Job application process
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.