Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Applying Online: Tips and Tricks

The birth of the internet and emails are very great tools that can help job seekers see what’s out there without them leaving the comforts of their own homes or offices. There are job search websites online showcasing many different jobs to choose from. Creating your email account is also as easy as 1, 2, 3.

So you’ve found the job post you would want to apply to. You’ve made the best application letter you can come up with. And you’ve made an updated copy of your CV or resume. What else is there to think of? Here are some tips and tricks in applying online and making the internet be to your advantage.

Establish a “Professional” Online Character
Especially to those fresh graduates, you may still be using the same email account since high school and college for personal correspondence with friends and family. Your account name may be “babyhugz” or “bloody_hell”. What would the employer think of you?

For applying online, you have to establish a professional character. Employers may judge you based on what they see first, and that is your email address. Person “sweetykisses16” may not be fit to become a legal researcher or account manager. Show how competent and mature you are through a proper email address.

Read and Follow Instructions
Online job offers with job descriptions almost always have instructions at the end. It normally states who the application letter should be addressed to, what email address to send to, and what to put on the subject field of the email. Some companies and/or organizations also have their own application forms that you have to download and fill up. Some request for documents in a certain file format such as .doc or .pdf. Some request for extra documents such as a scanned file of your diploma or sample writing.

Showing you can follow simple instructions shows that you are competent enough to become a member of their company. You don’t want your application to be ignored or dismissed because of simple instructions you forgot or overlooked.

Check and Double Check
Your best foot forward in applying online is not the way you dress or how you bring yourself or how you converse. In applying online, short-listing for personal interviews are only based on your cover or application letter and your CV. The way you sound through written word is the only basis the employer has. You may have the right experience and the right credentials for the job but if you cannot convey it properly through written word, the employer might not choose you. So check what you wrote on the letter. Is it relevant to the job? Does it show that I am right for the job?

Before sending the application, always double check. Is the name of the company right? Is my grammar and punctuation correct? Are the attachments complete? Are the attached documents the right documents? You may have a lot of copies of your CV in your computer and you might just send the wrong one. So double check before you hit the send button.

Be Careful Posting Online
The employer might have liked your application letter and CV. But human resources now have the opportunity to check your background online like you also have the ability to check about their company online. Human resources might look you up online and see your partying drunk photos or your hateful blog posts against your previous employer. What would the employer think?

Be careful when posting personal content online especially if you do not know who else other than your close friends can see them. You may not get the job because of your personal views or photos that may not be in line with company principles and values.

The internet poses great opportunities for job hunters. Just be careful not to make slip-ups and the jobs you want can draw nearer for you to grab.


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