We are filling an intern opening right now and since we spend a good chunk of time processing the initial applications we like to share observations so that others may benefit.
First of all the quality of applications has gotten much better. Last year we received dozens of applications from people who had no qualifications for the job at all. This time we received only a few that were totally off the mark. (Still surprising to get, what’s the thinking there? Maybe they won’t notice I don’t have any of the qualifications listed in the job posting and hire me?)
We received about 75 applications in the first week and rejected 50 before taking a harder look and getting the finalists down to 5 or 6.
Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts that were noted as we went through the process this time:
Do: Write a short but focused and easy to digest email introduction to preface your resume. Be personal, honest and brief.
Don’t: Say that your skills are “unique” or your passion for the position is “beyond words to describe it.”
Don’t: Put your cover letter in a separate document that requires opening it to read it. Just use email text.
Don’t: State the obvious. I know you are applying for a job, I can see your resume is attached, my guess is that you would be happy to talk more about it, etc. Your email message is the key moment you have to speak, don’t be mechanical or waste it with filler.
Do: Have your email and resume edited by a native English speaker if it is not your first language.
Don’t: Apply for a job that says excellent written and verbal communication skills are required if yours are not really excellent.
Do: Address obvious questions with your introduction. If you have a PHD and ten years of experience and are applying for an entry level position, explain why you are doing so.
From the employer perspective we did put a lot more information into this posting about what was required and it seemed to work in cutting down the number of wasted applications. As a small employer I think our future postings will be much more detailed and allow candidates to self-select even more carefully and make the process even more efficient.
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