Applying for a job is never easy. It almost always takes time to write up a high quality cover letter and/or CV. If you are applying for a job for the first time, all kinds of platforms offer advice on everything you need to know about job applications. This blog article is not going to tell you what a good application contains. Instead it’s about 3 things nobody tells you, but you need to know when you are applying for a job.
1. You most likely don’t need to fully match the description
This is something that in my experience a lot of women need to hear. After talking with friends who work in HR or other people who have had a say in hiring people, I have heard many times that an applicant never actually needs to match the full description. Especially, when they ask for years and years of work experience, don’t be discouraged. In most cases they ask for more than they want, and they actually don’t expect their applicants to fully match. And honestly, if you fully match a job description you might even be overqualified. In that case consider applying for a higher position right away.
2. Don’t let the amount of other applicants discourage you
If you are looking for a job on a platform like LinkedIn, it always shows you how many other people have applied for a job. Please don’t be discouraged by that number! Your dream job might already have 200 other applicants, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. A lot of these applications will not fit the job at all, or they simply won’t be a well written. An application which has been written with an eye for detail, has a good cover letter and fits the job is not likely to be sorted out right away.
3. An individual application is always better
To be not sorted out in the first round, it’s always better to send out a unique application for every job. Of course, your CV can be the same but if jobs need you to have experience in different areas make sure it’s covered in your CV. As for your cover letter, in my experience, it is best to write it new every time. In the case that you don’t want to start from scratch every time, prepare some general wordings and points you always want to integrate. You can weave a new cover letter out of those, your motivation for the job and why you want to work for the company.
Have you learned anything else people need to know when they are applying for a job? Let us know in the comments below. If you already have a job interview scheduled, make sure to check out our post on How to Prepare For a Job Interview in 2021.
Be right back,
Ally
