I am a Work Culture Manager at Ecartic and do all the in-house recruitment for all our ventures. So I see hundreds of job applications (CVs, LinkedIn profiles, Portfolios, Cover letters), so I definitely have a few recommendations to give. Here are 7 top tips for job applications from me.
1. Know what you want and what your strengths and values are
Whether you are thinking about a career change or just looking for new opportunities to grow, really think about what your strengths are, and what have you enjoyed doing in your previous roles? What do you want from your new role? And give yourself time! I truly recommend writing it down and staring at it. We tend to forget what we have done over the years. Unfortunately, for a lot of us, it’s not until we have lost a job or want to start sending out our CVs that we update our CVs. And then it’s not the easiest task to remember all the cool, amazing, influential things that you have done. So an inside tip, when you do get your next role, or if you are already in one, start writing down your successes, small or big, things you have taken on – projects and achievements. Firstly, it’s a great tool to use when you need to apply for a job or prepare for an interview, but it is also something that shows you your growth. And lastly, what do you want from your new role and company? Now that you have done that, you can make sure that the new role or company is the right fit for you.
2. LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn – it isn’t going anywhere
There are still people who have not jumped on board, but LinkedIn, if anything, is evolving and getting bigger, rather than disappearing. But I still get these quotes like: ‘I just don’t get it, why do I need it?’ ‘It feels fake!’, quite often about LinkedIn. But my answer is simple, you don’t need to be fake. Follow the people, causes, and pages you are interested in, and interact with the content you believe in. LinkedIn can be a very genuine social media platform that connects you with like-minded people. At the end of the day, it is a social media platform and your experience depends on how you use it. It has also turned into one of the main recruitment platforms, either to advertise job applications or to source talent. It’s a great tool for recruiters to match the right company with the right talent. This means it’s important, seeing an amazing CV, and then a not-so-great LinkedIn profile, where the information doesn’t match (especially when applying through LinkedIn) is not a great sight.
Therefore, the top tip: dedicate some time and get your LinkedIn accounts looking sharp. If you need some support, reach out to a friend or colleague whose account looks good and ask for help. No one is going to say no when you start with a compliment to them.
3. Use your resume as a marketing tool
Firstly, sending the same resume to different companies and jobs won’t work. Customize is the keyword here. It might seem like a lot of hard work, but that’s where my first point comes to play. Know what you want from your new job, what are your values, and what you have to offer. Quality over quantity in sending out job applications. Make sure to sell yourself, a lot of CVs are all about listing responsibilities. What about what impact did you have on the role or the company? What have you achieved?
Depending on the industry you are applying to, have some fun with how your CV looks, a great and easy tool for creating CVs is Canva. And finally, make sure the resume is formatted correctly and the spelling is correct. Get a few different people to review it or use Grammarly.
4. Network, use social media to your advantage
Network and make sure you make your social media you, follow what you like and what you want to be surrounded by. Join social media groups, for example, I am a part of 5 HR groups (Estonian and UK) and they are super useful, helpful, and charming. There are so many different social media platforms nowadays, so there’s something for everyone. Just keep active, you never know when an opportunity might come. Interact with companies you like, if it’s a smaller company, then probably your name would be noticed even before applying for a new role.
5. Communication!
Good communication is needed in most jobs, it’s a rare occasion when it’s not listed in job requirements. But it’s something that you can showcase in your job application, your first email, and your first interview. Every communication is an opportunity to showcase who you are. This is where LinkedIn can be to your advantage, it can showcase a lot more of who you are than what a CV can. Communicate well and stand out!
6. Don’t just have that one question to ask
Gone are the days, when we went to an interview and asked one question in the end cause that shows we are interested. Be present, and have a conversation, it’s a two-way interview. As much as the hiring manager is trying to find out who you are and if you are the right fit. You should be finding out the same things. Do you like their vision for the role and the company? Is this what you want in your new role?
Not only will you learn a lot more about them, but because you are invested in finding out more about the company and the role, they will learn more about you!
7. Send that follow-up email
No harm in sending a follow-up email, thanking them for their time, or letting them know you truly like the company and can see yourself working there. You can also use the follow-up email when you haven’t heard back from them. Sometimes things take longer, but that is your opportunity to show your interest in the role or learn more about them.
And there you have it, feel free to reach out with any questions or insights!
Happy Ecartic Thursday and enjoy the sunshine!
Eloora Rannala
Work Culture Manager
✉️eloora@ecartic.com