There is little that has stood the test of time as consistently as best practices when it comes to applying for a job. However, despite that fact, there have been a few developments over recent years that have made some age-old advice obsolete. To find out more about modern job application trends, keep on reading here.
Mobile recruiting
We are all spending a tremendous amount of time on our phones these days. Hence, it seems perfectly normal that we should also be increasingly using them to apply for jobs. This trend is being supported by a growing number of companies who are optimising their job search and application processes for mobile end devices. Some companies are even going further still by offering mobile responsive job and career web pages.
The biggest advantage to job searchers is that they allow them to submit applications from wherever they are, regardless of access to a computer. Added to that, communication channels between applicants and employers have also become a lot shorter, which has sped up communication between them.
Short applications
There is also an increasing trend of using shortened applications that do not involve multiple documents. Short applications simply comprise a cover letter and CV, without any references or proof of qualifications. This doesn’t mean that your qualifications don’t matter. What it does mean, however, is that the two documents you’re submitting (cover letter, CV) need to be very strong and impress even without the support of your qualifications or any references.
Short applications are often used for online and speculative applications that do not refer to a particular vacancy and are designed to impress those in charge of recruitment. Carrying a few short applications with you when visiting job or career fairs can also pay off on occasion. Expert tip: Handing out even more compact application flyers will make you stand out even more from your fellow applicants.
Job Tinder
‘If it works for dating, it should also work for jobs.’ This, or something along those lines, is what the founders of apps such as Jobeagle and Yooture must have thought to themselves, because they work much in the same way as Tinder and Bumble. That is, you create a profile, list your skills and experience and complete a short personality test. This ensures that you will only be shown jobs that match both your job profile and personality type.
Once you’ve created a profile, you can instantly start swiping – that’s a swipe right for jobs you’re interested in and left for those you’re not. Swiping right will notify the company in question of your interest and, if they are interested in turn, you have a match. Once there is match, you will be able to chat or talk on the phone with each other to find out a bit more about one another. Although these apps are becoming increasingly popular, not all companies have signed up to them yet.
Networking
Networking is not only ancient, but modern platforms like LinkedIn are probably some of the most promising job finding tools around these days. That said, there are also a number of mistakes that are important to avoid – foremost of which is moving too quickly. Hence, never ask someone you’ve just added as a connection to introduce you to someone from HR or for detailed career advice. This is because the same real life rules still apply and you should always get to know someone first before asking for a favour. Because, when it comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter whether you first met someone in a bar, at a job fair or on LinkedIn.
If you already have a lot of connections in your field, you should also offer help and advice to any new connections. This will not only grow your network, but also close any gaps within it and put you in an excellent position to ask for help and advice yourself in future.
However, if you’ve only just connected with someone, it’s still best to just try to start a conversation and get to know one another. There is a good chance that you will both be working in the same sector, in which case a link to a recent relevant article will provide plenty of fuel for a conversation to get to know one another.
Bottom line
The means available to us today are radically different to those available to previous generations, and we should make use of them whenever we can. Regardless of which job application method you end up going for, our job application tips will help you do much more than just make a good first impression.
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