How To Make Your Job Application Stand Out - Expert Advice
Even in today’s unstable job market, it is possible to land your dream role – but you will have to work harder than ever to ensure your job application stands out from the crowd.
Undoubtedly, some sectors have been hit harder than others. While hospitality and aviation, for instance, have had a torrid time, other areas such as cyber security and online food delivery are thriving while the green shoots of recovery are visible in other sectors, such as construction.
Figures recently released by the British Chambers of Commerce show just 12% of UK businesses are looking to expand their workforce in the next three months, with almost a third (29%) expecting numbers on the payroll to decrease.
Therefore, it’s more important than ever to ensure that all aspects of your job application – including your online presence – are the very best they can be.
A Standout Application
It goes without saying that your CV must be relevant and up to date. This is your sales document so it needs to be punchy and highlight your attributes.
Be concise but don’t worry too much if it goes over the standard two sides of A4. It’s better to be slightly longer but full of good reasons to be hired. That said, don’t try to be too clever. You don’t get any points for saying you loved Michelle Obama’s book when you’ve never actually picked it up – get to the point and let people know what you’re about.
The last few months have seen the rise of the video interview, so why not go one step further and record a short, professional introductory or thank you video message?
Video Interviews
At Red Diamond, we’re used to video conferencing. As a global recruiter placing candidates in roles around the globe, jumping onto a Skype, Teams or Zoom call has become second nature.
Not everyone is quite as au fait with the latest technology though, and to impress during an interview you need to be confident in both yourself and your wi-fi signal.
It’s vital that you test the functionality of whichever app you’re using to ensure that the camera is right, the audio settings are correct and you know how to share your screen. While occasional technical issues can arise that are beyond your control, there’s no excuse for not knowing how to switch your camera on, or for having an inappropriate background.
In many ways, an interview via video is less nerve-racking than one carried out to face to face. You don’t have to worry about travel times, parking or which shoes to wear – but you do still need to appear business-like and smart.
The best video interviews are with candidates who are confident, enthusiastic and well prepared – the same principles that apply to face-to-face meetings.
With management role job applications in particular, companies don’t want to hear how desperate someone is to find a job or how they are prepared to take a huge drop in salary. You need to demonstrate how you can be calm and bring extra value to the role.
Digital Detox
Having a good online presence is vitally important, so conducting a self-assessment of your online presence is the equivalent of a health check.
Look through your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts to make sure there’s nothing inappropriate on there. Read through your opinions on Twitter and make sure you’d be comfortable showing them to your future boss.
This piece is brought to you by Red Diamond Executive Head Hunters.
Watch Red Diamond MD Emma Robinson chat exclusively to Natalie Anderson on IGTV for more expert advice on how to unlock your potential in lockdown.
