Successful Job Application – Anyone who is serious about pursuing a career in the information technology (IT) sector should understand the unique challenges that face those individuals applying for IT jobs. The demand for qualified and experienced professionals in the industry is constant, and the competition for jobs is fierce. You need to have strong communication skills, be able to work under pressure, and demonstrate self-motivatedness and a cheerful attitude.
Here are some tips that can help you succeed on your job application!
There are thousands of job openings in the U.S. each year, and many of them require a college degree or some other specialized skill set. It can be challenging to stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for jobs. Even if you have a head for numbers, statistics, and research-based data, it can be challenging to know how to approach an application process that requires furthering your education or upgrading your skills.
If you’re looking to land your next opportunity, here are some tips for job applications that work!
Tips for Job applications that Work!
You’ve spent months researching interview questions, practicing for practice sessions with yourself, and even writing a script for the actual job applications. You even prepared a video for future reference. But before you can send out your application, you have to get it approved by the hiring manager.
You might think that in this fast-paced world of ours, we’d already be applying for jobs and interviews have already happened, but this isn’t actually the case. In fact, there are still many opportunities to work in jobs that don’t necessarily require a degree or technical experience — think retail, customer service, marketing, or sales. With more and more companies looking to hire people who not only share their values but also show passion for what they do (as opposed to just being able to type really fast on an Applicant Tracking System), there are many opportunities out there. If you’re ready to take action and start applying for jobs where your experience fits their needs — because those are exactly the kind of opportunities you should be looking for!
Take the first step
It’s been said that those who can’t, don’t; those who can, do. That’s obviously not true for all people, but for some people, it’s very true. That’s why when you get the opportunity to speak with a hiring manager, you have to take that step. Whether you have to meet with a hiring manager in person or conduct a phone interview, it’s the first step towards getting the opportunity to meet with that manager in person. Whether you follow that up with the next steps or not, the conversation has already begun. If you’re lucky enough to get a phone interview, be sure to ask the hiring manager how they were planning on conducting the interview. Some companies like to do in-person interviews first so they can get a feel for the person and their connections before moving them to a more formal setting.
Introduce yourself and Charisma
Whether you’re meeting with a hiring manager for the first time or you’ve been corresponding with them for a while and they want to set up a meeting, the first step to a good interview is a strong introduction. While you don’t have to go into the meeting telling the hiring manager everything they want to hear, you should still give a clear introduction and thank them for giving you the opportunity to speak. If you’re meeting with a hiring manager for the first time, you can also refer to this introduction as your “hello”. If you’ve been talking with the manager a few times and they want to set up a meeting, be sure to give them a “hello” and a “how are you?” before they ask you to sit down.
Make a great first impression
The first impression that a hiring manager leaves with after speaking with you is what determines whether or not they want to speak with you again. To make sure that your first impression is positive, it’s best to start the meeting off with something positive. You could go the extra mile and give the hiring manager your contract or application that you’re currently working on. If they like what they see, they’re more likely to give you the opportunity to talk with them again. Otherwise, you could also greet the hiring manager by name and give a warm “hello” or “how are you?” to the hiring manager who’s looking at your resume.
Be professional and speak from the heart
If the hiring manager does decide to speak with you again, don’t just start off by apologizing for your forgetfulness or tardiness. When you speak with someone, try to be as professional as possible. Be sure to voice your email address, phone number, and website if you have them. From there, try to keep your heart out of it. Don’t start bringing up the salary or the hours or the benefits or anything that comes naturally to a job interview. Keep it focused on the job itself — what are they looking for in a hire? While you don’t have to give away everything you know, you do have to be realistic and open up about your abilities and what it takes to be successful in a job position.
Be specific and be willing to work hard
When it comes to your application, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Some companies have nice feedback programs where you can leave a note for the hiring manager on what you would have done better and what you would love to see in the future version of your application. If you’re actually applying for a job, that’s actually a really nice thing to do — it sets a great example for the hiring manager and gives the hiring manager an example to follow when approving your application.
You also don’t have to worry about sending in your perfect application; some companies have an open-door policy where anyone can apply for a job. If you send in a bad application or send in an application that’s less than ideal, at least you have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and apply again next year.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your personal application
It’s natural to want to put your best foot forward when applying for a job — after all, you want to put yourself out there and show the hiring manager that you’re a strong candidate. However, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your personal application as well.
Even if you think that your answers to the interview questions are perfect, you should still receive feedback on your personal application. Sometimes, you might receive feedback on your personal application that you’re unsure of or unsure how to respond to. Be willing to receive feedback on your application and follow the steps outlined in the section above on introductions and feedback.
Bonus tip: Keep it simple and easy to read
While it’s nice to have a long list of accomplishments and credentials to impress the hiring manager with, it’s also important to keep your application simple and easy to read. If you have a pile of documents that are all filled with legalese and acronyms, the hiring manager might have a difficult time understanding what you want from them. For example, if you want to apply for a job that requires you to write code, you’re actually better off using an online code editor than a manual code-s