Quick Tips for Putting Together a Great Job Application

A well put-together job application brings you a step closer to landing your dream job. A great job application is one where upon review, it is evident that the candidate has:

• conducted research on the organization;
• studied the job description;
• updated their resume with relevant experiences;
• included a one-page cover letter with information relevant to the job;
• included key words outlined in the job description in their resume and cover letter;
• sold themselves – by outlining their skills, accomplishments and how they added value at their previous place(s) of employment using the Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR) technique in their cover letter;
• taken the time to complete the application;
• included referees that can provide solid references;
• reviewed the entire application to make sure it is error-free; and
• submitted the application as early as possible, before the deadline.

Resume

A resume should include:

• education;
• relevant work experiences organized from most recent to least recent, including accomplishments with measurables;
• volunteer experience;
• certification(s) and award(s) received; and
• hobbies (optional).

Cover Letter

When putting together your one-page cover letter, you may consider the following structure:

Paragraph 1 – Introduce yourself; mention where you found the job posting and how your values align with the company’s values and mission statement.

Paragraphs 2 and 3 – discuss relevant skills and prior experiences using the STAR method and how you intend to add value to the current organization.

Paragraph 4 – conclude with a call to action from the organization.

References

Speak to your referees before including them in your application as references; make sure that they are willing, aware and available when your potential employer reaches out to them.

Additional Tips

1. One thing that has worked for me is reaching out to people within the organization via LinkedIn to express my interest. I have found that this might make them look out for my application.
2. Get someone else to proofread your application if possible.
3. You may use the list outlined in paragraph 1 as a checklist.

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