Writing outstanding job applications - Part 1
Applying for jobs isn't my favourite thing to do and chances are it isn't yours either. Not being sure what to say, how to tailor it to the company you're applying to, how to manage multiple applications at once and feeling stressed because maybe your livelihood depends on it.
So, getting straight to the point, I decided to write about how I approach the application process. It will help you:
- Have confidence that the job you are applying for is the job for you
- Never feel like you don't know what to put in a resume
- Be efficient with writing multiple high-quality applications
- Know what to say in your resume and tailor it to the company you are applying for
- Learn how to write your resume with the audience in mind and immediately show recruiters that you are the candidate they have been looking for
All this will come in a series of 3 articles.
Article 1 (this one) is about what to do when your applications are still months ahead and how to use that time to maximise your chances of getting an interview.
Article 2 is about creating a job application system. Chances are you won't be making one application in isolation (and if that was your plan, let me tell you that putting all eggs in one basket is not a good idea), so you might as well create a repeatable system that will help you be more efficient and exhaustive with your applications.
Article 3 is about putting it all together and writing a recruiter-friendly resume that will get you those interviews.
So, here it comes - article 1, point 1.
1) Decide what is the right job for you
First things first - you need to know what you want to apply for.
I wrote two articles about how to figure that out.
The first article is about defining what you need from the world or understanding what drives you and what you enjoy. It will help you draw on your past experiences, reflect on the present and define what you want in the future to form a coherent view of what you like and what you should look for in a job. You can check it out here.
The second article is about taking that new understanding of yourself, checking how it matches what the world has to offer, and identifying jobs that correspond well to what you find important and what you like. You can check it out here.
These two articles will be relevant to you not only if you have no clue which job might be a good choice for you. It will also be relevant if you have a vague idea or complete certainty about which jobs you want.
This is because you can always do with additional confirmation of your assumptions and validation if this is something for you. Often, we make big decisions based on even bigger assumptions or, worse yet, based on expectations. Taking that extra time to validate your assumptions can save you time in the long run. As a bonus, it might result in discovering new job options beyond your current option A.
The bottom line - just read the articles 🙃
2) Figure out how to get from A to B
Once you know which jobs you will go for, you need to do what, in consulting, we call a gap analysis. What I mean is that you need to know where you're currently at (your current skillset), where you want to go (skillset required for the job) and how you will bridge the gap between the two.
This is important because people rarely think about a strategy behind choosing the types of activities they engage in. In some sense, this is great because they follow their interest and do what is fun. But suppose your intention is to get a job at some point, rather than pave your own path and start a business. In that case, there is a risk that adopting this approach will lead to many fun experiences that may not add up to a CV that easily gets interviews in your chosen field.
That's why adding some strategic thinking to choosing what you get involved in is important to ensure your CV ticks all the right boxes at the right time.
The way I would approach it is as follows.
The first one - looking at your current skill level - is pretty straightforward. You sit down with a piece of paper, note your skills and estimate their level.
The second and third ones - knowing the job requirements and how to bridge the gap - are a matter of a bit of research.
One way of doing this research is just checking job requirements and thinking through options to get the needed experience.
Another, and far more insightful, is speaking to people working these jobs. Since they have an insider's perspective and have gone through the application process, they will know what recruiters look for in candidates and can tell you exactly what skills are needed to do the job well.
As a bonus, they will help you understand the realities of the job and make informed decisions. If you don't know how to find people who work these jobs or need some inspiration on how to reach out to them, check out this article, where I explain how to go about it.
Another article that might be useful is how to prepare for these networking calls/meetings. You can check it out here.
Once you know what you need to bridge the gap, it is time to gain these experiences, which we will talk about next.
3) Gain experience you need
I would argue there are two types of experiences you need:
- experiences that will help you fit in
- experiences that will help you stand out
Let me explain.
The first one is the experience you need to have the kind of profile recruiters are looking for, which helps you be considered for the job in the first place - and if you have done the previous step, you now have plenty of inspiration on what these might be.
Once you have the right profile, though, you need to set yourself apart from the other candidates and be memorable.
So, how do you approach each one of them?
The first one is easy - you have already done the research, spoken to people working these jobs and are clear on what profiles they are looking for. Now, it is about finding the kind of internships, volunteering work, part-time job or shadowing experience. Here, I suggest not only checking out the publicly listed options but also finding a back door - an article on how to do that is coming soon.
When it comes to the second one - standing out from the crowd - there are a couple of options.
One, you could play on prestige: were you part of a prestigious program, university, competition, or whatever?
Two, you could play on impact: did you ever have an out-of-the-ordinary impact on something you worked on (e.g. were a president of a university society that raised 50K EUR for a certain cause)?
And finally, you could play on originality. This is my favourite because, as you may have noticed, there is usually a gatekeeper to all the other options. To do an internship, you need an open spot. To be part of a prestigious university, you need to be accepted. To be a president of a society, you need to be elected.
But when you play on originality, the playground is entirely yours. You could, for example, start a new society instead of counting on being selected. You could organise a school event from scratch. You could create a small business, selling - I don't know - cheap dinners for busy students. You could start a blog or a YouTube channel speaking about topics that interest you.
You could start anything, have full ownership of the project from start to finish and decide what role you want to play instead of being assigned one. This is much more fun and will set you apart because other candidates will have completed internships, have prestigious achievements, and have been part of student societies. But the likelihood of someone starting something from scratch is much smaller. Standing apart and being memorable for something no other candidate has done can be the decisive factor in getting an interview invite.
That's why, once you have secured activities to help you build the profile they are looking for, set yourself apart by creating something from scratch.
Conclusion
So far, we have covered what to do long before your job application to secure an interview for a job that fits your preferences and know how to become the candidate that recruiters are looking for. In the following article, we will talk about creating a job application process that will help you save time and make super comprehensive job applications.
Speak next week 😊