Hello everyone, welcome back to a new post! Apologies for being absent these past few weeks, I’ve been on some well-deserved weekend breaks with my lovely pals and starting the daunting process of job-hunting, polishing up the old CV. In the current climate, job-hunting is, and definitely will be, getting a lot tougher for young people, so being able to stand out from the crowd within a very competitive environment has become ever more important to snag the job you want. This week, I’ve been learning how to produce a top-quality application to wow potential employers, so I figured why not share some of the tips and tricks I’ve picked up? I’ve chosen six key pieces of advice that have made my job applications so much easier to do, and I hope you find them just as useful!
1) Don’t limit yourself to searching on Google.
Searching for jobs on Google can definitely be a useful starting point to gauge what’s out there. However, if you solely apply for jobs through Google, you could be missing out on better opportunities advertised elsewhere. LinkedIn is great for job-hunting, especially if you use it on a daily basis as lots of job adverts pop up regularly. If you’re looking for a more creative job, I would highly recommend The Dots and Fashion Workie, which are platforms tailored to draw in budding writers, designers, photographers and the like. But even if you don’t want to be part of a creative field, there will be specialist job websites for any sector you’re interested in, so always consider those alongside using Google as part of your job-hunt.
2) Don’t be afraid to get creative!
We all know that a plain black and white CV is not interesting to look at, so why would a potential employer want to look at it either? Adding a little bit of colour and creativity will help your application stand out amongst the rest and draw the employer in. I’ve been using Canva.com to find professional yet engaging CV templates, plus it’s super easy to use so you really can’t go wrong! Some industries may have a preferred layout for CVs, but if there’s no specified format then ditch the black and white ASAP!
3) Use the job description as a check-list.
This tip has been one of the most useful for me when applying to jobs. By printing out the individual job descriptions and ticking off all the skills as you go along, this guarantees that you’ll include all the skills that the employers are looking for, as well as tailoring your experience specifically to the job. Also, I’ve found that highlighting the buzzwords from the job description in bold helps employers find what they’re looking for; they trawl through hundreds, maybe even thousands of applications a day, so make sure yours stands out above the rest!
4) Don’t just talk about yourself on the cover letter.
I’ve always struggled to understand the purpose of a good cover letter and why it’s necessary, but once you make the letter less focused on yourself and more on the company, writing it becomes a lot easier. Finding examples of their previous work or referencing who their clients are shows you’ve taken time to research them and understand what they do, and by talking positively about their work, you’ve already got an introduction to a cover letter which can sometimes be the hardest bit to write.
5) Be punchy!
This is super important when applying for jobs, particularly if you’re a graduate and want to get your foot in the door. Many employers look for an enthusiastic, motivated employee with a can-do attitude over lots of experience, so using positive adjectives when highlighting your skills will boost your CV further. If you’re applying to internships, capitalise on the learning aspect and write about what you want to gain from the experience, showing employers that you’re actively willing to learn and not afraid to get stuck in!
6) Check, check, and check again!
Proofreading is vital for grabbing an employer’s attention; possessing a good eye for detail is a desirable skill, so by thoroughly editing and checking your application as much as possible, this will ensure that your CV and cover letter are the best they can be. Spelling mistakes and incorrect grammar are simple mistakes that could make or break an application, so always double, triple, QUADRUPLE check if you have to and get someone else to review it just in case you’ve missed something.
So, these are a few tips and tricks that I’ve found useful during my job-hunting process! This list is by no means exhaustive and may not work for everybody, so always do what’s best for you!
And remember, even if you’ve applied for a million jobs and received a million rejections, that doesn’t mean you’re not good enough! Just keep going, there will be an opportunity out there for you.
Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!
Fiona xx
Fi.Gee 