The Ultimate Job Application Checklist!
Have you found a vacancy that’s got you jumping for joy? Then you want your application to be perfect, right? No worries: we’ve got the ultimate Job Application Checklist for you right here!
1. Ask the right question, get the right answer
Am I a good fit for the company? No, no. It should be: “Is the company a good fit for me?” While wading through masses of job vacancies, you probably encounter the following questions over and over again: “Are you a good fit for X?” or “Are you the new X?” And although cheerful blogs, interesting videos, or inspiring interviews give you some idea of the company you’re applying to and whether you’ll fit in, the more important question is if the company suits you! How can you find out? Prepare questions for yourself that give you more insight into topics that are important to you: what are my hobbies? What do I look forward to at the end of the week? What’s important to me in terms of social responsibility? Then, during your interview, ask how the company approaches these topics. Do the answers tell a tale that makes you happy? Then you’ve found a match!
2. Get to know the product
Do you want to work as a developer? Do you enjoy finding solutions for customers? Are you a forward-thinking marketer? In no time, you’re likely to find roles that match your ambitions. But will you be creating, finding, or selling something that makes you happy? Familiarise yourself with what the company actually does. Download a demo of the product, drop future colleagues a LinkedIn invitation and have a chat, ask them about their daily activities down to the smallest detail. Watch vlogs and sign up for a webinar. So that you can proudly announce at a party that you are now, for example, a busy business development executive for this awesome product at a cool company!
3. Check for the hidden tips!
You know what we mean, those cheerful, enthusiastic job ads that immediately make you eager to work for a company. You’ve updated your CV to send over and your cover letter is almost ready. Before you click “Send”, check the job ad once more. Nine times out of ten it will contain very specific tips to increase your chances of getting a job interview: important soft skills, specific competencies, special corporate culture beliefs, or even the composition of a team. Try to include such details in your cover letter. This will make it easier for you to argue that you are perfect for the role! In addition, prepare clear, unambiguous examples so you can express yourself fluently in the interview. This will make it a lot easier for you to make a good impression, and it’s great fun for recruiters to chat to someone sitting across from them who’s fully prepared and confident.
Make sure to show the company your authentic self, then you’ll know whether or not it’s going to be the perfect opportunity for you.
David
4. Check your CV and cover letter one more time
So you’ve secured a job interview – well done! Of course, you can read up on the job interview method of the company beforehand. Or, you can ask the recruiter what your interview will be like. But, in addition, remember to go through your CV and cover letter again. Think about what kind of questions could be asked based on your own story. Did you write about your skills as a team player? Think of a good example that highlights this. Apart from the fact that a company is often looking for certain competencies in you, they’re mainly interested in your personal experience and the competencies you specifically mention in your cover letter. Does your CV lack a common thread? Have you had all kinds of very different cool side jobs or made huge career switches? That doesn’t have to be a problem if you’re prepared to answer questions about it! As long as you can explain and substantiate why you made certain choices, it’ll be all the more interesting to sit down with you.
5. And last, but definitely not least: Be yourself!
The best impression you can make is an impression of yourself! While you may love a certain role, no job is worth not being totally comfortable being you. Honesty is the best policy, not only towards the company you’re applying to, but more specifically towards yourself. Landing your dream job at a great company that values who you are as a person? That’s the goal! In addition, an artificial version of yourself will always show in a job interview, or perhaps later in your career. So, make sure to show the company your authentic self, then you’ll know whether or not it’s going to be the perfect opportunity for you.
