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Job hunting
> CVs and Applications
> Job Applications
This material has been reproduced with the kind permission of careermanagement.co.uk 1 Internet Applications In the UK, the percentage of jobs advertised on the Internet is rapidly expanding. A good jobsearch strategy should therefore include a well-defined online action plan where registering and posting or building an electronic CV is a critical part. You can also use the Internet to access information anywhere in the world at any time of the day or night. Recruiter's websites, company websites, online journals/newspapers and dedicated employment sites are all examples of where you can find a potential job through the Internet. Online employment sites, as well as some company sites, often include a CV builder. This is a step-by-step programme which takes candidates through the process of filling in an online CV. The process can be time consuming. However, once your details are on an employment site, there's a large potential pool of employers and recruiters with access to your CV. Using a CV builder also means that the format of your CV matches the requirements of the database on which it sits - so the search engine which matches vacancies with CV in the database is more likely to match your CV with something suitable, in a shorter time. You will find more detail about online CVs in the section on CV Preparation. Many sites have an e-mail facility that will let you know about appropriate matching jobs. This is a useful feature, but not a substitute for your continuing to visit the site and search through the jobs available at least twice a week. Click on the following hyperlinks to get started on your online applications. http://www.monster.co.uk/http://www.monster.co.uk/ http://www.tmpexec.co.uk/http://www.tmpexec.co.uk/ 2.Letters of Application The letter of application introduces you and your CV to a recruitment consultant or potential employer. Such a letter should contain three distinct parts: 1. Introduction and statement of source 2. Statement of relevance to role advertised 3. Conclusion Introduction and Statement of Source The first section should clearly state the source of the advertisement, ie the newspaper name, Internet or other source, the date that it was advertised, the job number and reference number, if provided. Examples of the first paragraph in a letter of application are: "I am writing to express my interest in applying for the role of Sales Manager, advertised in The Times on 13 May, 2000, Reference number MX/67845." Or "Following our recent conversation, I am writing to express my interest in the position of Architect that was advertised on your Internet site on 13 February, 2000." The purpose of this first paragraph is to clearly put you in the running for the job you have applied for. Busy recruiters recruit a number of positions with similar titles at the same time, and advertise these on similar dates. The first paragraph should give you a fighting chance for the job by at least getting your application into the right pile.
The second section of your letter of application should clarify why you are an appropriate candidate for this particular job. In preparing to write the second section, you should read the advertisement clearly and identify the selection criteria articulated in the advertisement. You should also be guided by conversations that you have had with recruitment consultants or company recruiters, so that you clearly understand what they think is important in the role. They often give you extra clues that are not in the advertised media. How you express this section is up to you. For example, you might be more comfortable with the succinct: "I believe I am ideally suited to this role because I have over 15 years experience in sales, tertiary qualifications, managed accounts in excess of £10,000 etc, etc" or you may prefer bullet-point form, for example: "I believe I am ideally suited to this role because:
In concluding your letter, express your interest in the job and provide any particular contact details that may be unique, for example: "I look forward to discussing this application with you in the near future. I can be contacted on XXX or alternatively, XXX during work hours." Another example might be: "I look forward to discussing this application with you in greater detail in the near future and will be available for interview at a mutually convenient time." 3.Responding to Ads Before responding to advertisements, you should - if it is appropriate - contact the owners of the job or the recruiters who are managing the recruitment assignment. Written advertisements give you a clear indication of whether you should be making personal contact or whether the job owners or recruitment firm would prefer an email or hard copy of the application first off. Suppose, for example, the ad says: "Email your address here, or for further details contact so and so". Take the opportunity to discuss the job with the recruiter. As you prepare for this conversation make sure you clearly understand the ad, and make bullet points about why you are appropriate for that job. You should also phrase a number of other questions which would be appropriate to ask at the time, for example: "Can you tell me more about the role. What sort of salary would this position attract? Why has the job become vacant? etc, etc." The aim at this stage is to have a meaningful conversation with the recruiter or the owner of the job and to decide jointly whether it is worthwhile forwarding an application for the job. 4.Working with Recruiters When you're on the job hunt the last thing you want is a series of rejection letters. You need to stay in control of the process. You can do this by talking to recruiters, deciding jointly whether you would be an appropriate candidate, and designing an appropriate letter which reminds the consultant that you have had a conversation with them and why you are appropriate for that role (if that's the case). This approach allows you, at a later date, to follow up with the same recruiter and get some honest feedback about why you have been successful or unsuccessful for the role. It also allows you to make yourself known to a recruiter. Even if you're not appropriate for that first role, and don't put in an application, you will have made contact with a recruiter who knows about you and will look more favourably towards having a conversation with you in the future. The best time to get a recruiter on the phone is generally at the beginning or the end of a working day. Monday morning, during peak ad response time, is not appropriate. However between 8.00am and 9.00am or 5.00pm and 6.00pm recruiters are usually at their desks, preparing for the day or tidying up after it. At these times they are therefore likely to have more time and a clearer head to talk to you. 5.Samples Just as CVs need to be tailored, so too do letters of application. Below we have provided a link of example application letters. To guide you, we have linked each letter to a corresponding job ad.
These application letters can also be used as templates to create your own.
You can download this document by clicking here.
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