Stick to the truth
Marianne Bom & Rie Jerichow, Publicér
Lise Emilie Fritzbøger, Employer Branding Specialist at Siemens Denmark (7,800 employees).
What do I have to do to make sure my résumé and my application end up at the top of the pile?
We can immediately tell, whether we have received a standard application or if the applicant has actually worked hard to tailor their application to fit both the job and employer in question. We can also tell quite quickly if the person is passionate about the job he or she is applying for.
Therefore, you should make sure to prepare for the interview by reading about the company, decide why exactly you should get the job, and explain how you and the company can make a difference by collaborating. Write a motivated application, in which you make use of active verbs; this will make you seem like an action-oriented and competent person. The most important aspect of writing an application is that you introduce yourself, your professional skills, and your experience in a short and precise manner.
It’s your job to catch the attention of the employer – by seeming like an interesting person – in order to be invited for an interview. A good way to stand out from the crowd (in a positive way) is to quickly give the employer a sense of your skills in relation to the specific job. Also, make sure that it’s easy for the reader to scan your application, for instance by highlighting selected key works. Thus, your writing should be short and precise, and you should relate your skills to the work assignments and exemplify by using results you have gained through former jobs. Avoid using clichés and filler words.
Du you read all the applications you receive?
Yes, we do read all applications. But keep in mind that your application ends up in a pile of many – maybe hundreds of applications. First, we do a fast, perfunctory sorting of all the applications. It takes one minute, tops, to decide whether your application ends up in the pile of potentially interesting applicants, or if it is instantly rejected. Therefore, it’s really important that you sell yourself, and that you consider carefully what might make the reader want to finish reading your application. Avoid writing a traditional introduction and think about elements that might catch the reader’s attention. Show who you are – preferably in a creative way, but try not to make it too alternative.
Should I call the company, before I mail the application?
If there’s something about the job or the demands that you don’t understand, you are always more than welcome to contact the company. However, your questions must be relevant, in order for you to actually gain something from the conversation.
Do you check out my online profile, before you decide if you want me to do an interview?
Sometimes we check out an applicant’s profile on, for instance, the different social media. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to think carefully about your online behavior.
