The six secrets to the perfect job application

1. If you want a match, make your CV shine 

Your CV will be the company's first impression of you: so make it as good as your Bumble profile. Emilie Ornon, Lead Tech Recruiter at JobTeaser, says that your CV format needs to be professional (okay so maybe a slightly different vibe than your dating profile...) and the information in it must be adapted to the position you are applying for. Keep generic information on your LinkedIn profile and tailor your CV as much as possible to the position, including skills, languages, employment history and education, and a short summary of your goals. 

"And when it comes to a junior applicant, you have to make yourself stand out by highlighting your projects and internship or apprenticeship experience. Even school projects should be highlighted!" adds Emilie. 

2. The cover letter nightmare is over  

Luckily, gone are the times of the overly formal, standardised cover letter. "There's no point in writing a generic cover letter. It's better to have a short paragraph of five impactful and personalised sentences to show how motivated you are," explains Emilie. It's a bit like being at a party: when you meet someone you don't know for the first time, you don't waffle on to them as an opener. This short, succinct and straight-to-the-point paragraph should outline your interest. Show that you've read up on the position and the company – even the team (don't be a creep though, people's Instagrams are off limits). Finally, you have to be able to explain any discrepancies between your profile and the position. For example, if you live in Birmingham and are applying for a job in London, you'll have to explain that you're looking to relocate to a specific area or that you're happy to move for the right job – you're flexible. If not, your application may be very quickly pushed aside by the recruiter.  

 3. It's me again! 

There's one secret to making yourself stand out to the recruiter: don't be afraid to follow up after applying (not to the extent of love bombing, though).  

One of the best techniques is also to ask an open question, such as "what technologies are used in this job?" (only if this isn't specified in the job ad, of course!)  

"Even if it's a negative answer, the candidate will benefit from a personal response. When we receive 30 job applications a day, it enables us to sort through the most motivated candidates," says Emilie.  

Basically, feel free to show just how motivated you are and that you aren't there for nothing. 

4. "Enthusiastic", "creative"... but what else? 

Recruiters are increasingly looking for little gems and are therefore more drawn to candidates with good soft skills. So don't be afraid to highlight your qualities in your job application, even if you use words that are a little basic, like "dynamic" or "enthusiastic".  

A quick tip from Emilie – "feel free to give real-life examples: you can highlight the human impact that you may have had through your work experience, where some candidates will just settle for reeling off facts and figures." 

 5. Our formula for success

JobTeaser gets down to the nitty-gritty: you fill in your profile fully and in detail, unlike your CV which, if you followed point one, must be personalised. You should do some research on the company website: values, background, recruitment process etc. – read all of it! Maybe the company has recorded a "Join", a "The Big Talk" or a "Behind the Curtains" with us – everything can be found on our YouTube channel; that's our gift to you. You're welcome! 

We also recommend you have a look at LinkedIn, and all its social networks: put your detective skills to the test and find out some useful titbits about the company that maybe aren't as easy to find as simply scrolling through its website. That's how you find out information that shows the recruiters you've gone the extra mile in your application.  

And if you have someone in your close circle who has worked for the company you're applying to, contact them for some valuable information. Contacting people who're already in the position is a bit more awkward, but showing yourself to be interested and likeable can sometimes open doors.  

6. How do you not get ghosted? 

And are some things a big no-no? As a recruiter, Emilie gives her opinion on the matter. "Don't harass people. A candidate who applies five times to the same position and is rejected five times will end up being blacklisted. It's quite simple, but it happens a lot – pay attention and proofread. Putting the wrong company name on your job application will disqualify you!"  

In short, show how determined you are, don't be afraid to follow up, and strike a balance between hard and soft skills. 

Feeling frazzled? Hang in there: job applications of the future promise to be even more simpleA unique and secure electronic passport is expected to bring together diplomas, professional certificates, training and education, and CVs.  Documents that are able to promote us to companies will be stored on a unique and secure electronic passport device which is shared with HR departments. By giving recruiters access to our data and letting them (and their algorithms) come to us, job hunting may well be a more passive experience.