So you’ve done it. You’ve found a job that you really want to apply for.
You just know you’ll be perfect for it, you have all the right qualifications and experience and you’ve spent all day putting together an application complete with a cover letter that really deserves a literary prize. Then you get ready to press 'send'. Stop!Take a moment to read our guide to common – and easy – mistakes that can make the difference between getting that crucial job interview and having your CV put firmly on the ‘no’ pile...
1. A rose by any other name...
It may seem obvious but make sure that you have correctly spelt the name of the person you’re sending the application to… and that you have their title correct. Mr Smith doesn’t want to be called Miss Jones, after all. Then, just to be on the safe side, double-check the company and product names that your spellchecker wouldn’t have caught.
2. Check it
Speaking of which, spell-check right now!
3. Right application, wrong company
If you’re sending out a bunch of applications at once double and triple check that the right email is going to the right job.
4. Get attached
Attach your attachments! It does not look good if two minutes after you press send you email them again with a bashful 'and this time with attachments'. This is especially true if you’ve listed attention to detail as one of your attributes.
5. Ready, set, format!
Make sure the format of your CV is easy to open for most computers. There are now so many versions of Word that some machines can’t access the files saved within – best to save as a standard .doc file that any computer can open. An employer is unlikely to take the time to chase you for a compatible file. Also, be careful with too much formatting – if it’s a highly designed CV for a creative role then a PDF file may be a better option.
6. Judge a book by its title
Provide a strong subject line with the title of the job you’re applying for and a reference number if applicable.
7. Think about it
Make sure the email you’re sending the application from isn’t a cutesy personal email address. Beerlover69@hotmail.com isn’t likely to be taken seriously.
8. Once more for luck...
Spell-check again!
9. But remember
Spellcheckers aren't infallible. Go through it yourself and look for grammatical errors; if you’re not confident in editing your own work then get a friend or family member to go over it for you. You can always bribe them with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
10. And, finally
Now, take a breath. Have one more read through and if you’re sure everything is 100% correct press send...
Good luck!
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