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Are you browsing the internet looking for your next jump? Or are you a graduate looking for your first corporate role? Maybe you’re a student looking for a part-time role. Maybe you’ve already found it, and you’re wondering how to ace the job application. Or worse, you’re frustrated because you’re not finding the right opportunity.
If you fall into any of the above scenarios, keep reading.
Supporter Notification
This blog post is supported by ItsMyResume, but more on it later in the post.
Over the past years, I’ve done heaps of job applications and cold emails. I’ve also reviewed hundreds of resumes for new migrants and international students in Sydney. This experience helped me build the ultimate list of things to look out for in a job application: signals for a great hire and potential red flags.
Regardless of whether you’re following a traditional application process or opting for a more unconventional approach, I’m here to share my five ultra-effective tips for applying for a job. These insights are designed to help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of success.
Cold Email Like A Pro
I’ve learned the hard way that the Pareto Principle is one of the fundamental driving principles of job advertisements. To elaborate and make a little more sense, 80% of job vacancies are not advertised. Rather, they are filled internally or through referrals. Only 20% of job vacancies are advertised online through LinkedIn or Indeed. Hundreds of applicants compete for these 20% of jobs.
My advice is to always take the initiative. If you’ve always dreamed about working for a particular employer, send a cold email or DM them on LinkedIn without waiting for them to advertise a job vacancy. Skip the queue and express your interest in working for them.
Pro Tip #1For Cold Emails
Don’t be pushy or beg for the job. The key is to show that you’re interested in working together, demonstrate how you’ll bring value to their organisation and team, and then wait for them to make the next move.Pro Tip #2 For Cold Emails
Potential employers or recruiters are like you. They can be busy, occupied, or even distracted. So, if they don’t answer your emails or calls, don’t take it personally. Try again after some time. The second tries are surprisingly effective.
I’ve done this, and I can confidently say that my cold emailing is the only reason I was able to land on my dream part time job at Locally while I was at uni.
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Be An Opportunist
When my cold emailing landed me a job while at uni, I remember asking my manager what made him hire me, a part time student then, when he could’ve hired graduates or full time associates in my place. He said it was my guts to send him an opportunistic cold email that made him interested in me, and knowing more about me.
So, keep tabs on influential people at your dream companies by following them on LinkedIn or any other social media, engage in their posts, read their blogs or newsletters, etc. So when you see a job opening at your dream company, you know who you should cold email or when you see the CTO ranting about a tech problem they are facing on twitter, you know who to cold DM your ideas.
Pro Tip
The idea is to get inside their heads, understand what they require, and figure out how to use your skills to add value or solve their issues potentially.
The Third Door
Our parents or uncles, or what I like to call, boomers, have taught us that there are no shortcuts in life. Be a doctor or a lawyer, and your life is set for success. Their advices usually entail achieving these following milestones in life:
- Work really hard at School and get into a good University
- Graduate uni with flying colours and get recruited into a unicorn or a tech giant
- Follow the traditional career path that’s already proven successful: junior to senior.
- Be really good at your craft
Although I agree with the last one, I think there are many ways to skip the queue and get really good at your career very early on. Alex Banayan talks about this in his book The Third Door.
The key is to get really good at networking and building your connections early on, by being active on social media and by cold emailing.
Quick Word From Our Supporter
This blog is proudly supported by ItsMyResume, the world’s most Open and Free ATS-compliant Resume Builder. No account or credit card is required, and it’s completely free — no strings attached. ItsMyResume can help you stand out in your job search with an ATS Optimised resume, increasing your chances of getting hired.
Make Saying Yes Easy
Again, touching base on my job application to Locally, these were exactly the words that I used in my cold DM to the hiring manager.
I know you’re a startup and you’re starting out a data team at Locally. And I know that you’re not clear on your requirements in the data space, and you’re keen to hire me as an experiment. But let’s try it for a month. If you don’t like what I have to offer, we don’t have to carry on, no hard feelings. — Sanjay
His reply was something like “Cool! This sounds very reasonable.”
The key idea is to offer your services and skills in such a manner that the potential employer cannot say no. Make it super simple for your potential employer to say yes easily, get your foot in the front door, and then perform really well!
Have An Awesome Portfolio
If you need a great job, you need a great portfolio.
Now you may ask, how to build your portfolio, if you can’t land on a job? You can build a great portfolio of work by freelancing on websites like Upwork or Fiverr. You might even get some unexpected job offers.
Another great way to build your portfolio is to work as a junior or an intern at a pre-seed startup or with another freelancer. This gives you an entry into the job market, an opportunity to prove your fit, and a chance to impress and do a great job. You can climb the ladder at that company or you’ll gain valuable experience to jump into a more fitting role at a different company.
Another way to build your portfolio, if you’re in the creative space, is to create content yourself. Building your creative portfolio might also help you make some decent money along the way. Johnny Harris, who landed an amazing job working for Vox YouTube channel, writing scripts and doing motion graphics, and now has his own channel with 2.7M subs.
That’s it — my complete guide on how to effectively apply for a job. Follow this advice, work on your skills, and hopefully, you’ll ace your next job application. Thank you for reading, and I hope this was useful for you.
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