How do you succeed with CVs, Covering Letters and Online Applications?
In theory the application process should be very simple: an employer tells you what they’re looking for, you tell them how you meet those criteria and the employer asks the best candidates back to find out more. Simple.
What gets in the way though is confusion over covering letters, CVs and application forms and, often, some very silly mistakes (see side panel). One thing to bear in mind when you’re applying is that one survey places the cost to companies of recruiting the wrong graduate at £37,000 – which might explain why recruiters put you through such tough assessments before they let you in their company.
Covering Letters and CVs
We’ve put together some in-depth guidance on how you should go about completing these on our Ultimate Guide To Applying. It’s good to remember though that each of these documents is just a stepping stone to the next. If one of these stages is weak, then a recruiter might not go on to the next one – leading to rejection.
The first step is often the covering letter. This is your introduction to the company and the first thing a recruiter will read about you. In it you should introduce yourself and give three or four reasons why you’re really excited about this opportunity and why you’re perfect for the role. Be polite, but also be engaging, by honestly communicating your desire for the job. If you can’t do that then you should ask yourself if you really want the job.
Complete your covering letter and it should be enough to get a recruiter to read the two-page document known as the CV. This sets out a more formal overview of your experiences, qualifications and achievements. Remember though, a CV is not a static document. Each CV should be different and tailored to the particular job you’re applying for.
Online Application Forms
Most companies make use online application forms. If you come up against one of these then you should make sure you read the guidelines that go along with the form as these will give you precise instructions about how to fill in the form, which often include maximum word counts – something you should pay careful attention to.
Alongside standard questions about personal details, education background and references (don’t forget to ask your referees if they’re willing to say something nice about you!) you will usually have a chance to explain how your skills and achievements make you an ideal candidate.
Here is where your research into the role and the company pays off, as you should choose the best examples that most clearly demonstrate that you are right for the job. Make sure you back up any claims with quantifiable evidence (including sales targets, assessment marks, awards, etc). If you would like to practice an online assessment form have a look at www.selectsimulator.com which gives feedback on each of the sections on a standard application form.
Regardless of whether you’re applying with a CV or application form there are some simple rules which will help you succeed.
Leave Plenty of Time And Hit All Deadlines
If you think you can do an application in a night, then you should think again. With all the research and writing you need to do, some placement officers suggest each application should have at least a week dedicated to it. That time is split between researching the role and writing your application (including changing your CV).
It’s essential that you make sure you know what the deadlines are for each application and stick to them – unlike essays, you’ll get no extensions, no matter how good your excuse may be. For many schemes the placements are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. That means that even if you get in before the deadline closes, all of the placements may have already gone.
Keep in mind that for many of the placement schemes and internships the first deadline for applications is December – so get your forms in as early as possible, as not only will it beat any deadline day panic but you will also clearly demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.
Apply for Placements Exactly As You Would Do For A Job
Competition for placements and internships are often as high as it is for an actual graduate job – sometimes even more so. That means that when it comes to your placement application you need to make sure that you don’t cut corners because it’s “just for a placement”.
Many students worry that their CVs are a bit empty. While it’s true that you’ve not yet graduated from university, don’t forget all the applicants are in the same position. You can still detail other work experience, degree modules, extra-curricular activities, A-Levels, casual work and any societies or positions of responsibility you’ve held.
Research The Company And The Role
Learning about the company and what they want you to do in the role is the difference between what makes a successful application and a failed one. It is also how you learn whether you’d actually enjoy working for the company or not, so it saves you time in the long run too.
Spend time researching on the company’s website, speaking to your careers service, using your own network of friends and relations (and not discounting Facebook or your university’s alumni service) to track down current employees in the firm and try and get a first hand account of what the company are looking for.
The first place to turn to if you want to get the inside information on what a company’s placement scheme or internship is actually like is the reviews section of RateMyPlacement. We’ve got thousands of reviews from students who have actually done the schemes and left their opinion about whether the scheme was any good and how it benefited them, which makes it the perfect research tool.
Target Every Application
The best advice for before you begin applying for any placements or internships is to write a list of all of your achievements, experiences and successes along with any evidence of these (awards, targets, etc). This document then becomes your list of all your unique selling points for when you are applying for different roles.
When you’ve got a very good idea of what the company are looking for, refer to this document and target your application precisely to meet the job description. “All companies want to know why you are interested in the sector and why you want to work for them,” says Josephine Walton from KPMG. “We need to see a student has done some research to show they have some knowledge and also what interests them and makes them right for the role.”
VIDEO: CV Advice
Check out this video from our friends at HereComesTheBoss with expert CV advice from the Graduate Recruitment Bureau. Whilst it is aimed at graduates, the same rules apply for first and second year students applying for work placements or internships…
File Under B - Five Mistakes That Get Your Application Binned.
Completing an application can be a time-consuming business but make one of these mistakes and all the time you spent could be wasted in the few seconds it takes to press delete.
- Poor spelling and grammar. This is always in the employers’ top lists of pet hates. Why? Because it shows that the application was done in a rush. After all, if you cared about the job, wouldn’t you check your application and get another person to check it too?
- Lack of professional appearance. By presenting your application properly (including proper formatting and not sending it from a daft email address like lovemonkey@hotmail.com) then you show you know how to communicate in a professional manner.
- Send it to the wrong person. It shouldn’t take a second to check who the application should go to (the HR manager in most cases) and it will probably even say if you read the application pack carefully who it should go to. If you can’t be bothered reading the guidance why should a recruiter bother to read your application?
- Copy and Paste. Don’t just write one application and then paste it into all application forms. People in HR develop a sixth sense about when something has been copy and pasted and all that happens is you’ll increase the number of rejections you get.
- Ignore Instructions. If a question on an application form says write 200 words, don’t think that 120 is close enough. If the guidance says give three examples, give three examples. Do as you are asked.
