Sometimes students attending my university recruitment workshops ask me: “What makes a good job application? How can I stand out in a crowd? How can I present myself as the best candidate for the job?”

I have been recruiting for a few years now and have screened quite a few CV´s. What I have discovered is that there are many different ways to approach these questions and there are many recipes that work.

Based on my experience, I recommend the top 3 approaches when applying for a new position:

1. Tailor your CV and cover letter to the job requirements.The cover letter is the first thing that an employer will see when reviewing your application. If you highlight your relevant experiences with a few catchy, concise sentences you will most likely attract the hiring manager’s attention. You can also use key terms from the company’s website, brochures and presentations to show that you understand the company’s market and that you speak the same language.Highlight your relevant experience at the top of your CV. Most hiring managers will only take a couple of minutes to scan your information, so make the best use of that time by bullet pointing your pertinent experience.
2. Stand out from the crowd by being specific about your accomplishments. A good way to do that is to not only list your achievements, but to include the results. For example, did you launch a project ahead of schedule, or did you increase the membership of your student association? You can also highlight your personal achievements. Have you won a scholarship or do you volunteer? Be confident and proud of what you have achieved.
3. Last but not least, you want to appear professional. Double check your spelling and your grammar. You might want to have a friend or family member review your CV and cover letter for errors. Make sure the spelling of the contact person’s name, the company name and the job title are correct. This is important, because your cover letter and CV are the first impression you are going to make, so remember, as cliché as it may sound: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

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