Application Tips

Advice from our recruiters to help your application shine!

Resume

Create a winning resume

Your resume highlights what's unique about you. It represents your employment history, skills, education and more. It’s most likely the first impression you’ll make on a hiring manager or internal recruiter, so it’s extremely important to ensure that impression is accurate. While different opportunities require different resumes, the real goal of most resumes is to secure an opportunity to INTERVIEW. It’s important to be strategic.

Cover Letters

Well-written and thoughtful letters help you reach your professional goals. Set yourself apart from the competition by spending sufficient time on your professional correspondence.

Your cover letter must answer two questions: 

1. Why THIS organization?
2. Why THIS role?

Cover letters also offer you an opportunity to explain challenges, transitions, gaps, and many other things that you can’t otherwise explain on your resume.

Interviews

An interview is your chance to shine and elaborate on the experiences that prepare you for the goal you're seeking. It’s your opportunity to showcase your skills, personality, and experience and the hiring department’s opportunity to define job responsibilities and general expectations. It should help you decide if the position/department and you are a good fit. 

Most people understand the basics of a job interview. But what can you do to really stand out? 

Your turn to ask questions

The interview is a two-way street, so go prepared to ask the questions that will help you make an informed decision if an offer should come.

Next Steps

Interview Follow-up

Sending a thank-you email or note after an interview is just proper job-searching etiquette. While it seems like you have little to no control during the search process, the reality of the matter is that you do. So, try focusing on the things you do have power over, like successfully following up after an interview. 

While it may not guarantee a job offer, a thank-you note is a wonderful way to make a human connection with hiring managers, recruiters, and interviewers. It’s a good way to reassert your interest and enthusiasm in the position at hand. 

• When? Ideally within 24 – 48 hours of your interview seems to be the recommended time frame to send a thank you note. No matter when you follow up though, doing so is the most important part. 
• Who? Address every person you interviewed with directly by sending personalized emails/written notes.
• How? Keep your thank-you notes short and sweet — it’s not a continuation of the interview.

References

The hiring process can unfold pretty quickly, so think of 3-5 people you might ask for a reference current and/or past colleagues, people you've supervised, and at least 1 past supervisor, all of whom should know you and your work well.

When you reach out to them, take the time to fill them in on your current career direction and your job hunt, before making your request to ask them to serve as your reference.

Be sure to take a moment to confirm your references’ current titles and contact information and ask how they prefer to be contacted by the recruiter.

Follow up by thanking each reference with a thoughtful note (email) soon after they agree to help you. Make sure to let them know immediately each time you submit their name as a reference, so they’ll be ready if they’re called. And make sure you let your references know the outcome of your job hunt —people like to know what’s happened in a process they’ve been involved in and following up with an update is part of maintaining a good relationship for the long-term.

Establish or update your profile on LinkedIn

Recruiters do check LinkedIn and other social media platforms! Make sure the information in your profile is up to date and consistent with your application.

Good luck!