Applications: What Not To Do
(Naomi’s note: This is a post from my lovely husband Jamie until we can learn how to add multiple authors in WP).
The other day, Naomi and I were discussing the application process we all go through when applying for jobs or gigs. She’s done her share of hiring, and I did some hiring in a previous life working for a telecommunications company here in Canada.
While I’d applied for my share of jobs (I’ve worked at 16 jobs, at last count) this was the first time I had ever seen the process from the other side of the desk.
We thought that maybe it would be a good idea for a post to talk a little about what it is like on the other side of the application and maybe a few pointers about what to avoid.
1. Proofread. We’ve all done it. We’ve all sent those e-mails that after clicking send we wished we could grab those e-mails back. (For your reading pleasure, try this one on for size.) However, it never fails to surprise me what some people will send you.
An example - one application I received began with the salutation:
“Hello my Jen.”
I have to assume that she meant “Hello, my name is Jen” (the appropriateness of such a salutation is an entirely different topic), but I don’t want to have to assume when I am reading an application. To be honest, I won’t assume. If you can’t tell me what you want to say in a clear manner, I’m not going to help you out here. I mean, this wasn’t a typo - she completely missed two entire words (assuming that this is what she meant to say).
2. Take the application process seriously. Keep in mind that the person reviewing your application assumes (there’s that word again) that you have worked hard on this and that this is your best effort. When submitting an application, don’t just cut and paste snippets of the original job posting with point form notes. If you can’t be bothered to use full sentences, I can’t be bothered to read your application.
Along the taking it seriously lines, if you are e-mailing your application, please consider your e-mail address. I don’t care how good the application may be – if I receive an e-mail from hotandsexy@hotmail.com, it is going to be deleted. Unless there is a picture attached. (Naomi adds: There are two acceptable options when it comes to your email address – a version of your name, by which I mean the one on your driver’s license, and a version of your company name or home business. That. Is. It.)
3. Make it easy. One way you can make the reviewer’s job easier is to ensure the information in your application is verifiable. If you mention in your application that you recently published an article in TIME magazine, include the issue and name of article so I can check it out. Better yet, include a link to the article. If you don’t, I’m going to assume you are lying. OK, when I said earlier that I won’t assume, I guess what I meant is that you do not want me to assume. If I assume, it is never in your favour.
In hiring for copywriters recently, we had no less than three applicants tell us they’d written one (or more!) “award winning novels.” You’ve won awards? Tell me which ones, and name the books. I wanted to write them back and tell them that, as award winning novelists, they probably wouldn’t be interested in what we’re paying.
4. Follow Instructions. This is another way to make it easy. If the job posting asks for references, provide references. If the application does not ask you to provide clips, do not send the clips. (Naomi adds: The one exception here is providing links at the bottom of the email. If they’re at the bottom and I don’t want to see them, I don’t have to.) Mention that you would be willing to send them - fine. But don’t send them yet. If you do, I assume that you do not know how to follow instructions, or that you are not willing to follow instruction (I’m not sure which is worse).
That’s about it really. Hopefully this helps, but really it was a way for me to vent while at the same time appearing to be helpful. Good luck in your job search.
***
Want a small business marketing coach of your very own? Click here to get started.
Next Post: Branding, Books, And Bitchiness
Adding users:
go to http://ittybiz.com/wp-admin/
click on Users tab and page bottom You have section Add New User. Fill required data and choose administrator role. Voila!
Thanks so much! That’s awesome. :) Next time, he’ll get a byline…
I can definitely identify with the proofreading bit…there are some who could read all day and not see the error or omission…getting someone else to look over ain’t a bad idea!
Hey, Naomi, and Naomi’s husband. :)
I liked this one a lot, having just sent out a bunch of resumes for post-graduation jobs. Only 2 people out of the 15 emailed me back. All telling me to try in May. MAY?! Sigh.
But I definitely sent my basic outline to everyone I knew in the hopes that they could improve it or catch errors. And then I didn’t attach my resume to one. D’Oh. Lesson learned!
Hi Naomi
When you set up the users, their byline can link to either a website in their profile or an author page. I recently set up author pages for the bluelime media site and found this helpful:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Author_Templates
The WordPress codex is one of my best friends lately. Doesn’t that make me seem like a barrel of laughs ;-)
Yay! The other half finally emerged. :) Nice to see you on here, Jamie.
Hello, everybody! My husband emerged. This is good because now people know he exists and is not, in fact, one of those Boyfriend-In-A-Box things you buy at novelty stores.
Thank you for coming, Adrian! (Everyone who’s not Adrian - sometimes I write stuff for Adrian’s site and he pays me. We have a lovely relationship. You should go check his site out. It’s yummy.)
@ Kat - One word… May?!?!?!
@ Tzaddi - You are the barrelliest of laughs. Thanks for the tech support.
@ Susan - I told you he was real.
[...] on one of our new favorite sites, IttyBiz there is another collection of what not to do during the job hunting [...]
heh, Jamie, where were you a few months ago. We got over 300 resume’s in 4 days. It was astounding. Problem is that you get so many people who are qualified you have to sort some how.
So we wrote a post on how to get noticed by us. Period. Figured, if ythey are going to send us a resume, we’ll drop a cheat sheet and if they can’t follow directions, well then … I’m speachless at their incompetence. Ok, a bit tough, but I sure would have appreciated that when applying to a job.
http://blog.shaneandpeter.com/2007/08/21/getting-your-resume-noticed-by-us/
=)
Hi Jamie,
Good post as usual - I was with Shane on the interview end of our hiring process and I’ve gotta say you pretty much hit the nail on the head of the main things we were looking for.
The only thing I might add is to “make it yours”. So many of my friends, colleagues, etc. just send off mass emails with their resume attached… this is like treating the application process as if it were fishing for tuna. Which is ridiculous. Applicants (usually) have as much to say on whether or not the job/project is a good fit as the employers. Instead of “fishing” for a job with 1,000 copy/paste emails, you’re more likely to find a job (and one that you actually enjoy) if you carefully manicure 10 or 20 and take the time, as you suggest, to treat it seriously and address the actual position and company you’re applying for. This is especially true for those highly competitive jobs where the employer is going to see 100+ applications for the same position… “making it yours” will make your application stand out from the herd.
Thanks for the great post! Excellent advise to anyone applying for a job.
Brandon is absolutely right about personalizing your application correspondence, because generic e-mails and cover letters send the message that you want A job, while most employers want to hire people who want THAT job.
Unless you are applying to be a holiday checker at the Gap while you work on your novel (or your blog launch), most of the people who read this blog are going to be applying for jobs that require some critical thinking … so why send a cover letter that could easily be for a job as a checker at the Gap? Resist the urge to copy/paste, or at the very least rewrite the first paragraph.
Brandon and Margie - TOTALLY!! Even if the letter is impeccable and the writer fully qualified, I don’t like thinking I’m just one of hundreds. Make me feel special. Make my company feel special. Make me feel like you give a shit about doing this job. If you don’t look like you give a shit at the application stage, what are you going to act like when you know you’ve got the gig?
Shane - OMG, I know! Some of the resumes I have read recently have been from people I have seen commenting on “Cover Letter Clinic” threads at freelance writing sites. The ones saying “that’s a great idea, I’ll try that!” or “you’re right, that letter sucked ass!” I’m going, are you thinking of trying that today?
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptI don’t care how good the application may be – if I receive an e-mail from hotandsexy@hotmail.com, it is going to be deleted. Unless there is a picture attached. (Naomi adds: There are two acceptable options when it comes to your email … [...]