Spicing Up Your Job Applications

Job Applications

With every man and his dog out there looking for a job, it can be hard to get ahead of the competition. So you need to do all you can to stand out from the crowd. Your winning personality should be more than enough, however – how do you even get to the interview stage when the employer is having to wade through masses of job applications? Easy. You make yours better than theirs.

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Layout and Design

One of the first things you need to think about is the way your application looks. It needs to be professional and formal, but it doesn’t have to look exactly the same as all the others. Inject some color and life into your application, and stand out from the stacks of black and white paper.

Cover Letter

A detailed, formal yet concise cover letter can make all the difference. You can give more of a sense of who you are through a page of text than on some bullet points. Your cover letter also helps your potential employer to weed you out if need be, as you can state clearly exactly what it is you are looking for in a job. It will save you and them from wasting time.

Qualifications

From NVQs and BTecs to Degrees and MBAs, include them all on your application. You can beef up your qualifications by taking courses in subjects relevant to the job you are hoping to get. A BLS certification for anything in care, or a barista qualification for a coffee training role. With so many more people achieving degrees nowadays, you need to up your game however you can.

Volunteering

For the same reason as gaining extra qualifications, you should take things up a notch by adding some volunteering onto your application can only help. Volunteering shows employers that you have compassion for some cause and that you would willingly give your spare time to help others.

References

Rather than over-filling your application with references, either state that they are available on request, or just supply the name and email address of the people who are willing to give you a reference. If your current employer doesn’t yet know that you are leaving, then state that discretion would be appreciated.

Presentation

Once your application is perfectly designed, written and containing all the right things, you need to present it properly. A lot of applications now are done online or via email, if so, a PDF format is much better than a .doc. If you are handing in a paper application, then make sure that the paper you use is clean and increased. Deliver it in a plastic wallet, folder or envelope to make sure that it stays completely presentable. Address any covers to the employer.

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Girl on Fire

Photographer at Loudmouth Photography

Brandy is the wife to a carpenter/musician and the mother of 3 amazingly awesome homeschool/unschooled girls. Brandy is a Photographer as well as a Coach for the Weebellion as part of Rolling Rebellion Jr. Roller Derby. Brandy is passionate about many things and suffers from a very painful and degenerative neurological disease called CRPS/RSD.

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