Application - the art of getting the job

When applying for a good job, it is important to see this as an important quest that requires a bit of research and a structured approach. You want to stand out among the other applicants in a positive way and you want to ease the employers job when selections are made. The following is a method I have developed over the last couple of years when applying for jobs myself or when helping others in writing their applications.

Build and maintain a Master Resume (Curriculum Vitae)

You must keep an up to date version and verifiable master of your resume that has all information. This way you will accurately have all dates for educations, courses and certifications listed as they are often hard to find or determine several years later on. Also, you should check that web pages are valid if used for references, so that an employer can verify where you worked before and maybe even contact your previous employer. Building a master resume will allow you to cut out element that are not relevant for a specific job and to focus on elements that are. In some applications you may want to have all things listed shortly open for discussion at the interview. In other applications you may want to specify tasks and responsibilities for certain positions you held, that is relevant for the job you are now applying for to ensure your experience and application opens up for an interview, e.g. if your education does not quite meet the requirements.

Read and truly understand the Job add

When you read the job add, put some effort into understanding exactly who the employer is looking for and determine whether or not they really know who the ideal candidate is. Often the employer will use common generic words to describe the candidate they look for. This can be because of either they want to identify the candidates that have something to offer besides the generic qualities or because they really don't know what the person looks like. A strong indication of the "clueless" employer is when limited specific skills are required, when several levels of education is listed as possible candidates or when personal qualities are more important that education and experience.

Is the employer looking for a specific candidate?

Is the employer looking for the best candidate?

Is the employer looking for "new blood" to bring in new ideas or someone that will match the current team?

Is the employer looking for a team player or a lone wolf

Is the employer looking for a multi-artist or a specialist?

Often there is an opportunity to contact the employer to get additional information - this is something you should try to do at all times! Not only can you get vital background information about the ideal candidate and what the job really is about, but you can also leave a positive impression your can refer to in the application that will remind the employer about you. Some employers may even leave that option open to filter and see what candidates are really interested and willing to do the required homework before applying "blindfolded" to a vague job add. You must be sure to plan proper for the call so you will ask intelligent questions that will give you new information about the job and the ideal candidate - they will easily know if you are a moron that calls for the sake of calling!

Call to get more information and leave an impression

Plan for the call to have intelligent questions to ask

Define the Ideal Candidate

The next step is to dig deep and objectively define what the ideal candidate would be like. Once this person has been defined you will be able to see if that is really you and how far you might be off, determine whether or not the job is still relevant for you based on both interest and the chance of actually getting it. Also, you might be able in your application to enlighten or educate the employer by letting them know what the ideal candidate looks like if they are "clueless" and how well you match that ideal. Other applicants may possibly not have tried to match that ideal candidate and only presents a handful of qualities in their application.

Define what education level and background the ideal candidate would have

Define what professional experiences the ideal candidate would have had

Define what personal qualities the ideal candidate would have

In different job areas or defined tasks

In general terms and in private

Make a list of all adjectives that comes to mind for all job responsibilities and tasks you must fulfill in the position. A mind map for defining/brainstorming and a spreadsheet for organizing is excellent for this task, use columns for areas, tasks and responsibilities and use rows to list adjectives for each column.

After you have made a list of adjectives for all the roles, tasks and responsibilities the ideal candidate would have in the position your will be applying for, you should highlight those adjectives that you match to see how well you match the ideal and in the end how well your would like the job. By using multiple adjectives, you have also give yourself many words to use or choose from in the application so you are not limited to only use the same words listed in the job add (being a parrot that just repeats the original wordings of the job add).

Organize and match yourself to the Ideal Candidate

Now that you truly understand what the ideal candidate would look like and how well you match that person, you can start to group and reorganizing the information into a few high level areas that is relevant to focus on in the application. Also, try to eliminate redundant information and keep the information to a topic where it is of the most use. Some ways to organize the information can be:

By roles, areas and responsibilities

By experience and education

Ask the W-questions

Before you start to write the application, you must ask yourself some tough questions and try to find a good answer for them that you can use in the application and in a possible later interview.

Why do you want the job?

What do you expect to get out of the job - both experiences, challenges, compensations and future opportunities?

What can you bring and contribute to the employer?

Why should the employer choose you and not another person?

You may want to consider why you want to skip the old job for this new one, not only may the employer want to know but it can also help you to identify why you want the new job. If you have changed jobs quite often for the last couple of years you should also find an answer to this question: What can ensure the employer you are not using this position as a step-stone to a higher position before your have benefited the employer and what guaranties can your give the employer so they count on you staying? You may not need to explain this in the application, but you must have an answer prepared for the interview.

Write the application

Now you have all the material needed to write a world class application. Structure the application based on the W-questions to get a clear message across to the employer and to keep them interested in your application. Your application will stand out in a positive way by being to the point and by answering the key questions the employer has. Also, you will present the employer with almost the ideal candidate whether or not they already know how that person looks like - but they will recognize you as that person. Use your organized adjectives to make a strong and relevant presentation of yourself when explaining the W-questions.

Focus the applications content on the W-questions and their answers

Group or structure the application by W-questions

Explain the W-questions using the adjectives that subtly describes and matches you to the ideal candidate

Describing you as the ideal candidate will show the employer you have done the homework and may even enlighten the employer that can result in bringing down the competition

You must always follow the formal requirements for your application if they are defined, e.g. fonts and font size, where to put addresses of you and the employer as needed, use a spell-checker to ensure spelling errors are eliminated, have someone proof-read the application to see grammatical errors and to ensure the sentences are well formulated. Try not to refer to all the information in your resume - only bring forth the needed strong points in educations and experiences, the rest can be seen in the resume or elaborated upon in the interview.

Submit to the formal requirements!

Use spell-checker and proof-reading!

Limit reference to the resume, the employer can see it there already!

A final thought

Don't apply for a job you don't want - it is a waste of everyone's time - so by truly understanding the job and identifying the ideal candidate, you can see if this is really a job you should apply for. Also, you will feel miserable and soon quit if you do get it!