Job Applications
How do I get a job?
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
What makes a successful job application?
For many of the people we work with, this is an elusive question. We hear many stories of people applying for a high volume of jobs, spending lots of time and energy trying to get an interview, and then hearing nothing. Not even an explicit rejection, certainly no feedback.
We talk about having a learning mindset, being curious, being open to feedback. But how can we improve our job applications if we don’t get any feedback?
One useful exercise is something we’ve talked about before: put yourself in the shoes of the employer. Why are they hiring?
It’s such a simple adjustment, and yet so few people are asking themselves this question when they apply. Something as simple as reading the job description, and tailoring your application to fit what the employer is asking for - that’s going to immediately make you stand out as a candidate.
So with this in mind - “why are they hiring?” - what are some practical things we can do to improve our application?
Make sure you’re a fit for the role you’re applying for. If we aren’t clear at the outset that we could make a genuine contribution in the role, that’s a good sign that the role isn’t a good fit for you. A small number of high quality applications will generate more results than a high number of low quality applications for the wrong jobs.
Tailor your CV to the job description. The description is a really rich resource for finding out what the employer is looking for. Getting really clear in your own head “Oh, they’re looking for x” and then looking at your own CV. How does the contents of your CV demonstrate that you are a good fit? If they don’t - maybe that role isn’t a fit for you.
Know the company you’re applying for. If the application is successful, you’re going to be working for this company. What do you know about their mission? What are they trying to achieve? How does that align with your goals? Again, a small number of applications, tailored for companies that you are aligned with, for roles that you are well suited to, will instantly be much higher quality and much more likely to lead to an interview.
Make a contribution before you contact the employer. By approaching each application thinking “what is the contribution I can make here?” you instantly stand out as a candidate. Why not take it a step further? See if you can write a review for the company’s service, or create some content they could use and attach to the application. If you have a skill that they are looking to bring into the company, in order to achieve something, why not demonstrate that skill and offer them something that will help them achieve their goals?
There are two major challenges in recruitment currently. One is that many employers are dealing with a high volume of applications, which they can struggle to process and respond to. Another is that many applicants are applying for a large number of roles, and getting nowhere.
Try some of these tips, and see if you can bridge that gap.
Good luck with your application - we’ll be rooting for you.
Got a story about following our suggestions? We’d love to know your experience! Click here to write to us with your story, and any questions you have for us.
Did you get an interview? Congratulations! Now read our article on job interviews to help you ace your interview.
Interested in the topic of job applications? We discussed this contribution mindset idea on our podcast - listen to the full discussion here.
