The biggest mistake any candidate can make when applying for a job online is to apply for multiple jobs with one employer. While candidates may think applying more than once will increase their chances of securing a position, in fact it works against them, said Doron Paluch, a director of boutique specialist recruiter Burgess Paluch Legal Recruitment.
“Candidates applying for a range of roles with one firm or through the same recruiter come across as lacking a clear direction of where they want to go in their career,” he said. ‘It also suggests that they may not have a genuine interest in any of the roles they are applying for.”
According to Rob Green, director-Asia Pacific for legal and financial specialist CML Recruitment, candidates should read position descriptions carefully and be selective about which ones they apply for. The key here is to assess whether the advertisement is well written and informative, and if a recruiter or company name is listed.
Green says that false job listings are common online and candidates should avoid applying for roles where ads don’t specify a recruiter or company name. “My advice is to select the role you are most relevant for and apply for that one, or two [if they are from the same recruiter or employer],” he said. “It will also help if you limit the number of agencies you use, streamlining your job search.”
According to recruiters, these are the top online application errors made by jobseekers:
1. Submitting multiple applications. Be selective when applying for roles with one recruiter or law firm. Consider your experience, qualifications and career objectives before ‘spamming’ a firm with your CV
2. Forgetting to attach a CV. Make sure your CV is up-to-date, accurate and attached to your application
3. Sending the CV as a PDF. Keep your resume in Word format as it is easier for the recruiter to present your information in the form which the employer and/or company requests
4. Lengthy cover letters. Cover letters are not essays about your professional life, so keep it short and sweet
5. Applying through multiple agencies. The risk of ‘doubling- up’ jobs that you have already applied for through other agencies is high, and can make you appear a bit desperate
6. Not keeping track of applications. Always keep a record of the position advertisement and your application, so when a recruiter or potential employer calls you for an interview you can quickly refresh your memory on the role and your response
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