Job searching can be one of the most strenuous, potentially demoralising undertakings out there, especially when sending off countless CVs and never hearing back from anyone.
Constant rejection is no fun either, so in order to give yourself a better chance, it might be worth revisiting the application itself.
There is no need to panic, as there will be a job waiting for you somewhere! Here are some tips to help you find it, and hopefully make your applications come across more professional in order to stand out from the rest.
A Good Cover Letter is Key
Cover letters are a must. At the very least, they should contain some level of personalisation, even if it is just a few lines that directly address the individual company.
To save yourself some time, sticking to a general template will help, but make sure to change it up to suit the nature of the role.
Failing to include a cover letter is a safe way to hinder your chances and make a terrible first impression.
An Email Signature
Reaching out to employers directly via email can still be an effective way to find work or make valuable connections.
It shows a certain level of self-motivation, tenacity, independence, and initiative, provided you create a great message.
This means making sure your grammar and spelling are perfect, your word choice is honest and engaging, and the email itself looks authentic and professional.
You may want to consider taking a look at the great email signatures at rocketseed.com, as this can allow you to sign off your name with style and provide important additional links.
Email signatures can be the icing on the cake, the detail that tells others that you are serious about your image as a professional.
Utilize Numbers to Your Advantage
It is all well and good saying that you increased your department’s sales record on your CV, but it is even more effective to elaborate on just how much this figure was.
Cold, hard numbers stand out strongly on the CV, so why not utilize them to your advantage?
If you do not have an example that you can think of to write down on your CV, then there is no need to worry. Simply think of a time when you went out of your way to help someone, and do not be afraid to go into detail if your CV is lacking elsewhere.
Employment Gaps
Employment gaps in job applications do not sometimes wash over too well, particularly if they are for long, unexplained periods.
It can come across as fairly unprofessional, so you may instead want to think of what you did do throughout your time spend in unemployment, as you might have to answer this question in your interview.
For example, you might want to talk about what you learned, how you went out of your way to actively seek work, or what you did to develop your professional and personal skillset during your time away from the workplace.
