers screen job applicants' social media accounts before making the hiring decision.
- Tailor your CV to the job description: Most job applicants prepare one generic CV and send it to different companies. This lazy move often makes your application irrelevant as it is not tailored to the job description and ultimately, the employer's needs.
- Proofread your application: Before clicking 'send', take time to proofread your CV, cover letter, statement of purpose, or any relevant material on your application.
- Write a message on the email document: A message on the email body is not only a formality or courtesy but also an opportunity to impress.
Employers are often flooded with applications. Consequently, your application needs to stand out, and this, as explained above, does not need rocket science. When making the next application, remember that the devil is in the detail.
Gladys Njoroge is a communications practitioner based in Nairobi.
