-§- COMMON JOB APPLICATION MISTAKES!

When you are applying for jobs, it's important to make sure all the information you list on your employment applications is accurate and error-free. Mistakes, even minor ones, can not only cost you an interview, but if you get something important like your dates of employment wrong you could lose a job offer or even your job. Take the time to carefully complete every application you fill out to be sure the information is accurate, your dates and job descriptions are correct, and there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Here are some of the most common job application mistakes to avoid

 COMMON JOB APPLICATION MISTAKES

Your job application is a communication, and how well you “sell yourself” makes a big difference.  There are far more job seekers than there are good jobs in Tanzania.  This means that employers often receive dozens, if not hundreds, of applications for every available job!  They are busy people, and it would be impossible for them to thoroughly review each application they receive. Instead, employers scan applications quickly to separate the good candidates from the bad.  Only the good candidates get their application fully reviewed.  Either your application goes directly to the trash bin, set aside for possible consideration, or it goes into the “strong candidate” pile for a thorough review.  Avoid making these common mistakes, and you will greatly increase your chances of your CV landing in the “strong candidate” pile.

Mistake 1:  Blast Applications

It doesn’t matter if you apply to 1 job, or to 500 jobs, if your application does not speak directly to the skills, experience and requirements noted in the position description for that job, it’s unlikely you will be called for an interview no matter how qualified and experienced you may be.  

To learn how to target each application to the job being applied for, see the section below entitled The Cover Letter & Selling Yourself.

 

Mistake 2:  Spelling Mistakes

Sounds simple right?  It is truly amazing how many cover letters and CVs we see with spelling mistakes.  All computers have spell-check, so even one spelling mistake is too many. If you use your email to send the cover letter, that is OK, but be sure spell check is turned on, or write the letter in MS Word and then paste into your email after its complete and you have performed a thorough spell check.  Spelling mistakes communicate the following to the employer:

1.      Unprofessional, not serious about this job

2.      Lazy, didn’t bother using spell check

3.      Poor attention to detail

Mistake 3:  Under-Qualified Applications

Most job descriptions state minimum qualifications and they are there for a reason.  Do not waste your time applying for a job for which you do not at least come close to meeting these minimum requirements.

Let’s say the job description says “5 years related experience”, but you only have 4 years.  Should you apply?  If you meet all the other requirements and exceed some of them, then go ahead and apply.  But if you do not come close, don’t waste your time.  Instead, focus your job search efforts on jobs for which you are truly qualified for.  Applying for a job that you are not qualified for communicates the following:

1.      Didn’t bother to read the job description

2.      Can’t follow simple instructions

3.      No attention to detail

So what do you do if you have little work experience and are having a hard time finding entry level positions in your field?  Check out our Tips for Recent Grads and Those With Little Work Experience below.

Mistake 4:  Failure to Follow Application Instructions

Most job descriptions provide instructions on how and when to apply.  Some want a handwritten cover letter, some want email applications only, some want copies of certificates etc., each job is different.  It is your responsibility to read the application instructions carefully and to follow them.  If you fail to follow the application instructions, you are communicating the following:

1.      Cannot follow simple instructions, cannot do this job well.

2.      No attention to detail, not the right person for our team.

3.      Unprofessional

Mistake 5:  Poor English Writing Skills

So far we have discussed mistakes that are very easy to fix, this one is a bit more challenging.  Many job applications in Tanzania are in English, which can be a challenge for some.  It is hard enough to create a good CV and write a powerful cover letter in your native language.  It’s a lot harder to do the same in a second language.  So what can you do if your English skills are limited?

First, create your CV and write your cover letter in your native language, whatever that may be.  Follow all the tips below to draft your cover letter, but do it in the language that you are most comfortable writing in.

Only after you have everything just the way you want it in your native language should you translate it to English.  If your English skills are not strong, then seek out a friend, teacher or family member with strong English skills to help you with the translation.  Only you can write your cover letter, because only you understand your strengths and only you care enough to put in the time and work necessary to write a great CV and cover letter.  So write it yourself, write in your native language, and then seek assistance getting what you have written translated to English.

THE COVER LETTER & SELLING YOURSELF

It’s always best if you know someone at the company to which you are applying that can forward your CV with their recommendation.  But what do you do if you do not know anyone working at the company?  Your cover letter and CV are the ONLY THING that you have to differentiate yourself from a large pool of applicants, and sometimes there are hundreds of other applicants.  The cover letter, or in many cases the simple email that accompanies your CV, will often decide whether the employer even looks at your CV or not.

Tip 1:  Customize Your Cover Letter for Every Job

The first and single most important thing you should do is read the position description very carefully.  What are the requirements, what past work experience are they seeking, what personal characteristics do they say are important?  If after reading the position description you feel you are a good candidate for the job, then do some basic research on the company.  Visit their website, learn more about what they do, their corporate culture, anything you can find to help you understand more about the company will be useful in writing your cover letter.

Now that you fully understand the position description and have done some research on the company, it’s time to write a custom letter for this position.  What does it mean to customize a cover letter? 

Customizing your application means writing a cover letter that clearly demonstrates you fully understand the position description, experience requirements, and personal qualities they are seeking and communicates that you are a great candidate for the position.

Every job is different, even if they have the same job title, the job itself is different.  For example one position description for an accountant may stress knowledge of Tanzanian tax laws and other “technical” skills, while another position description for another accountant might stress soft skills such as people skills because you would be working a lot with clients.  These are big hints about what the employer considers MOST IMPORTANT.  And if you really want that job, you will spend the time figuring out what they consider most important, and tailor your cover letter to stress those same things.

Many job descriptions have long lists of requirements.  Your cover letter does not need to note your qualifications for each and every requirement.  Instead, you should speak directly to the requirements that seem MOST IMPORTANT to the employer.  And don’t just restate the requirement.  Too often we see cover letters that say things like:

1.      I am fully trained in MS Office

2.      I have 6 years sales experience

3.      I am a qualified manager

The above are simply re-stating what was in the Position Description.  Anybody can do that, and it doesn’t tell the employer very much.  If you want your cover letter to get noticed, try using real examples that demonstrate your abilities and experience.  For example:

1.      I am well versed in MS Office applications, and regularly conduct mail merges in Word, create attractive multi-media presentations in PowerPoint, and manage budgets and timesheets in Excel.

2.      I have 6 years sales experience in the computing and ICT industries.  I have a strong track record of exceeding sales targets because I understand the importance of “listening to the client’s needs” and proposing solutions that meet those needs.

3.      I have managed teams as large as 8 people, and I take great pride in serving as a mentor and guiding my team members to excellence.

Tip 2:  Personalize Your Application

Communicating how your personal interests relate to the position is a excellent way to get your application noticed.  For example, let’s consider three different jobs: a wait-person at a restaurant, a generator mechanic and a sales manager.

Ask yourself “why do want this job”.  Of course you want the job for the salary, but why do you want that job above other jobs?  Start by thinking about why you decided to pursue employment in that field in the first place.

For the wait-person job at the restaurant, of course the employer wants someone that is good with people right?  So what is it about you that makes you well suited for the position.  Well, let’s assume that you genuinely like people, like meeting new people, and that you take great pride in putting a smile on customers faces by going the extra mile and providing superior customer service.  Communicating things like this in your cover letter is what will differentiate you from the other applicants.  By giving a more concrete example, you are communicating that not only that you understand the nature of the job and are a qualified applicant, but that you are personally interested in the work itself.

For the generator mechanic, maybe you have always been good at fixing things.  Maybe you fixed your first water pump when you were only 11 years old and you have been fixing things ever since.  So why not say that in your cover letter?  Maybe you enjoy the challenge of troubleshooting technical problems and identifying solutions.  Whatever it is, something led you to pursue a career as a mechanic.  Remember what that was, and find a way to include it your cover letter.  Employers want to know that their staff are not only technically qualified for a position, but that they are genuinely interested in, and take satisfaction from, doing the work.

Even the sales manager job application can be personalized.  Perhaps you are very good at making people feel comfortable because you are a good listener. This is very important in sales isn’t it?  Listening to a client helps you understand their needs, and understanding their needs helps you draft a sales proposal to meet those needs.  So if you are a good listener, and have some skill at not just hearing what people say, but understanding what they really need, then say that in your cover letter.

Here are some ideas on how to approach a company or organization and offer your services as a volunteer or intern.

Let’s say you have a degree in computer science and you want to start a career in web design and administration.  Then find a company that has a bad website and offer to make it better.  Either call the company, or stop by their office, and ask to speak to the manager.  DO NOT tell them their website is bad.  Instead, tell them you are a recent graduate seeking work experience and you noticed their website could be improved and some of the things you would do to improve it.  Most people will respect that, even if they do not have time to work with an intern.

Always approach the person at the company that is a senior manager in your field.  For example, if your degree is in accounting, then call or go and visit with the Comptroller or the Senior Accountant.  Do not take up a lot of their time.  Just come straight out and tell them that you are a recent graduate and that you are seeking an internship in their accounting department to gain practical experience.

If you are a recent grad with very good grades and are very well spoken, another approach is to contact the HR manager at a company and request an “informational interview”.  Tell them you are a recent graduate that graduated top of your class, with high honors, or whatever distinguishes you, and you would like the opportunity to discuss employment opportunities at that company.

You may have to make a lot of offers like this before you find an internship, but at least you are out there getting your CV into the hands of people that have the power to give you a job. 

And when you do find an internship or a volunteer opportunity, if you work hard and perform well, then there is a decent chance the internship might to turn into a job.  If you perform well and make a positive impression, your boss will remember you and seek you out the next time they have an open position, or recommend you to colleagues who are seeking to fill a position.

START YOUR JOB SEARCH

Now you are ready to start your job search!