Applications
A quality job application can make a big difference to your chances of being invited for interview. It is not enough simply to provide facts and information; you need to present your application persuasively and thoughtfully.
The complete application may include any or all of the following - resumé, cover letter, application form, selection criteria document and academic transcript.
Key points about applications
- Applications for particular jobs need to be tailored. This means more than changing the employer’s name! Use the selection criteria to help you decide what to highlight in the various documents.
- Become familiar with selection criteria generally. Application Express Module 1: Key Selection Criteria gives examples of the way in which selection criteria are presented in job advertisements. Application Express is available in Online Career Tools.
- Application Forms are becoming relatively more important – certainly for Graduate Employment Programs. Employers like application forms because they can ask for the information they want, rather than take what applicants choose to include in their resumés.
- Applications don’t always ask for a cover letter, but include one if there is the opportunity – it is professional to introduce yourself, and gives you an opportunity to highlight your most relevant selling points.
- Employers/recruiters read through applications differently – some read cover letters and place a great deal of emphasis on them; others skip straight to the resumé or application form. So all documents need to be equally well prepared.
- Always contact an employer or recruiter if unclear about requirements. In most cases a contact name and number is given for this purpose. Job advertisements are not always well written, so don’t be reluctant to take the initiative and ask for clarification!
Preparing your application
- Review your experiences and skills. Many parts of an application require or can be enhanced by giving examples from your experiences (for example – where you demonstrated a skill or a type of achievement). Consider doing a Skills Audit. Application Express Module 1: Identify Your Skills includes a simple skills audit exercise.
- Become familiar with the selection criteria for the particular job. Note that they may not be labelled ‘selection criteria’ in the advertisement; it may say something like ‘we are looking for someone who…..’
- Research the organisation and role you are applying for. Check suggestions in Application Express Module 1: Targeting Your Letter
- Try to lodge your application well ahead of the closing date. Avoid last minute dashes to the finishing line as systems get overloaded.
- It is usually better to do fewer, better quality applications than dozens of mediocre ones.
- Application Express is available in Online Career Tools.
- Questions about a particular Application you are working on can be brought to a Careers Drop-in session. Check Careers Online for times and locations.