Successful job applications in Australia

You can increase your chances of a successful job application with these general tips (of course, there are exceptions—these are just general tips):

Include a cover letter:

-    In Australia, you generally apply for a job with a cover letter and a resume. If you just

     send a resume with no cover letter, you might not hear back from a potential

     employer (depending on the job).

-    A cover letter very quickly summarises who you are and what would make you a good

     candidate for the job. Employees often decide, from your cover letter, if they even

     want to take the time to read your resume.

-    Think about it this way—the cover letter tells the employee very quickly some basic

     things, including why you are a good fit for the job. It also shows them whether or not

     you took the time to do some basic research into their company. It also shows other

     things, like your written communication and presentation skills, and attention to

     detail, which could be something very important for the employer to consider.

Do not include photos or personal information about your age, race, marital status, etc.:

-    Employers, by law, cannot discriminate against you because of your marital status,

     appearance, race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or anything else that might be

     irrelevant to how you do the job. They must assess you on your potential to do the

     job. So, employers generally prefer that you do not include this sort of personal

     information.

You might need to answer selection criteria:

-    If so, make sure you answer these succinctly and with clear examples. If you’re not

     sure about how to answer selection criteria, seek help. There are specific things that

     you should do to do this well. This is very important. I can help you write your

     responses to selection criteria if you need.

Tailor each application:

-    Make sure your cover letter and resume don't look like generic ones that you send 

     to any employer. This is very generally very obvious to a potential employer and they

     do not like it. So, 10 minutes tailoring your cover letter or resume can make a huge

     difference to your chances of being called for an interview, because it shows the

     employer that you have actually thought of why you want to apply for that particular

     job at their organisation (you've made their job easier!).

Detailed tips

Cover letter:

-    This should be a clear, concise, relevant introduction to you, your skills, and why you

      would be good for the job that you are applying for.

-    Tailor it to the job:

     ✗   I am looking for a job at your company.

     ✓  I am looking for a job at Yarra Trams.

-    Check for grammar and spelling errors. Ask a friend/teacher/colleague to check your

     language to give you more confidence. I can also check your applications for you,

     to ensure that your writing is the most effective.

Resume:

Formatting:    

-    Simple, neat, well-formatted.

-    Consistent formatting—check, for example, that all bulleted lists are consistent

     (do they have a full-stop at the end or not—just be consistent).

-    Consistent line spacing.

-    Consistent text size (e.g. slightly bigger font size for headings, all main text the same

     size).

-    Text lined up well (not some dates on the left indented a little, then indented more,

      then to the right, without a pattern and looking messy).

-    Fancy graphics are not generally needed (unless perhaps the job calls for such skills)

     —simple, clear and relevant content is more important than amazing graphics.
 

Writing style:

-    Clear and concise—no vagueness or ambiguity.

-    Flowery language is not always impressive. Sometimes, less is more.

-    Be specific.

-    Proofread for any errors—especially important if you are going to say you have

     excellent written communication skills or attention to detail!

Content:

-    Relevant to the job or organisation that you are applying for.

-    Consider the audience and what would be most interesting for them. You do

     not have to include everything that you’ve ever done.

-    The most common headings are: Personal details; Education; Work experience;

     and References (or “Referees”), but this depends on the job. You judge, depending

     on the job, if your education should come earlier or later in the resume, for example,

     or whether you need it at all—there is no “rule”—just think about what the 

     employer would be looking for.

Final tips:

-    A professional, neutral email address—This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., not

     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.! Also, don’t put an email that is difficult to type (for example,

     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

-    Phone number in Australian format—0400 123 456, not 040 01234 56; 9800 6655,

     not 980 066 55.

-    Be specific. An employer wants to know why you want to work for them.

-    Take a few minutes to look at an employer’s website for some key words or

     phrases that you could use in your application. Most have an employment or

     careers section on their website where you can find some information about what

     type of people they like to employ. Use this in your cover letter—it shows that you

     actually took the time to do your research and will make your application stand out

     above others. For example, on the careers section of the  Yarra Trams website, it says:

     “We're looking for friendly, inclusive people who share our customer and

      safety-focused approach.”

      Put this in your cover letter. For example, “I have the required skills and

      experience for the tram driver position. I am also a friendly, inclusive person

      who is customer and safety-focused.”

Good luck with your applications. Remember, if you need help, I'm here. Here's what one of my clients had to say about my help with their job application:

Happy job hunting!

Louise