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The biggest problems that we see in candidates’ applications are:
- Their application is too general, which suggests that they haven’t read the job spec
- They don’t prove they have the required skill-set; either they detail all their skills or they highlight one or two that are not the most pertinent to the job
- Their cover letter and/or CV contain typos
- They don’t include a cover letter at all
- They haven’t listed their contact details anywhere
- They don’t have a coherent answering machine
- They do pick up the phone but sound half-asleep or disinterested in speaking
I haven’t included a cover letter – should I write one?
In this Digital Age, many applications are now being processed by automated software. Keep in mind that this won’t always be the case, and that many companies do prefer to have human involvement at least some point, if not throughout, the process.
Don’t lose hope and please continue to write in full sentences – we aren’t scanning just for the keywords!
A checklist before sending your job application
Before you send your application anywhere, make sure that you check the following details:
- Are your contact details correct?
- Is your cover letter free of typos? (if we had a penny for the number of candidates who spell curriculum vitae wrong…! We recommend not using the term at all, as its status will be clear from the context)
- Have you addressed your cover letter to the person who has placed the ad? (this name should appear in the ad itself)
- Have you made your point meaningfully and concisely? (a cover letter should be one page maximum)
- Have you formatted your cover letter in such a way that it looks clear and professional? (Being presentable at all stages of the interview process starts with the application!)
- Have you cross-checked your application against the job spec? (Some candidates feel that they don’t have time to carry out this step but we highly recommend doing this for two reasons: (1) You can cross-reference the job spec with your application to make sure that you have addressed all the role’s functions, and (2) you can try to mirror their language and even formatting to highlight to the recruiter that you are on their wavelength).
- Have you asked a friend or family member to read your application for errors? (This step is so important—even professional writers need proofreaders!)
Does a typo here and there really matter all that much?
We’re sorry to tell you this but, yes! Typos really do matter. They’re so common, and they make a terrible first impression. What typos tell a recruiter is: I am not giving this job application any respect.
Spelling errors are so easy to correct, too, which means that this is a seriously simple way to get the recruiters on your side.
Why should I take care before sending my application?
Not checking your application before you send it is a risky move. You cannot expect an employer to take you seriously if you make mistakes, careless or otherwise. If the mistake is more serious, such as if you misrepresented a previous job, make sure that you make this clear as soon as you find the error. Trying to cover over your tracks is never a good look, and it won’t help you in the future, as companies do vet their candidates carefully.
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We help prepare all our candidates’ CVs before they apply to our listed jobs. If you’re interested in a job we have on our website, send us an email with your query—we’d be glad to help!