Getting Your Dream Job Is Possible!
Here we are going to give you a brief and effective guide as to how to apply for job. It is assumed that at this stage, you have searched out a job that interests you. If you have not, please read the posting above on ‘Search For Job’. Finding a job that interests you can be difficult sometimes especially when the job market is competitive. The economic law of demand and supply are usually effective. You will see some employers that seem not to understand what to look for. They will be looking for a carpenter, for example, that knows how to do everything – structural work, masonry, carpentry, sidewall, tiling, HVAC, decoration, cleaning, security, sales, jumping, singing, etc. And yet they say they are equal opportunity employers. Unbelievable! Keep searching and you will surely get a job that is of interest to you. After you find a job, applying means presenting yourself to the employer for consideration and possible hire. Ask yourself, ‘How do I market myself?’ The following steps will help you in the application process:
- Read the job description carefully to know the tasks, responsibilities, requirements and any other details.
- Keep a record of the job description for future use. This is very important when you will be following up on the application. The best way to keep record is to create a folder for every position you apply for. The folder will contain every information about the application – job description, resume, cover letter, login to online application, etc.
- From the job description, note how you are to apply. Some jobs will want you to apply online while others will state that you send your documents by email. Pay attention to what you are required to do.
- Tailor your resume/CV and cover letter (if they are required) to suit the job description.
- Make sure there are no grammatical and spelling errors
- If you are using old template for cover letter, please make sure to update accordingly. It is not a good thing if you send a recent application that is dated two months ago neither is it good if any information on the cover letter is intended for a different employer. There are so many grievous mistakes that can result from using old templates. Avoid such mistakes.
- As you prepare your documents, look at them from the perspective of the employer and see how impressive they appear to you. If you were an employer and somebody approached you with the documents, would you consider and or hire the person? This kind of subjectivity will help you put in your best to the application documents.
When everything is okay, apply for the job and attach/include all requested documents.
Congratulations! You have submitted your application. From experience, if you work full time, you will be able to send between one and five applications in a day. All depends on the details required of the application from the employer. Remember that quality matters a lot rather than quantity. Do not forget that record keeping in extremely important in everything you do during job application. For the above guidelines, we assume you know how to prepare application documents like resume and cover letter. If you do not know, we will be treating them in subsequent posts. Good luck!
