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Mastering the application and landing the interview

Whether you are looking for an unpaid internship position or a paid graduate-level job, there are certain expectations that employers have of candidates. Read below for tips coming directly from those with recruitment decision-making power:

CVs

Tailor each and every CV to the employer you are approaching
Include a profile to provide the employer with an overview of who you are, which skills you have to offer and what you want to do
Include a Skills section to address all required skills and competencies and provide a short but descriptive statement on how you acquired/use them
Maximise the paper space by minimising side margins
Keep formatting consistent, i.e. dates along the left-hand side
For standard CVs (non-creative), use either Times New Roman or Arial font; keep underlining, italics and bolding to a minimum
Include hobbies that are relevant to your application, i.e. playing team sports may help you get a job that requires a high level of team work
Do not list your references on your CV
Keep your CV to no more than 2 pages

Cover Letters

Pay attention to your spelling and grammar
Address your letter to a named person, not "Sir/Madam"
Use only 3 or 4 paragraphs: introduction, what you can offer, why you are interested in the company/organisation, and thank you/seeking an interview
Keep your cover letter to 1 page long

Application Forms

Read all questions carefully
Print out a copy of the application form and prepare your answers in advance before transferring them to the actual form later
Answer situational questions using the STAR or CAR formula: Situation, Task, Action and Result or Context, Action and Result
Use concise language because there may be a word limit

Take the application process in little steps. Remember, the point of the application is to get you the interview!


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