Mastering the art of job applications

In a word – yes – and that’s because our recruitment consultants believe that today’s job hunters  value real feedback, from real people. While there are lots of templates available online to help candidates structure their CVs and covering letters, it’s not always easy to find practical advice from people who have first hand experience of the issues.

Our recruiters speak to candidates and employers every day and are on the front line of recruitment in Oxfordshire, so they see exactly where job applicants are going wrong.

The following advice from our team will help you to significantly improve your job applications and boost your chances of being shortlisted and selected for interview.

Check the job advert and job description very carefully

All too often, candidates apply for jobs in which they have no relevant transferable skills or experience.

Employers are not necessarily looking for an exact match but they are looking for evidence of hard and soft skills and experiences gained in similar roles or industry sectors. They need to be able to see at a glance that you meet most of their criteria.

You will impress employers if you can put your application in context and show that you have an insight into their organisation or sector, are passionate about the job opportunity and can demonstrate how and why you will be a good fit.

Only apply for jobs that meet your personal requirements

Serious job hunters will have thought carefully about what they want and need from a new role, whether that’s salary, benefits, flexible hours, hybrid working, commuting distance, on-site car parking, close to public transport, shared company values, and so on.

Don’t apply for jobs that don’t meet your needs. For example, if you are looking for hybrid or fully remote working, there is no point in applying for a job that specifically requires you to be based in the office. Or if you can only work part-time, don’t apply for a full-time role. And if you live hundreds of miles away and don’t want to relocate, why apply for the job when the advert clearly states that you will be needed on-site?

Candidates are sometimes tempted to apply for roles that do not meet their requirements in the hope that they can negotiate during the interview or at the point of job offer. In our experience, this very rarely works out and in the vast majority of cases, candidates and employers do not part on positive terms with employers in particular, feeling they’ve been - misled.

Tailor your application to the specific job you are applying for

Make sure your profile or summary suits the job you are applying for. This means highlighting your experience of working in a similar role or industry sector and clearly setting out any transferable skills and personal attributes you think will be relevant.

If you’re going to copy and paste wording used in other job applications, make sure you re-read it carefully and update what you have written to suit the specifics of the role.

For example, employers won’t consider a candidate that claims to have “a real interest in science and enjoys working in a scientific environment” if the job they are applying for is in the education sector. Trust us – this kind of thing happens a lot!

Don’t forget to remove any logos or watermarks from other recruitment agencies or applications, so that what you are presenting is bespoke and fit for purpose.

Check that you have removed all track changes and comments. Also remember to make sure the font you have used is the same throughout and the overall formatting and layout is as it should be.

Use keywords that link your job application to the advert or job description

Employers, particularly in larger organisations, may be using AI to help them filter job applications. This software will search for keywords and phrases that match the job description so it’s worth checking that your CV, covering letter or application form are well aligned to the role you are applying for.

Present your career history and education in the right order

When it comes to listing your educational qualifications and previous roles, start with your current or most recent and work backwards from there. Your very first job should be listed last!

Provide brief descriptions of each role, focusing on the key elements that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Give the most time and attention to your current or most recent roles. The further back in time you go, the less interested employers will be.

Check that the dates you provide for each of your previous roles and educational qualifications are accurate.

Highlight your achievements and successes

Employers are looking for candidates that have gone above and beyond – whether that is to gain additional qualifications, win awards, be promoted, given additional responsibilities or rewarded in some way.

They are also interested in your achievements and successes outside of work so don’t forget to highlight these – particularly if they are relevant in some way to the job you’re applying for.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile reflects your CV

When did you last review your LinkedIn profile? Take a closer look at your personal profile and career history to make sure they accurately reflect the information on your CV. Is everything aligned? Do the dates of previous jobs and educational qualifications match?

Most employers check out shortlisted candidates’ social media profiles, and particularly LinkedIn which is often seen as a professional endorsement of who you are and what you do. It’s a quick and easy way for employers to cross-reference your application so it’s really important to make sure it supports your CV, rather than contradicts it.

Be concise and to the point

Use bullet points where possible. Employers may have hundreds of job applications to sift through so the more concise you can be, the better. It’s also a good way of making sure that the key points don’t get overlooked.

Keep illustrations and graphics to a minimum

It’s increasingly common for job applicants to get creative and illustrate their CVs. While it’s a good idea to make your documents look smart and eye-catching, don’t go overboard. Avoid gimmicks.

Graphics can distract from the content and this can be off-putting for employers who are more interested in the facts. For most people looking for jobs in PA, Administration, HR, Finance and even Marketing, a more conventional CV layout is better.

Check your grammar and spelling

This is a cringey request we know, but we honestly see so many badly-written, badly-spelt applications every single day, that it is worth mentioning.  Poor applications cost candidates interviews!

Regardless of role, most employers are looking for people with a good standard of written work and attention to detail. A well-written application helps to make a great first impression so don’t underestimate the importance of spell checker!

Try to keep your CV to two pages

It can be tempting to provide lots of detail but trust us when we say less is more. Bullet points will help you be more concise and focus on the important elements.

A well-written, carefully-tailored two page CV which showcases relevant skills and experience, will win over long-winded, rambling prose every time.

Ask a family member or friend to sense-check your application

There is lots to think about when applying for a new job. Ask someone whose opinion you value to review your CV, covering letter or application form and consider their feedback carefully before you submit them.

Sometimes it’s just a question of tidying up a few typos or editing out a few extraneous sentences. Other times, you may need to swallow your pride and reconsider key elements. For example, if someone outside of your line of work can’t quickly and clearly understand what you do, chances are an employer won’t be able to either – especially if you are applying for a role in a different field.

We’re here to help

Based in Oxford, Allen Associates is made up of highly experienced, friendly and approachable recruitment consultants who are passionate about what they do. They pride themselves on giving you an excellent service and that means supporting you at every stage of your job hunt, from crafting your CV and covering letters to preparing for interview and negotiating your offer.

Please contact us at jobs@allen-associates.co.uk if you would like any advice or support on job hunting for PA, Administration, Marketing, HR and Finance roles in Oxfordshire.

You can also browse our latest jobs and unearth useful resources in our Knowledge Centre.