What to do before, during and after your next job application

Applying for a new role can be daunting. And with more candidates applying for some roles than ever before, it is important to stand out – but for the right reasons. Here, we have come up with some helpful tips to help you before, during and after you apply for that dream role.

BEFORE APPLYING: Tailor your CV

One common mistake job-seekers make when applying for a role is to send a generic covering letter with the same CV they have had on file for a while. However, most employers who are recruiting can spot this a mile off and may discard your application before reading it all. That’s because it is essential that you tailor your CV and covering letter when applying for every single role.

According to the national skills body, Skills Development Scotland, “tailoring your CV is important, as individual employees look for different qualities and experience in a potential employee” – there is no one size fits all when it comes to recruitment.

WHEN APPLYING: Refer back to the advertisement

In your CV and covering letter you should set out to demonstrate ways you fit the job description, outlining how your skills and experience match the type of person the recruiting employer is searching for. If, for example, the job advert says “must have customer service experience” or “confidence dealing with external clients” then explain more about this in your CV and letter.

Do they ask for specific qualification or skills? Do you possess them? If so, tell them.

Don’t be too creative

If your role is a design-related one, then go for it, but if the role you are applying for is not in the creative industry, avoid making your CV look too “fancy”. Ultimately, the employer wants to know how you fit the role profile, and often sees a fancy CV as a way of dressing up less-impactful information. On the contrary, you want your skills and experience to stand out, but do it with words, not graphics, emojis, pictures and clip-art.

AFTER APPLYING: Do not hound the employer

After you have submitted your application, even after the closing date, do not hound the employer. This is not professional. However, if you have not heard anything within a week or two after the closing date, a polite email to find out how the application process is going would be acceptable and show that you are still keen. Remember: keen is good; desperate is not!

Research the company

So many people fall at the first hurdle in an interview – as they fail to answer extensively when asked “what do you know about the company?” Besides knowing all about the role, it is advisable to conduct extensive research about the company in anticipation of the interview.