How to Apply for a Job

Decide what kind of work you want to do. To increase the effectiveness of the application process, see what your job needs and wants are. You can narrow down your choices by considering a few things:

• Consider career fields. Whether you’re about to move into another career or move sideways, you need to find a job that’s both challenging and satisfying. Knowing what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what you want to do.
• Consider the skills required for a particular position. Feeling your skills are utilized and recognized is the key to achieving job satisfaction. When you know which skills need to be employed and which ones can be developed, it will be easier to identify a worthwhile job.
• Review salary and benefits. Always be honest and realistic about your interests. If you need health insurance and require a certain amount of income each month, it is best to focus on jobs that can meet your needs.

Learn about. Before you start sending out “massive” resumes and cover letters, do some research about the company you’re applying to.

• Learn about the company’s culture and values by reading their mission statement. This information can be helpful when you’re writing your cover letter as well as when you’re interviewing.
• Learn about the company’s new products or services. This information is usually located in the “news” section. This section can also be a source of information about the community activities in which the company participates.
• Check out the careers or jobs section on the company’s website to see what positions they’re looking for. You may have more options in other locations or departments. ^[1]

Write a resume . Even if the job you want doesn’t require a traditional resume, it’s still a good idea to have an up-to-date resume. Not only do they outline your education and work experience, they also point to specific projects you’ve worked on or awards you’ve won. The information that you need to include in your resume should include:

• Your current contact information, including your full name, phone number, home address and email address.
• Academic level. List the names of the schools you attended (starting with the most recent), the courses and degrees obtained. You can also add the entire curriculum.
• Work experience in previous few years. There is an unwritten rule: every 10 years of experience will be encapsulated in 1 page. Note that the gap between your offers will be asked during the interview. Be sure to include your date of employment, company name, job title, and a brief description of your duties.
• Related skills. This is your chance to list skills you’ve acquired over the years. Ability to operate office equipment, knowledge of operating systems and computer software (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite or Adobe Creative Suite), typing speed, experience with databases and other information. Other relevant information should be listed on file.

Contact recruiters to inquire about the application process. You will probably be directed to the human resources manager. If they are looking to hire, they can invite you to fill out an application or send your resume and cover letter to them by post or email. Record the person’s name and future methods of contacting them by name.

Write a cover letter if necessary. Make sure this letter is written specifically for the company and the job. If possible, name the specific person involved. This will show that you’ve taken the time to research the information rather than simply mass emailing recruiters. You can cover the following topics in your letter:

• Does the company’s culture and mission align with your values?
• Your personal knowledge and experience will make you a great employee for this position and for the company.
• What do you hope to achieve while working in this position?
• What unique talents do you have to show off when you take on this job?
• What is it about this position that excites you in particular?

Ask for an objective opinion. Ask a friend or relative to look through your resume and cover letter for typos. They can point out things that are missing or duplicated.

• If possible, ask for advice from someone in the same industry you are applying for. Talking to the recruiter or their head of human resources can also help as they have already identified the qualifications and requirements of the candidate they need.

Enroll validators. While you may not need to provide a list of validators right away, it is still a good idea to ask them early on if they would like to be a validator for your work.

• You should be sure to have at least three validators. Including at least two people who have worked with you and are able to comment on your performance.
• Make sure you have the most up-to-date information about your validators, including their current postal and email addresses, phone numbers, job titles, and companies. ^[2]

Recruitment. Once you’ve refined your resume and cover letter, it’s time to apply for the job. Applications are usually submitted in three ways:

• Submit directly. Bring a resume bag containing all the necessary documents to the company you are hiring for. You should ask them in advance about the best time to bring in the documents. When you arrive, ask to meet the human resources director and submit your application in person. This will help them remember you better. You should dress professionally and present yourself well.
• Submit your resume online. This form is very diverse. Some places will ask you to fill in the available fields, others will ask you to include a cover letter and resume in PDF format. Some companies require candidates to send documents to their Human Resources department. You need to follow the instructions—if they ask you to present your profile directly in the email, don’t send them any attachments.
• Submit application by post. If required, include the employer or human resources director’s name on the letter. Make sure you have paid the freight that corresponds to the weight of the document.

Actions after submitting the application. Checking the status of your application after submission will show your interest in the job and ensure that it reaches the right person. Calling immediately can seem quite demanding and annoying. Follow these suggestions to get in touch with them:

• Pay attention to the “application deadline” of the job. Most jobs posted online will have an application deadline date. Calling your employer before this date can make you seem overly excited and needy.
• If there is no application deadline, it is best to contact them a week after submitting your application.
• When calling or emailing a recruiter or human resources director, be friendly. Avoid using demanding statements like “I have not been contacted by anyone.” Instead, you can ask, “Has a decision been made yet?” or “Can you tell me a little bit about the hiring timeframe?” Ask if you can get back to them if there’s still no response after a week, this is a polite way to be proactive. ^[3]