(Published on page J4 of the Job Market-Working People section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 24, 2013, Sunday)
http://www.jobmarketonline.com/blog/7-online-job-application-blunders-and-how-solve-them-roel-andag
http://www.jobmarketonline.com/blog/7-online-job-application-blunders-and-how-solve-them-roel-andag
By Roel Andag
Contributor
How
convenient it is to live in a world where resumes can be sent in a jiffy to
companies regardless of time zones and geographic locations. This ease,
however, needs to be tempered by carefulness so that these blunders are
avoided:
BLUNDER 1:
Incorrect attachment. What the applicant thinks was a resume is a scanned receipt
of payment for an item.
SOLUTION: Proper
labelling of goods. When I buy Coke in can I expect Coke to pour out; I will be
jolted if in my first sip my taste buds will tell me it’s another beverage.
Whenever I attach my resume to my emails I always check that the file name
‘RoelAndagResume’ actually bears what it promises to deliver.
BLUNDER 2: Overwhelming
volume of attachments. NBI clearance, certificates of employment, certificates
of training, passport, etc. – yes, these are important documents but they don’t
need to be supplied unless the recruiter specifies otherwise. As it is, the
recruiter wades through hundreds of applications that a bulk of unnecessary
attachments disorients him. A tsunami of unnecessary documents reeks of
desperation.
SOLUTION: Attach only a resume. If the recruiter
asks for other documents then by all means supply.
BLUNDER 3: Resume
with "track changes" in-line editing marks on every page.
SOLUTION: The
recruiter doesn’t need to see a resume that is a literal work in progress. When
using MS Word’s ‘Track Changes’ option, when the modifications are found to the
applicant’s satisfaction, click ‘Accept Changes’– way before submitting the
application.
BLUNDER 4: Use of
unprofessional email address such as dropdeadgorgeous@yahoo.com. This is not
only off putting but a tad too revealing about the applicant’s personality.
Yes, this may be a flimsy ground to judge the merit of an application but can
you blame the recruiter for forming
first impressions, which is a default psychological prioritization
function?
SOLUTION: Set up a
new email that is simple, straightforward and steady-sounding. Do not
automatically accept system-generated email addresses. The ‘firstnamesurname@serviceprovider.com’ format is best. Same goes with profile
name, simply use your baptismal name.
BLUNDER 5:
Submitting an application without a cover letter.
SOLUTION: Take
time to write this all-important piece of communication. An application letter
is a jobhunter’s first pawn in the impressions game. It can make his
application stand out in the growing pile of submissions. Besides, prefacing an
application with a cover letter is basic jobhunting etiquette. Tips: highlight
key qualifications that match the company’s job requirement; use bullets and
eye-friendly font style and size for visual convenience; err on the side of
brevity; observe correct spelling, grammar, punctuation use and the rules of
business letter writing.
BLUNDER 6: Not
specifying the job title.
SOLUTION: We are the
multitalented, multitasking generation. We get confused in our intention to
multi-impress and multi-appeal. If there are several positions advertised, do
not apply to all. You appear unfocused and indecisive. Be specific because each
vacancy uses different qualification parameters. The recruiter does not have
the luxury of time to engage in a matching type quiz.
BLUNDER 7: Lame
subject line.
SOLUTION: ‘My
Application’ or ‘My Resume’ is easy to ignore among tons of other similarly headlined
emails. Couple this with an unprofessional email address or profile name and
your application might even be mistaken for spam. Follow this format when
typing on the subject line:
Application of Roel Andag (for Training Manager). The specificity of the name and the job title, which demonstrates your attention to detail and keen interest on the job, instantly separates your email from those with generic subject lines that reflect sloppiness and lack of original thinking.
Application of Roel Andag (for Training Manager). The specificity of the name and the job title, which demonstrates your attention to detail and keen interest on the job, instantly separates your email from those with generic subject lines that reflect sloppiness and lack of original thinking.
Your email application is your
chance to project a favorable first impression on the recruitment officer. Make
sure you have a high-impact online application before hitting the Send button.
Roel
Andag is an independent trainer and HR consultant. He handles the Management
Development Program of DMCI Homes. Visit his blog:
www.traineroncall.blogspot.com.
