How to: Perfect your Job Application

As a recruiter, we read *literally* hundreds of applications each day. Let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts. *Please note: Resumes vary by industry. This post applies to Accounting and Finance industries. Creative Director Portfolios and CV’s have different requirements than that of an Accounting Manager* 

Step one: Sending your resume 

So, you saw that we posted an opening on LinkedIn and even gave out our email for you to inquire directly. You are interested! Great! How do you get our attention though? Let’s start with the basics.

Initial Email:

·       Take a few minutes to write out a grammatically correct introduction. Tell the recruiter why you are interested in the position and what makes you a great candidate. A blank email with a rogue resume attachment won’t get you far- first impressions are everything! Use your introduction to differentiate yourself.

·       Make sure to clearly label your resume. We recommend “firstname_lastname_resume.PDF.” Labeling it correctly will help the recruiter find it in the future.

·       Add times that you are available to connect, including your contact information. This shows the recruiter that you are serious about the position and allows them to call them when it’s best for you!

Now, for the resume–common questions we get asked include: if you need a summary or not, how far your experience should go back, and layout preferences. Here are our two cents:

 Summary: this can be helpful if you’re a recent grad or a tenured professional.

·       Do:  Keep this to three sentences – tell me where you’ve been and where you thrive. If you’re a recent grad, tell me about an internship or your favorite course and how it will help you in your professional career. If you’re a “lifer,” tell me what your favorite aspects of the job are and how you can apply those parts to the next step in your career.

·       Don’t: Use fluff such as “Team-player,” “Eager to learn,” and “Reliable.” It is more powerful to mention a time where you displayed those qualities rather than out right stating them.

Customizing (Optimizing!) your resume for the job you’re applying to:

·       Do: Tailor the document by highlighting your qualifications and that match specific job requirements (read more about this here. Employers often use screening software that scans documents for particular keywords, so follow the listing’s lead on phrasing. 

Education: Here’s another way to add in some personal highlights beyond your major!

·       Do: List your major, and school. The year you graduated is up to you, but don’t feel pressure to add it. Were you in an honors college? Make Dean’s List? If you’re a recent grad, tell me if you were in a leadership position on a sports team or club. This displays initiative and community involvement- great qualities!

·       Don’t: List your GPA. If you’re 2+ years post-grad, its moot. Also, as soon as you attend day one of your freshman year of college, there is no need to include your high school’s information.

·       Don’t: Inflate your education! Just tell the truth – we’d rather see someone list their degree as “in progress” than to say they completed it when they didn’t. Also, if your interviewer happened to go to the same school, it will likely be a point of conversation and you don’t want to get caught stretching the truth.  

Formatting: less is more

·       Do: Have a neatly organized and easy to read resume. Think: single column, black and white (maybe one accent color if you’re feeling crazy).

·       Don’t: Experiment with a unique format. Catch your recruiters’ eye with your experience, not wacky fonts, colors, or designs. This also makes it much harder for screening software to pick up on those buzz words you so careful placed throughout. 

A few final suggestions:

·       Do: Add in a technical skills section! A lot of companies search for candidates who already have experience using their particular ERP or CRM system. If yours are listed out, all the better chance at being picked out of the pile.

·       Don’t: forget your contact info! I can’t tell you how many times I read a great resume for a qualified candidate and its missing an email or phone number!

·       Don’t: List your full mailing address. Just your town and state is plenty.

·       Do: Proofread and proofread again. Have a friend or colleague read it over as well.

·       Don’t: Stress the job hunt too much! A great job will find its way to you SOON! Check out the jobs we have available here.