Why Your Job Application Is Trash And How To Improve It

Jobs are hard to come by in Kenya and word gets around quick about any vacant positions thanks to social media and the general workings of the internet.I recently put out an ad on my facebook page looking to hire someone for a TV show host position (the position has since been filled). Here is what my post read; 

This post was shared with thousands of people on text, whatsapp, facebook and twitter and as expected we got an avalanche of responses. Unfortunately, most of these people who applied stood no chance of getting the job; hell, most of them stood no chance of getting a response. 

Luckily a lot of this mistakes can be improved on and in effect increase your chances of not getting eliminated in the first round and hopefully getting the job.

What to do

Follow the instructions on the advert

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Most people who advertise for job positions are busy. As such they will put details that describe the candidate they’re looking for. The rule of thumb is you should only apply if you meet at least three quarters of the listed requirements.

 Ensure you’re applying for the position advertised

The reason we advertised for a TV show host position is because we were actually looking for a TV show host. Had we been looking for a secretary, a cameraman, a HR manager or a chef, we would have said so. You wishing it, does not change the position. Save the person hiring and yourself time, email space and pain by only applying for the position advertised

Adhere to the medium of communication

 

When you do apply use the medium listed in the advert. This in most cases is a physical or email address. Send your application to the address. Don’t call, don’t text, don’t comment questions just send the bloody application to the said address.

Take time on your application

This was taught heavily in school and applies to life. Bosses care about how you communicate in real life as much as the teachers did in school. If it’s an email as my advert was, ensure your email contains the following;

A heading: This should briefly and clearly describe what you’re writing about e.g. “Application for Wedding Show Host Position”

Salutation: Say a good morning/good afternoon/Hello Miss, Mrs. or Miss So and so

Introduction and Reference: The first line should be an introduction of who you are (full names) and where you heard about the opening.

Corroboration: After the introduction, justify your application by stating ways in which you feel you meet the listed requirements in the advert. 

Attachments: Attach the requested documents and be sure to include a note in the email stating what you have attached. Try and attach everything that is requested. 

Contact Information: Make it easy for the person hiring to get in touch with you. An email address and phone number are sufficient

Sign off: Regards, followed by your name in full should be enough

Remember to double check your spellings and grammar

What NOT To Do

1. Do not forward an email that you have sent to someone else as your application

2. Do not simply attach your CV and expect whoever is receiving to start deciphering what it’s for

3. If a position asks for pictures, do not send trashy pictures, pictures of you on holiday, partying or lying in bed (these are all pictures we got)

   
   

4. Save the sad stories for your mother

   

    

Most people hiring are not looking to help you. They are looking for someone to competently fill a position they have and effectively get a task done.  Your sad stories about your sick mum or your pet that recently passed away are of no use to the application.

Nobody likes an entitled whiner, can you do the job or not?

In the words of one wise man…sisi tuna shida zetu, tuskize zako kwa nini?

5. Do not make excuses

 

There’s a very good TV show that if you find sometime you should watch, it’s called 'How To Get Away with Murder'. In one of the episodes, the lead character who is a law professor says to one of her student’s

 “The way you’re whining right now makes me believe you think I’m your mother, Ms. Pratt. Show up tomorrow, or drop out of the competition; it’s that simple.”

If half your application is excuses of why you don’t have this and that, don’t write it.

6. Don’t try to get the person hiring to do some of the work for you

I had a lot of people writing to me after my ad asking what a screen test is and whether I could do one for them. You know what these kind of people are called? Lazy! And in most cases they do not get the job.

7. Do Not Canvass

 

In business, canvassing is when you know the person hiring and you reach out to them in other ways other than the officially listed line of communication with the hope of swaying their choice in your favor. Common ways are flooding their private social media or phone with messages or asking mutual friends to call and throw in a good word. 

Now we leave in a pretty corrupt society and for some reason this has come to be almost acceptable. It is not. There are two reasons.

1.   Canvassing implies you do not trust you qualifications, skills and application to do the job of convincing the people hiring that you qualify...or worse still
2.  You do not trust the people hiring to make the correct judgment without your unsolicited call or incessant messages

Both will get you disqualified by managers or business owners who are serious about their jobs.

 Let the strength of your application speak for itself. 

Be Patient

 

Sorry to break this to you but the world does not revolve around you. You made a job application and everyone must stop what they are doing and immediately respond to your email or you will keep pestering them through all mediums known to man until they respond? You know what these kind of people are called? Entitled ass holes, and they usually don’t get hired. 

Be patient and await the response. 

If it doesn’t come; it’s clear you didn’t get the position.

It happens, life isn’t fair.

Don’t take it personally, dust yourself up, cry if you must, improve your application and try the next door.  

All the best in your job hunt.