It is well-known that you learn from mistakes. And hand on heart: who has not screwed up a thing thoroughly and then laughed heartily about it afterward. Probably everyone. So let’s shed light on how to not do it in the submission of the application. And if you now believe that these tips are “clear anyway”: Yes, one should think so. Nevertheless, we have all experienced them in the Career Center.
Fail 1: Document without title
HR managers get a lot of applications, cryptic titles in the application documents are not that rare. And it’s annoying when you have to process 50 or more applications a day. You score points if you work your last name into the title of the documents in advance, e.g., “CV_Surname”. So everything is nicely clear and easy to archive.
Fail 2: Too large file size
Nowadays servers can withstand a lot. But a document with 8 MB is sometimes beyond the scope. E-mail applications in particular can easily reach their pain limit. It’s better to optimize files or, if there is no other way, put them in the cloud with a link. This is especially true for complex work samples or application videos.
Fail 3: Irrelevant documents
Are you wondering which references and certificates you should attach to your application? The answer: Put yourself in the shoes of the HR manager. Are they really interested in the certificate of an Eastbourne stay in the sixth grade or a two-hour PowerPoint training course? You create a WOW effect if you concentrate on the essentials and prioritize your certificates yourself. Better than sending a batch of documents from which HR professionals first have to filter out the most interesting information. One thing is clear: If explicit training and employment references are required in a job advertisement, then you should of course also send them along, regardless of how many there are.
Fail 4: Application letter in the e-mail
When applying by e-mail, it is neither well-received if there is nothing in the text, nor if the entire cover letter is copied into the text field. If you send your application by e-mail, then you have, to be precise, two cover letters: A short “Hello” in the e-mail, with which you refer to or introduce your application. And a classic cover letter, which is best sent as a pdf. attached. There is space here to show your motivation. Please do not squeeze the cover letter with the subject line or letterhead into the mail – this does not work due to the formatting alone.