So you’re looking for that ‘dream job’, the one that will intellectually challenge you while paying you more. What next?
It’s simple; find it and apply! Or is it really? Well I took to the experiment today…
You could do simple searches via www.seek.com.au or indeed.com.au and see what’s out there. There’s no harm in dreaming, right?
Then it happens! You find the job you want but you almost fit the selection criteria. What a bummer! Your heart pounding, you close the search window in frustration; I can’t do it! You say to yourself.
The application process is often time-consuming and draining, demanding customised resumes and cover letters for each new application (and if you are not tailoring your resume for each job, start!). Sure, sites like Seek have simplified the process to an extent, but there’s still the matter of that customised cover letter and resume. Your employer will be seeing those before they see you; what impression does your application create in the mind of your employer?
Below are some quick and effective tips to help you:
- Read the selection criteria carefully and be sure to view additional application details. Some organisations specify what they want you to include in your application (such as a Working With Children Check number or if you have a driver’s licence), and missing such a crucial fact does not look good.
- View the selection criteria as more of an Employer Wish List than an immovable boulder. The criteria is what they would like, and while you might not have all required criteria, you can show a willingness to learn. Perhaps skills acquired from your previous experiences are relevant here. In the end, the employer will be seeking the best applicant for their business, and your past experiences might compensate for what you lack.
- When you list your past education and experience on your resume, list your highlights and achievements and create a saga. A friend asked me yesterday if it looked bad to have changed from one sector to another…and yet another. My answer was, it can do, or it could work in your favour depending on how you set out your resume. If the skills you used at the differing jobs were transferable among them, and are relevant to your current application, then surely being able to apply your skills across differing sectors shows your dynamism and adaptability. Imagine how the employer would be reacting to your resume’s information. Does it flow like a narrative – a narrative of your career? Or does it jump and jolt from one thing to another?
- Don’t make spelling and grammatical errors! YES. An esteemed company’s recruiter told me at a conference last year that as soon as she sees a single spelling error, she throws the application in the bin. “Why?” I asked. “It shows they didn’t care. Spell check is a simple function.” Furthermore, it can indicate laziness, lack of an ability to network (why couldn’t you find someone to read over it? Did you leave it to the last minute?) and an inattentiveness to detail. Would you want someone interacting with your customer and client base having any of those characteristics?
- My delightful lecturer, Professor Jim Bright, a professor of career education at the Australian Catholic University, used to speak of the concept of “fit”. Make your application fit the job you are applying for. If what you’re including in your application increases your fit, then include it, otherwise it is really just taking up space for no good reason.
The job I applied for a few hours ago has already been viewed by the recruiter. What now?
Keep searching, keep applying, keep gathering experience to refine my skills, and simply wait.
Remember, pursuing what you enjoy is fantastic, but eventually you must take that first step if you want to get there!