Whether it’s your first job or you’re looking to change careers, it’s important to spend time on your job application. Getting it right can be the difference between getting an interview and not. You don’t have to spend an enormous amount of time on this, but having some additional information can help to give you an edge over every other applicant.
Make time for employer research
Being in the know about the company you’re applying to work for will make sure you’re one step ahead of everyone else. Look at the basic information like the business size, culture, location, salaries, and training offerings. This will not only make sure that you actually want to work for the company, but it can give you a handful of questions you may want to ask if you bag yourself an interview.
Know what the employer wants
Before you hit the apply button, make sure you meet the criteria they want. This could be to have a degree or a number of years’ experience, or even general computer skills on Microsoft office or similar platforms. If you don’t have them, do some research and see whether or not it’s worth signing up for a course online!
Practise psychometric tests
When you reach the interview stage, you may be asked to complete numeracy, literacy, or inductive reasoning tests. Some businesses use these as part of the recruitment process, so it’s worth getting some practice in beforehand! Even if they don’t ask you to complete this, it’s good to keep brushing up on these basic skills anyway.
Research the application process
Do you know how many stages there are? Do you know what you’ll need to do on each one? Some employers have a simple one-stage interview process before they make a job offer, others have multiple stages where you may have to meet different people or even submit pieces of work. Clue yourself up on what to expect and you can be even more prepared.
Use the STAR template
This is one of the most popular techniques when preparing for an interview. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and results. It’s good to have a few scenarios written down through the STAR template ready for if your potential employer asks you during the interview. These could be anything from face to face customer interactions to a disagreement with a work colleague.
No matter what kind of job you’re looking for or whether you’re searching through interim recruitment agencies or direct with an employer, by using these 5 top tips, you can increase your chances of a successful application.
