How can you improve your job application quality?

Don’t focus only on the hard skills, add relevant soft skills too. Many job seekers ignore the soft skills, thinking they are not relevant. Each and every requirement listed in the JD is important, tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly.

A common mistake I see my clients commit is sending the same tired resume to employers and only tailoring their resume. The fact is that many hiring authorities, mainly recruiters, don't read cover letters. So, if you only tailor your cover letter and not your resume, you won't demonstrate that you understand the employer's needs. Further, your resume will lack the keywords necessary for it to get it tracked in the company's ATS.

Your CV is your very own marketing tool, in your 'career toolbox', the first impression you make on a recruiter or hiring manager, so it needs to meet the criteria outlined in the job advertisement. Your Career Documentation needs to include relevant experience and qualifications to the role and responsibilities of the position. A crucial step in enhancing your resume and cover letter effectiveness is customising them for each job application. Showcase your relevant skills, accomplishments, and alignment with the role by incorporating keywords from the job description, quantifying your achievements, and demonstrating how you can contribute value to the prospective employer. Best of luck

First and foremost, everyone wants to see the colour of their brighter side.When we see people smart and admire them or appreciate them,it means they took their time to package themselves well for their appearance, in short they are products of their own.Then your CV should be a priority to win the access to the meeting.Secondly, do you understand that CV and the cover letter you are presenting,because we may end up having two people in the interview.The cv and the other person.In short Both Must be there.

I recommend having a core resume you use as a starting point, then adjust slightly for each job. If you have multiple types of roles you want that are different from each other, then have different core resumes to save yourself time.

I’ve sent the applications of technically strong candidates to hiring managers before only to have them sent back with comments about the formatting or grammar of the document. It’s certainly not fair to be ruled out of a process for poor formatting or incorrect spelling, but I can appreciate that it potentially shows poor attention to detail, or just lack of care or effort. You want to put your best foot forward, so proof read your applications and ask other people to proof read them too. You don’t want to miss out on a job you were perfect for just for a brief oversight.

You should send your resume in pdf format. Also, don’t use headers or text boxes as the ATS often can’t read those automatically. As a tip, open your resume, select all, copy, and paste into a blank document as text only. Make sure it still makes sense and that you didn’t lose information.

Play it safe and send "flat" resumes that are easy to read from left to right. If you think a fancy formatted resume will land you interviews, you probably don't have the content that warrants interviews.

I’m find word docs parse better than pdf in online apps. Always check the application to make sure it parsed correctly. Send pdf if sending by email or uploading as an attachment. Totally agree on fancy formatting. They are nice to look at but don’t parse well if at all.

Apply only for positions that you match at least 80% of the hard skills required. This will increase your chances of being considered for the role and potentially landing the job.

I have a checklist I can share with you to help you research your company before an interview. Reach out if interested. It includes details on how to research both the company and the people who will be doing your interview.

Have you called the hiring manager yet?? Don’t send your application until you’ve made contact - ask meaningful questions that will help you gain an edge over other candidates. Don’t wait for your resume to make a great first impression - you can pre-interview with this approach, learn about the role, and build relationship with someone who might be your future boss.

The best research information can be gleaned by having conversations with current and past employees. Finding the right contact to network and learn about the organization will add significant value to you application. Look for influencers who could be possible sponsors to get you in front of the hiring manager.

Following up is the next step after sending your resume and application to the company. However, don't be alarmed if you don't hear from the company immediately of if at all; many HR departments and recruiters are busy and won't send you a confirmation immediately.

I agree that this is a crucial step but use LinkedIn for this step as well. It allows you to research your company, learn who does what in their role and allows you to network. Creating a personalized connection request will allow you to get that foot in the door. You are utilizing an introductory pitch with important details about the role and your interest. Tracking interactions, applications next steps are crucial in organizing your search. Not an Excel or Sheets expert, use an AI tool with specific prompts to create a table for you. Finally, get that feedback where possible to develop an understanding of your needed growth and development opportunities.

I always suggest to reach out to key contacts within the business before you apply. This helps you to tailor your application by finding out more about the role and the hiring team. In a sea of applicants you help yourself stand out.

Keeping organized and following up with every application can be the difference that gets folks their next role. It allows folks to remain intentional and stay on top of what opportunities are still in motion. Often times a follow up or reminder can put folks at the top of the list and stream line the communication process by remaining engaged.

Feedback is the greatest gift one can offer. Always ask for feedback during the interview process so that you have a base to work off of. You might not get feedback every time but always aim to ask and set a plan in motion to develop your skills and process based on the feedback given.

I guided a client to an offer from her dream company, and here's how: First, we pinpointed companies aligning with her career goals, not just job titles. Clarity is vital. We then delved into LinkedIn job adverts, extracting what employers truly value. This information shaped a standout master resume and an optimized LinkedIn profile, turning her into a memorable brand. Applications aren't generic. We tailored each, highlighting her alignment with job needs and proactively reaching out to key players through LinkedIn. Beyond applications, networking was indispensable. Engaging with industry professionals gave us insights and opened doors. In short, a tailored, proactive approach makes job hunting fruitful.

Don't sell yourself short, look at job description and see where your skills match even if it a new industry to you. Think outside the box, show your creative side. Keep notes of different scenario examples that shows your journey. You can interchange example of experience as needed to match a new situation.

Never EVER apply for a job through the applicant tracking system if you can find an initial end run to get to someone within the group who can point you to or introduce you to a hiring manager. It's called the black hole for a reason. If you are going to apply anyway, then use the exact language from the job ad or description in your resume and notes in the system. An ATS is pattern recognition software that looks for the same terms in your application as in the job description.

It is not the person who sends out the most applications who wins; it's the person who puts quality work into their applications. If you send out 5 quality applications a week--followed by contacting the recipients of your applications--you're better off than blasting out 20 applications.