“Success happens not by chance, but because you were given a chance and took advantage of it.” – Kevin Geary

Knowing where and how to apply for a job is just as important as whether or not you’re qualified. Campus career centres are the best. They’ve got connections with companies that recruit graduates and often have all the information you need. It’s advisable to speak to some of your professors and their colleagues who tend to be quite clued up. Of course, newspapers, websites, and recruitment agencies can be a great help too.

When applying to multiple jobs, it’s important to think of each one separately. That may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many people use the exact same materials for all submission. While some aspects (such as work experience) are always relevant, others need to be changed. Customisation is key! It helps to keep track of all the applications you’ve completed and changes you’ve made (make sure you follow up to get confirmation), together with offline copies of everything you submit.

The same goes for the cover letter. This one-page introduction must be specifically tailored to the job. Different companies want different things and highlighting only what is relevant to them is a must. You’ve got to match what you have to offer with what they want; explaining why you want to work in that particular area and how doing so will benefit you both. Research the company beforehand so you can mention something specific that makes you want to work there as opposed to somewhere else.

And now for my final thoughts. Firstly, remember to keep the tone formal (even when submitting online) without going overboard. You can’t go wrong with short sentences and simple words. Secondly, don’t come across as desperate. There’s a fine line between being keen and begging that you must not cross. Finally, make sure the letter is addressed to the appropriate person (with their name and designation correct), that things already in your CV are not mentioned again, and that it is sent from a professional email address. Using an alias like sexyboy86 is probably not smart. (Besides, I think it’s taken.)

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