At the time of writing, the UK economy is starting to move again; you can go out for a meal or a drink, watch a film and fans are back in grounds again. This is good news for the job market, and in theory should make it easier if you are currently looking for work. However, there is an obvious error that many job seekers make when applying…
How to find work
Most people follow the same process when looking for work. You will see a job advertisement, decide whether it looks right for you, and if it does, then you submit an application. If things go well, you might be asked for an interview or even some tests, depending upon the nature of the job.
Of course there are execeptions to the rule; for retail and hospitality jobs, you can sometimes get work by just walking in and asking! Recruitment agencies may also place you in a job, matching your profile to the role – we might talk more about how this works at a later date.
Making an application
You’ve seen the job that you want, now what do you actually need to do to apply for the job? There is one simple rule that you must follow if you want them to look at your application: follow the instructions.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Except you would be amazed how mamy people don’t follow the rule, and this means that their applications end up in the bin, regardless of how well-matched they are to the job.
What do you mean, follow the instructions?
As we will discuss in our next blog post, job advertisements generally tell you a bit about them, and what they are looking for in their ideal candidate. At the end, they will tell you how to apply, for example:
- “To apply for this role, email vacancy@karunacv.com with your CV and details of your suitability”
- “Click here to apply – CVs submitted without a completed application form will not be considered”
- “Please upload your CV and some examples of your work to our portal”
- “Closing date is 30th June 2021. Applications received after this date will not be considered”
Simple, isn’t it?
You would have thought that this is fairly simple to do, but a surprising amount of job seekers get this wrong. Often, when I am advising clients, they will present me with a draft CV for their preferred job, and I will ask if they need to submit one. When they check the advert, the employer is actually asking for an application form instead. As mentioned above, all this means is that your application is unlikely to be considered, and your time and effort will go unrewarded.
Closing dates
Just a reminder that these are not advisory; if you apply after the closing date and time, you cannot expect that they will consider your application. Always try and apply ahead of time, and remember that (rightly or wrongly) employers reserve the right to close vacancies before the date advertised.
If you are having trouble with your job applications, or just don’t understand what they are asking for, then get in touch. We can support you with deciphering job advertisements, and we can also offer feedback on your CV, cover letter or online applications – but don’t leave it until the last minute!
[Cover photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels]
Karuna CV 