Job application process

  • Applying for a job is  an art or rather a science
  • When applying for a job, you have to know the basic rules of the application process.

Elements of job Application process

1.Right timing
2.How to write a CV and the cover letter to go with it
3.How to dress and how to behave during an interview.
4.How to introduce and present myself on the phone, via email or face-to-face
5.How to prepare for an interview on the content side

6.How to prepare for tests or assessment centre such as Medical

 

How to Write an Application Letter for a Job 

Many organizations have specific job application forms  that should be filled by prospective employee.

Completing an application  form

  • If it is an online, download it save on the computer
  • Try to answer all questions. Read all instructions and labels carefully
  • Use the job specification
  • Identify key requirements
  • Use their words to describe yourself
  • Never say anything you don not mean or can not justify
  • Do not afraid to spell  out information  explicitly
  • Be careful while writing- check fro spelling errors

Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV):

Tips and advice

What is a Resume?

—Webster’s—Summary.  Specifically, a short account of one’s career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position.
—One 8 ½ x 11 sheet that summarizes and emphasizes your high school courses, grades, academic honors, extracurricular activities, sports participation, work experience, volunteer experience, and special skills.

What is CV?

—A CV is a short and organized summary of vocationally important life experiences.
—Concise statement your
—personal detail
—Education and training
—work experience,
—achievement
—related job skills,
—Profiles
—As a prospective employee it is your “window shop” 
—Purpose: to provide a prospective employer with an executive summary of your background

Why is a Resume so Important?

—Helps to:

—Organize your thoughts
—Recognize your skills and interest
—Make more educated college and career choices
—Ultimately achieve your goals
—Most importantly, feel good about yourself and your accomplishments

Contents CV: europass

1. Personal  information and contact address

—Surname and names
—Date of birth
— Sex
— Nationality
—Postal address
—Street address
— Telephone numbers (home and work)

2.  Education  and training background

—Highest qualification obtained
— Institution
— Year of completion
— Subjects and symbols
—Areas of specialization

3. Work experience

— Put all the different jobs in chronological order, the last position held should be written first. Pay attention to:
—Job title
—Job description
—The company
—Dates

4. Achievements

—Academic, sports and cultural achievements
— Scholarships, prizes, awards, grants

5. Personal skills and competencies:

—Language Skills
—Social skills and competences
—Organizational skills and competences
—Computer skills and competences
—Interests and hobbies

6.Certificates and testimonials included

7. Professional affiliations and memberships

8. References (notify them prior to applying – names, addresses, telephone numbers or references, available on request)

1.Not tailoring the CV: Avoid one-size-fits-all approach to your CV.
2.Waffling too much.
3. Putting information in the wrong order
4.Boring on at length about your education.
5.Too much detail about hobbies
6. Not including a covering letter

Tips on writing CV

1. Tailor the CV to  each job you apply for.  Different organizations and jobs require different CVs.

—Be targeted towards the job in question
—Throw out a general all-purpose CV.
—Read through the ad and notice the employer’s subtle requests. Identify the employer’s requirements, not yours

Ex. Highlight the experience, qualification, achievements that the fit the requirements of job duties and responsibilities.

2. Show you are capable of doing the job. Employers project the qualities of your CV onto you. They Communicate with you through CV.

—Demonstrate briefly and quickly your skills and capabilities.

 The employer doesn’t want to plough through reams of paper in order to answer the question ‘can this person do the job?’

3. Show you have a personality.

— Convey what sort of person you are.
4.Reflect your attitude.
— Keep the tone on a straightforward, positive and businesslike level.

5. Be brief and to the point

—Only include relevant information.
—Keep personal details to a minimum.
—Never express in ten words what can be said in four.

 6.  Demonstrate that you believe in yourself.

—Advertise yourself--the whole person--  to sale your self

7. Focus on the employer, not on you.

—Demonstrate your value and don’t waffle about yourself.

8. Keep your CV up-to-date.

Edit your CV fro every job application

The Criteria for a Good  CV

Many  HR personnel evaluate CVs, based on:

—Complete: Fill all sections.
—Convey information  in a way  that is quick  and easy to absorb
—Easy to understand it by scan
—Looks professional: avoid any spelling errors so that proof read.
—Reader friendly: do not use ambiguous abbreviations
—Fit-for the purpose: give executive summary of your back ground as what benefits they gain employing you.

7. Covering letter

—A CV should always be accompanied by a covering letter.
—The purpose of the covering letter is to

- introduce yourself and to indicate how you heard about the organization, advertised position, or opening.

—covering letter says, ‘I love your company, you have a problem and I am the one to solve it’.
—It highlight the training or skills you would bring to the organization
ØThe cover letter should:
—Be brief, preferably one page.
— Indicate where you saw the advertisement.
— Use simple language.
—Not be a photocopy.
— Relate your skills to the employer.
—Stress what you think you can offer the organization.
— Indicate when you might be available to meet the employer.
— Be edited to eliminate spelling, punctuation, or typing errors.
— Be addressed to a particular individual, preferably the one indicated in the advertisement

Cover letters are 3-4 Paragraphs Max—no longer.  On one page!

1.First paragraph: Introduction-why you are writing and source of referral
2.Second Paragraph: Summary of your qualifications for the position
3.Third Paragraph: A connection between you and the organization
4.Closing: mention any attachments, ask for an interview, and indicate you will call him/her.