10 Ways You Should Never Describe Yourself

When other people use these words to describe your talents, it's OK. When you do it, you just sound like a pompous jerk.

Picture this: You meet someone new. "What do you do?" he asks.

"I'm an architect," you say.

"Oh, really?" he answers. "Have you designed any buildings I've seen?"

"Maybe," you reply. "We did the new library at the university..."

"Oh wow," he says. "I've seen it. That's a beautiful building..."

And you're off. Maybe he's a potential client, maybe not... but either way you've made a great impression.

You sound awesome.

Now picture this: You meet someone new. "What do you do?" he asks.

"I'm a passionate, innovative, dynamic provider of architectural services who uses a collaborative approach to create and deliver outstanding customer experiences."

And he's off, never to be seen again... because you sound like a pompous ass.

Do you--whether on your website, or more likely on social media accounts--describe yourself differently than you do in person?

Do you use hacky clichés and overblown superlatives and breathless adjectives?

Do you write things about yourself you would never have the nerve to actually say?

If so, it's time for a change.

Here are some words that are great when used by other people to describe you, but you should never use to describe yourself:

"Motivated."

Check out Chris Rock's response (not safe for work or the politically correct) to people who say they take care of their kids. Then substitute the word "motivated." Never take credit for things you are supposed to do--or be.

"Authority."

If you have to say you're an authority, you aren't. Show your expertise instead. "Presenter at SXSW" or "Delivered TED Talk at Long Beach 2010" indicates a level of authority. Unless you can prove it, "social media marketing authority" just means you spend a ton of time on Twitter.

"Global provider."

The vast majority of businesses can sell goods or services worldwide; the ones that can't--like restaurants--are obvious. (See?) Only use "global provider" if that capability is not assumed or obvious; otherwise you just sound like a really small company trying to appear really big.

"Innovative."

Most companies claim to be innovative. Most people claim to be innovative. Most are not. (I'm not.) That's okay, because innovation isn't a requirement for success.

If you are innovative, don't say it. Prove it. Describe the products you've developed. Describe the processes you've modified. Give us something real so your innovation is unspoken but evident... which is always the best kind of evident to be.

"Creative."

See particular words often enough and they no longer make an impact. "Creative" is one of them. (Go to LinkedIn and check out some profiles; "creative" will appear in the majority.)

"Creative" is just one example. Others include extensive, effective, proven, dynamic, influential, team player, collaborative... some of those terms truly may describe you, but since they're also being used to describe everyone else they've lost their impact.

"Curator."

Museums have curators. Libraries have curators. Tweeting links to stuff you find interesting doesn't make you a curator... or an authority or a guru.

"Passionate."

Say you're incredibly passionate about incorporating an elegant design aesthetic in everyday objects and--to me at least--you sound a little scary. Same if you're passionate about developing long-term customer solutions. Try focus, concentration, or specialization instead. Save the passion for your loved one.

"Unique."

Fingerprints are unique. Snowflakes are unique. You are unique--but your business probably isn't. Don't pretend to be, because customers don't care about unique; they care about "better." Show how you're better than the competition and in the minds of customers you will be unique.

"Guru."

People who try to be clever for the sake of being clever are anything but. Don't be a self-proclaimed ninja, sage, connoisseur, guerilla, wonk, egghead... it's awesome when your customers affectionately describe you in that way, but when you do it it's apparent you're trying way too hard.

"Incredibly..."

Check out some random bios and you'll find plenty of further-modified descriptors: "Incredibly passionate," "profoundly insightful," "extremely captivating..." isn't it enough to be insightful or captivating? Do you have to be incredibly passionate?

If you must use over-the-top adjectives to describe yourself, at least spare us the further modification. Trust us; we already get it.

Author: Jeff Haden

Top Ten Ways To Make Yourself More Employable

Whether you work with computer databases or on a construction site, the job market over the past five years has been more than challenging. Having to trawl through hundreds of job listings, applying for positions that thousands of other applicants have applied for and never getting a response, it can be soul destroying. But don’t be disheartened, the job market is really starting to look alive, and there are proactive steps you can take to make yourself more employable.

Check out the top ten things you can do to make yourself more employable.

#1 Improve your knowledge

The wisest people are those that never stop learning – those that are never too arrogant to believe they know it all. If you’re in the market for a job but are still on the shelf then it’s time to go back to school, whether it’s a short course, an apprenticeship or part-time education, it all counts towards making you more awesome and more employable. All new skills tend to have the ability to open doors in your chosen career path.

#2 Get more experience

You could have tens of years’ experience in your field or be new to the game but either way, more experience is always going to be better than less. So think outside the box, if you’re new to the job market, seek out for junior positions and internships, if you’re a veteran then gain experience that’s outside your comfort zone. It shows that you’re proactive and willing to go above and beyond.

44 Resume Writing Tips

by Daniel Scocco

Having a solid and effective resume can greatly improve your chances of landing that dream job. That is beyond discussion. How does one make sure that his resume is top notch and bullet proof, however? There are several websites with tips around the web, but most bring just a handful of them. We wanted to put them all together in a single place, and that is what you will find below: 44 resume writing tips.

1. Know the purpose of your resume

Some people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to land a job. As a result they end up with a really long and boring piece that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The objective of your resume is to land an interview, and the interview will land you the job (hopefully!).

2. Back up your qualities and strengths

Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities (e.g., disciplined, creative, problem solver) try to connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these qualities and strengths up, else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things.

3. Make sure to use the right keywords

Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital databases to search for candidates. This means that the HR department will run search queries based on specific keywords. Guess what, if your resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, you will be out even before the game starts.

These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for. You can read more about resume keywords on the article Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume’s Effectiveness.

4. Use effective titles

Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in 5 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention. Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example:

Bad title: Accounting
Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Record keeping

5. Proofread it twice

It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of proofreading your resume. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip. Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as many as necessary. If you don’t know how to proofread effectively, here are 8 tips that you can use.

6. Use bullet points

No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.

7. Where are you going?

Including professional goals can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going, and how you want to arrive there. You don’t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate it. The question of whether or not to highlight your career objectives on the resume is a polemic one among HR managers, so go with your feeling. If you decide to list them, make sure they are not generic.

8. Put the most important information first

This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

9. Attention to the typography

First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place, remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices.

Career Guidance Tips: Career Planning

Know thyself
Socrates

Career planning is about improving your current job or seeking the next one. It is about a work and life balance — life management. It is about relationships with your boss and your colleagues.

Here is how you can enhance your career.

1) Stay informed about new and current trends.

• Become a member of professional associations.
• Read books and journals in your area of expertise.
  

2) Attend seminars, workshops, conferences, and trade shows.

3) Promote new ideas, so you won't be seen as someone who is afraid of change.

4) Be open to change and eager to try new ideas. Ask to sit on committees dealing with new technologies.

5) Update your resume frequently, highlighting your successes and major achievements. Be sure to include projects that added measurable value to your department or organization. Don't be afraid to blow your own horn.

6) Take every training course you can manage — they all have something new to offer. Include them on your resume, and make sure your boss is aware of your professional-development activities and their worth to the company.

7) Add to your network of business associates. Stay in touch and make them aware of your present activities and future career plans.

8) Make contact with people who know where the employment opportunities are, both inside and outside your organization. Add professional recruiters to your network.

9) Determine your monetary value in the marketplace. If you find you are not being paid enough, you will be motivated to try for a raise or for a position with another firm. Three factors decide your worth:

• the need for your work;
• your ability to do the job;
• the difficulty of replacing you.
  

10) Evaluate your strengths. What are you especially good at? Find out if key people agree with your analysis.

11) Focus on skills you have, or might acquire, that are unique in the organization. Fluency in foreign languages or knowledge of particular computer applications are possible examples.

Adapted from The Portable Mentor

Career Guidance Tips: Key Skills to Learn for Success

Your attitude always determines your altitude in life.
(Successories Inc)

To climb in your career you must be clear about your personal goals, learn how to add value, and develop skills you can take anywhere. As more people enter the information age, change is happening at an ever-increasing pace. As knowledge workers begin to predominate, new skills sets will become important.

You must hone your skills in these areas:

INTUITION

Develop your ability to have insight that goes beyond facts and figures. Numbers rule and logic may tell you one thing, but your observations, questions, and perception may reveal new opportunities. Step back and look at the big picture. Try to ignore the details.

EMPATHY

Learn to understand issues from the viewpoint of those around you. Begin to "feel" issues from the perspective of people who are from a different cultural, religious, or gender background from you. And make allowances for those differences.

VISIONING

Develop an understanding about where you and those who work with you could and should be a few years ahead. Think about it … What differentiated Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi from us mere mortals? They had vision. Equally important, they were able to communicate their vision to those around them in a compelling manner and excite and mobilize people. Having a vision is of limited value unless we share it and excite other people.

FLEXIBILITY

Have an open mind when change must be made. More important, anticipate the future. Preparing for the future and making adjustments in our attitudes and procedures will ensure that change is constant, not periodic and traumatic.

PRO-ACTIVITY

Get things done. Find the easy way. Don't get analysis paralysis. Sure, you often need information before making a decision, but doing things and modifying and learning as you go along can often pay much higher dividends. There is another benefit — people will realize that making a mistake is not bad, it's an opportunity to learn and improve. Doing nothing will cause disillusionment and could become part of the culture.

SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

Step away from the daily grind to see your organization in the context of the economy, its industry, its direction, its leadership, and its competitors.

PARTNERING

Learn to work collaboratively. Partner with people from other work areas. Share the rewards and recognition. Develop partnerships with people outside your organization, especially those who can add value to your endeavours.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING

Take every opportunity to learn new skills and get new ideas. Courses, inside and outside the organization, are only a small part of accumulating knowledge. Reading books, attending conferences, subscribing to trade magazines, and learning from your mistakes will help too.


Adapted from The Portable Mentor

Career Guidance Tips: Getting Ahead in Your Organization

My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there.
(Indira Gadhi)

No one can manage your career better than you can. But if you wait for opportunities to present themselves, you may sit around forever. You must be pro-active. You must be assertive. The following ideas will improve your chances of moving up the corporate ladder.

1) Make yourself indispensable. Create a niche by doing things that others can't or may not want to do.

2) Go the extra mile. Help out in a crisis. Put extra effort in if a project is late. Be seen to be helpful. Help during emergencies.

3) Make your boss look good. You will be valued and appreciated. And if you do enough good, the favours will be returned, sooner or later.

4) Know what your boss's goals are, then modify your behaviour to do things that will advance your boss's goals.

5) Work more effectively when you're not supervised. The next time your boss is out of the office, such as when she is on holiday, exceed her expectations by having projects completed. Leave a note on her desk or on her voice mail, so that she has the assurance and peace of mind that things are in good hands.

6) Exceed the specifications of your job as laid out in your job description. Regularly document the things you are doing that are not described. At your next performance review, make your boss aware of your extra work, so your job description will be updated. Your boss will then be forced to acknowledge your growth.

7) Do something special and have it published. Document your success and write an article about it. After passing it by your boss, find a publisher or a magazine you support. A published article will add to your credentials as an expert.

8) In a team situation, be a player and give your best efforts to meeting goals on time and within budget. Encourage other team members to do the same.

9) Be a willing volunteer, especially for projects that will let you prove your abilities to senior staff and key decision-makers.

10) Avoid politics. You cannot expect to exert more than minimal influence on the people you oppose. If you are pushed to take sides, hold off until you can pick the likely winner.

11) Understand the big picture. This will give you a sense of where opportunities are developing.

12) Find out how people who have been promoted did it.

13) Become the most technically competent employee in your area. Have your peers cross-train you. If necessary, do it on your own time.

14) Focus on excelling in your existing job. Don't obsess about looking for opportunities outside the organization. If you must, read the quit, and find another job!

15) Project a positive attitude at all times.

16) Volunteer for task forces, particularly those that have a high profile in the organization.

17) Train, train, and train some more. Get as much education as you can to enhance your ability on the job. Take courses that might be useful to your peers, then offer to present a summary of what you have learned to them. Offer to cross-train others.

18) Teach, teach, teach — become a mentor to someone else and help that person grow.

19) Be assertive in getting your career goals known. Ask for promotions and opportunities whenever it feels appropriate.

20) Develop a picture of what you want to be doing five years down the road. Make a list of roadblocks that might prevent you from being successful. Develop action plans to overcome these obstacles over a period of time. Communicate these to your boss.

21) Be honest. Your reputation for integrity will compensate for the occasional awkwardness of telling the truth.

22) Collaborate with those around you. Co-operative people are more likely to get promotions than those who are constantly in conflict with their co-workers.

23) Focus on the big picture. Be aware of important current issues and industry trends, and find new ways to help your organization succeed. Identify obstacles to corporate performance, and make suggestions on how to overcome them.

24) Seek out a mentor, a respected person in your organization whom you see as a role model. Choose someone whose skills and personality will give you an opportunity to learn different approaches and techniques. Consult your mentor for advice and feedback, especially when you have difficult decisions to make.

25) Discuss your career goals with your boss so that you agree on both their suitability and the route by which you plan to achieve them. Ask for feedback on whether your plans are realistic, and for advice on what training you might need to gain the necessary skills.

26) Set goals and develop your career action plan around them, using mini-goals to track your progress. Review goals regularly, and make adjustments to your plan if you get off-track.

27) Be positive. If you have doubts about a project, don't present them as impassable obstacles. Maintain the position that there are no problems, only opportunities and solutions. Optimists achieve more because of their "can do" attitude, while negative people rarely succeed.

28) Dress for success. Dress for the role you want, not for the one you have.

29) Follow up on your promises. Underpromise and overdeliver.

30) Put your energies into projects that

• use your skills;
• are likely to succeed;
• require major effort and resources.
  

31) Work visibly to help your organization succeed.

32) Be generous with useful tips and sales leads.

33) Research and report on ways to reduce costs.

34) Be the person who knows what's happening. Become a source of information on current trends by reading trade and business-news publications and passing on useful material to your colleagues.

35) Take on projects that others don't want to do. Your boss and your associates will appreciate you.

36) If a situation is occurring that might embarrass or anger your boss, be the one to break the news as soon as possible. Your boss will appreciate being prepared for unpleasant outcomes.

37) Maintain up-to-date information about your boss's expectations of you. Make sure that performance goals can be measured, so your achievements will be clearly perceived.

38) Request increasing levels of authority and autonomy, and then prove yourself worthy of them. It may be a stretch, but you will be able to prove how capable you are to yourself and others.

39) Do better by competing against yourself, rather than your peers. Competitiveness breeds resentment. Strive for your personal best, and let others judge you against your peers.

40) Ask key people for feedback. Listen to them without being defensive. Show your appreciation by demonstrating improved performance.

41) Take a positive approach when criticized.

• Be as objective and unemotional as possible. Avoid defensiveness.
• Consider the critic's point of view.
• Use criticism as a learning opportunity.
• Reflect on the criticism. If you think it unfair, defend yourself.
• Thank the critic, even if you disagree with the evaluation.
  

42) If you are fired or demoted, learn from the experience. Rather than trying to establish blame, find out what went wrong. Try as hard as you can to be objective, fix the problem if you can, and make sure you don't make the same mistake again.

43) Win support by thanking in public those who help you.

44) Learn to get what you want without alienating the people you meet. You never know who might affect your future career path.

45) Take advantage of a possible upcoming job vacancy and put yourself in the lead by

• taking on extra work that will demonstrate relevant skills;
• letting key people know you are interested;
• making sure your skills are updated to match the vacancy.
  

46) Take the initiative. Go beyond the "normal" course of duty and do things that make a difference.

47) Gain a larger perspective. Look at your organization from the viewpoint of the customer, the owners, and the staff. Try to balance often-conflicting needs.

48) Take responsibility. Show leadership. Identify yourself as one who will demonstrate the values of your organization. Project a "can do" attitude.

49) Be a team player. Work collaboratively. Help others to excel. They will return the favour when you least expect it or when you might need it.

50) Present your ideas with panache. Tell your story with enthusiasm, always taking into account the needs of your audience.

Adapted from The Portable Mentor

Career Guidance Tips: Change During a Takeover

Be prepared for changes thrust on you in the event of a re-organization, a re-engineering exercise, or a takeover.

Here's what to expect in a takeover:

• Rumours abound.
• Executives are inaccessible and are in meetings continuously.
• Information from management, in the form of a memo, will usually reflect what people know already.
• No direct reliable information is available from high-profile managers.
• Senior managers resign.
• New faces begin to appear during walking tours.
• A new management team is announced.
• The managers make some attempt to listen to staff.
• New procedures and processes are decreed.
• Further layoffs and resignations take place.
• The culture of the organization changes significantly.

Adapted from The Portable Mentor

Career Guidance Tips: Job Interview Tips

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
(Unknown)

Getting an interview for a job is usually the last of a number of difficult steps that might produce a job offer. This is showtime — an opportunity for you to sell yourself. You will probably come up against a professional who knows the difference between glib catchphrases and substance, so be prepared to leave the interviewer with no doubt that you are the best person for the job. Here's how to give yourself the best appearance:

IN PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW

1) Find out everything you can about the company. This will demonstrate a genuine interest in the organization and an affinity for the things that its employees do. Your research should include information on the nature of the business; how well the company is doing; changes in the industry, with particular focus on things that could influence your job; the size of the company; and the diversity of products and services provided.

2) Create a list of questions you want to ask. You should avoid asking about salaries at an early stage. Your questions should instead reflect an interest in the company and an awareness of your contribution to its future.

Questions could include:

• How is the organization doing?
• What is the outlook for business over the next five years?
• How would you describe the culture here?
• How do people get recognized for superior performance, outside the formal compensation system?
• How important is teamwork in your organization?
• What kind of training does the organization provide?
• How readily does the organization embrace new technology and other improved working systems?
• How are employees kept informed of changes in the organization?
• What would be the primary reason for people leaving the organization in the last year or two?
• Are there some characteristics common to people who have been promoted in the organization?

3) Review your resumé to ensure that it contains as many things that could be of interest to the company as possible.

4) If you do have more than one interview, schedule them with sufficient time in between to avoid rushing from one to the other.

5) Collect and organize all supporting documentation, such as certificates of your professional qualifications and references.

6) Be sure you have accurate directions to the prospective employer, to ensure that you don't spend time searching for the place and arriving stressed.

7) Consider doing a role-play with a friend. Have him ask you some challenging, open-ended questions that require on-the-spot mental acrobatics.

Questions could include:

• "In your last job, what would be the one thing that your peers most disliked about you?"
• "What would be your single most important achievement in your last job?"
• "How would you describe yourself?"
• "What type of training could the company provide you with, to make you a better contributor?"
• "What attracted you to this job?"
• "What do you know about the company?"
• "What would you like to tell me in support of your application, other than what is on your resume?"
• "Can you give me examples of initiatives that you have taken in your previous job that were above and beyond what your job description required you to do?"
  

ON THE DAY OF YOUR INTERVIEW

8) Dress for success.

• Make sure that you are well groomed. Your hair should be neat and you should be cleanly shaven.
• Your clothes should reflect the fact that you are a neat person. They should be clean and well pressed. Be sure to fix any loose buttons and hems.
• Avoid outlandish hairstyles and body ornamentation that may not be in keeping with the culture of the organization you want to work for.
• Avoid clothing that is too revealing, frilly, or makes you look much taller than you actually are.

9) Leave yourself extra time to get to the interview.

10) Have all supporting documentation ready, including your resume, references, and non-confidential documentation of work you have done that would demonstrate your ability to do the job.

11) Bring writing materials so you can make notes on important issues. Don't rely on your memory, particularly if you have any other interviews on that day.

12) Introduce yourself. Give your interviewer a firm handshake. Smile. Look relaxed. Make small talk to establish rapport that seems genuine, such as "I love this location! It's so easy to get to." Or "It must be my lucky day. The traffic was so much lighter than usual coming in."

13) Let the interviewer control the discussion. Listen carefully to her questions. Show that you understand by nodding and paraphrasing difficult questions.

14) Do not ramble when responding to open-ended questions. Try to be as direct as possible. If you are not sure that you have answered the question, ask if the interviewer has the answer that he was looking for, and if not, what he would like you to deal with.

15) Look and act interested. Sit slightly forward and maintain eye contact, without staring.

16) Pay attention to what the interviewer says. Equally important, watch non-verbal cues. Look for facial expressions that might indicate confusion with your answers, such as loss of eye contact or change in voice pitch. Crossing arms or legs may mean resistance. Leaning forward or nodding might mean enthusiasm.

17) Project a great attitude. Show your "can do" enthusiasm by

• always accentuating the positive;
• giving examples of the good things you have done.

18) Project positive body language. This will mean that you

• smile warmly when greeted;
• maintain eye contact, without staring;
• greet people with a firm handshake;
• stand tall or sit up straight, so you project enthusiasm and confidence;
• avoid putting your hand in front of your face while you are talking or fidgeting when you are listening;
• never smoke or chew gum.

19) Speak to impress by

• articulating key ideas with a firmer voice;
• avoiding rushing through answers and rambling;
• avoiding slang or swear words;
• avoiding annoying words such as "like" at the beginning, middle, and end of each sentence.
  

20) Listen. Make sure you answer all questions adequately. When you are not sure if you have done this, ask, "Have I answered your question?" This will indicate that you care about responding fully.

21) If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.

22) Stay calm and confident. You got the interview, now get the job!

23) Use examples wherever possible. This will demonstrate a "can do" approach. It will also increase the interviewer's confidence that you can do the job in practice, rather than in theory.

24) Close the meeting decisively. Consider using a sentence such as "I've enjoyed the discussion. Where do we go from here?"

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

Here is a list of questions that you could be asked in an interview. Having answers for them will put you in a high state of readiness.

• What is the one thing you are most proud of that you've done at work during the last twelve months?
• What one thing at work could you have done better?
• Can you describe your ideal organization?
• Can you describe your ideal job?
• If I called some of your current work colleagues, what good things would they tell me about you?
• What would they tell me about you that they'd like you to change?
• What are you looking for from our organization that you're not getting in your current (last) job?
• What are the most important things that drive you?
• What types of things are you most intolerant of at work?
• Can you give me examples of things you've done recently that you're proud of?
• What has prompted you to apply to us for a job?
  

Adapted from The Portable Mentor

Ten Ways to Make a Winning Email Job Application

Many employers nowadays accept job applications via email. With this shift from printed-out traditional applications, many job applicants grapple with how to make an effective job application via email. Other applicants forget that this is their only chance to make a critical first impression and click the “Send” button without any second look or second thought just to get the job application off their to-do-list. No wonder their applications are ignored or at best laughed at by human resource officers.

The goal of making a job application does not change simply because the mode of application has changed. The main objective that should occupy the applicant’s mind is to convince the employer to choose him/her instead of going for the other applicants.

Employers often receive hundreds or thousands of job applications and humanly speaking it is very difficult to give every application a detailed analysis. Most scan for keywords or look for small mistakes to justify not opening, downloading or printing out an application. Your case is closed if your application cannot be opened, is unprofessional, contains ridiculous grammatical errors or they cannot make head or tail of your application.

Here is Jobsinbd Blogspot top ten list of things to look out for or do to make your job application through email worth securing you an interview.

1. Use a professionally sounding email address

A job application is a serious matter and job seekers should avoid a casual approach when sending job application emails. Ensure that the email address you are sending your job application from sounds professional. The best theme for such an email address is the one that matches your name.

If your name is Another Other, seek to get an email addresses like Another.Other@yahoo.com or A.Other @gmail.com. There was a case in Kenya a while ago where an employer was complaining in the local press of a job applicant who used stickyfingers@yahoo.com or was it slimyfingers@yahoo.com to email a job application.

If you are already employed, avoid using your current work email address. Making job applications using your current employer may not be in your best interest. This may not be acceptable within the company’s email policy. Many employers monitor or log email communications and a job application could be the last thing you want your current employer to come across.

2. Follow the employer’s instructions given in the job advertisement

When employers define the job descriptions, requirements and application procedures, they expect applicants to take them seriously. This also defines the evaluation criteria and sets the employers frame of mind when reading and reviewing applications. Make sure you meet the required qualifications and essential requirements before sending your application. Follow the application procedure defined. Do not send un-requested documents and certificates.

3. Focus on the email subject

The email subject line is crucial for a successful job application. This will determine if your email will be opened or not. Some employers will give guidelines on what to write on the subject line. Follow these instructions. In the absence of the instructions, quote the job title applied for and any reference number given. For example “Accountant Position Application (Ref: 001) - Another Other”. Including your name in the subject line enables evaluators to easily reference your application.

Non-existent or ambiguous email subjects can easily lead to your application being discarded or flagged by the email system as spam and not reach the intended audience despite your impeccable skills and competencies.

4. Appropriately name your CV and other attached documents

The naming scheme of your attached documents should be self-explanatory and consistent. Name your attached documents with your name as the prefix. For example “Another Other – Cover Letter.pdf”, “Another Other – Resume.pdf”. This will make it easier for the evaluators to pick up your documents.

Ensure your attachments are not large documents with heavy graphics. Images take a lot of space making your attachment time-consuming to download and open. Many email servers have size limits for attachments beyond which they get blocked. A safe size is to make sure a single document is less than 3MB.

Some applicants make the mistake of attaching scanned certificates from primary to post graduate overloading the employer’s email servers. Avoid sending scanned certificates unless explicitly requested to. Your attached CV should not be more than four pages and your cover letter not more than one page.

Consider having the cover letter typed as the body of the email or as one of the pages in the CV document.

Ensure the format used can be opened in any standard computer. Most organizations have adopted PDF document format as an acceptable format because of legibility, preserves content and does not transmit viruses like word documents. When sending a word document ensure that you save it to be compatible with older versions of MS Word.

5. The body of the email is your sales pitch

Summarise your key qualities, skills and competencies in the body of the email and highlight what makes you the best candidate for the vacancy.

Keep the body of the email to a maximum of two paragraphs summarising why you are the best candidate for the job.

Make this section formal and professional. Avoid hi-five language and sheng. Paragraph and appropriately punctuate your content. Formally address the recipient e.g. Dear Ms So and So, Dear Sir/Madam. Appropriately sign the body of the email e.g.
Sincerely yours,
Miss Another Other (Full Names),
Email: Another.Other@yahoo.com,
Telephone: 000 111 222

Include contacts incase the employer is impressed enough to call you right away. Ensure you can be reached through this contact at any time or indicate an appropriate time when you are reachable. Employers don’t fancy “mteja” businesses.

6. Be specific, brief and to the point

When making an email application, imagine meeting the CEO of the organization in question as he/she is entering a board room to meet other senior managers. The CEO impatiently asks you “Why should I hire you”. What would you say? Will you start with “I was born in March 20 1967?” What if the CEO asks you, “Why should I hire you and not others who have similar qualifications like yourself?”

The body of the email, your application letter and curriculum vitae should serve the purpose of highlighting your key attributes that distinguish you from your competitors. The sooner and faster this is identifiable in your application, the better for you.

7. Spell check and proof read your application

Read through your application several times to make sure there are no grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, that it highlights your key competencies and makes sense. Have it reviewed by a third party whenever possible. Microsoft word and many email software have an inbuilt spell-check and thesaurus facilities for you to make use of before hitting the send button. Use these facilities and review your application to make sure the changes made are appropriate.

Ensure the formatting and fonts used are legible and professional. Avoid fancy fonts, layouts and colours.

8. Test-drive your application

Many applicants have the habit of putting their emails in the “CC” section to check what the potential employer will see. Unfortunately, it will be too late if you need to make changes. Why not send the application to yourself first before sending to the employer and make any necessary changes? Test whether the documents open, that the formatting is not distorted and make any corrections accordingly. Avoid copying your application to email addresses the potential employer is unaware of.

9. Send your application early enough

Many employers in Kenya give a two-week window for job seekers to send in their applications. Sadly, many wait until the last day’s evening to rush to the cyber café to send in their applications before midnight.

The down side is that the Internet may be down at that moment and last minute panicking leads to errors in your application. Worse still, depending on the pressure and deadlines within the HR departments, the short list may already have been compiled by then; albeit mentally. In addition, the email servers may delay getting your application through up to three days after the deadline.

Why not send your application early enough to avoid last minute inconveniences and mistakes. You never know, your application may set the benchmark against which other applications are reviewed and you will get your chance at the interview room, which is the ultimate goal of a job application.

10. Cross your fingers – Literally!