Thank you so much to all those people who have applied for roles that we are seeking to fill. There are literally hundreds of you. You all have amazing skills, experiences and knowledge that you bring with you.

But….. 

This post is aimed at all of you as I truly would like to be able to help each and every one of you.

Unfortunately, that’s not always possible but I want to give you some insights to ensure that yours is one of the applications that stands out.

I know it is incredibly frustrating, you have taken the time to apply for a job, invested a lot of time in your covering letter and your CV, yet you still don’t hear anything back. Why?

Taking on board the following information will ensure your application nails it in the future.

Firstly, does your experience truly match the role requirements? Be honest with yourself.

If, for example, the ad says, you must have at least 5 years previous experience in a design studio that specialises in branding and packaging, then this is really what the role requires for you to hit the ground running. 

5 years as an Account Manager for a software company is not going to land you an interview for this particular role. Your experience is amazing and yes, you have been an account manager before, but then so have I… But I couldn’t walk into a role managing software clients.

Both your covering letter and your CV, must clearly show how you align with this role from the first second of reading. I will be looking for specific attributes, knowledge and prior experience that are a specific match for the role requirements. The job ads identify specific experience and knowledge that your CV must clearly demonstrate and match

Please check and tick off for yourself the key criteria in the ad and how you match them. If you don’t match them, don’t apply for the role.

Secondly, what country do you reside in? Are you able to work in the country that the role has been advertised for? I know this might sound funny to some of you that I need to ask this question, but unless a role specifically says that it is a remote role, you must be physically in the city that the role is to be filled in. The ad will also be clear about whether sponsorship is available or not. Please also understand, that your experience must be solid gold and completely aligned for an employer to invest in the time and cost involved in sponsorship. 

I hope this information is helpful for you to tailor your applications so that you are a standout. These are the easy tips that will make sure that you don’t waste your time applying for roles that you won’t get a response on. Make it specific, and appropriate!

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note. If you would like me to review your folio or cv and help you target your experience for the design industry I am here to help.