My primary tool for finding vacancies right now is Total Jobs, mostly because they send me an email every day with new vacancies and it's very convenient and works around my very busy schedule. But so far I'm not having very much luck... I do wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
Currently I'm writing up a normal covering letter in word, Dear whoeveritis, a paragraph about the job i'm applying for with reference number, a couple of paragraphs about me, why im applying, how to contact me, etc etc, end with yours sincerely/faithfully etc and then pasting it into that rather small text box when applying.
However I'm now wondering, if the text box is so small, is this not what they want from this site? is there a better way to use it?
I've noticed as well that there's a one click option for applying for jobs, at first I thought this was lazy and it would obviously ommit any job specific covering letter... maybe that is what they expect from sites like that, and it's me that's not doing it properly!
Any advice would be great, as I've not had a single reply from any job application through the site and now I'm convinced I'm doing something wrong and want to correct it.
sorry to hear that you are not having much luck at the moment.
I fear however that the problem is more fundamental and not really down to yourself at all.
thousands of positions are advertised, not exclusively, on sites such as Total jobs.
Everyday all suitable new jobs are mailed out. Many of those who receive them apply for all jobs on the list.
Now think of this from the side of the employer or agent who is being deluged with more applications than they can handle.
The applications go straight to hold and the only ones that stand any chance of getting through are those who follow up the application with a telephone call an hour later to ensure that the agent has receieved the application.
Longer than an hour, either the jobs gone or they have too many CV's.
Often by the time that you receieve the email message that the job is available it's already too late to apply for it and you really need to have the website on constant refresh live on a tab on your web browser (I would also have the Reed website up as well).
Try to get noticed by an agent so that you stand out from the crowd. Remember the agents name and speak to them as though you know them.
If you don't get on with an agent find another agency as you will never get a job through that one.
Hope that helps for starters.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Hi Adam. In today's job Market your covering letter and CV have to stand out. See a covering letter and CV as sales documents. Too many people see these documents as docs which provide factual info about themselves. But that won't get you noticed. Why should an employer employ you? How can you prove you have the skills and abilities they are looking? What's your brand? Are you communicating this clearly? Also consider social media for job searching. Many jobs go before they get to these websites. Finally AAT are using Aimee Batemen to provide advice like this. She's fantastic! She has her own website but also YouTube vids for AAT. Finding them is another matter! I've googled it and I can only find them here. Even business people can learn from these. Hope that helps.
