Leave no questions unanswered in your application -- Career Center Blog

September 24, 2012

Leave no questions unanswered in your application

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By Randy Woods
NWjobs

You've filled in all the online application boxes, wrote a customized cover letter, submitted work samples and sent in references. You even managed to toss in a few LinkedIn recommendations for good measure. It may seem like your job application can't get any clearer. But has it really answered all the questions a hiring manager wants to know before he or she decides to put you in the call-back pile?

A colleague of mine who recently conducted a round of interviews for an upcoming position told me she was surprised to see so many applications that left her with more questions than answers. "Your cover letter should always say why you want the position," she said, "especially if you're making a change from, say, selling tires to rotating tires."

It would seem that a reason for working for a particular employer would be stated right up front in a job application, but this basic message often gets lost in the lists of skill sets and past experiences. A cover letter and resume is supposed to be both a personal introduction and an advertisement for your services, so you should assume no prior knowledge on the part of the hiring manager. Note that I say cover letter and resume, since neither of these documents are meant to do everything on their own; they should work in tandem, giving the hiring manager a reasonably complete profile of your suitability for the job.

Here are some questions you always want to answer for hiring managers when you craft your cover letter/resume combo:

Why do you want to work at this company specifically? The honest truth may be that the company doesn't matter that much and that the job you're applying for is just one of many that you're considering that fits your skills. But obviously you never want to give that impression. A cover letter is a great place to get across the intangible aspects of your working style, such as your enthusiasm for the specific position being listed. Make sure that you include a line mentioning which aspects of the job listing caught your eye and why the employer should take the next step by interviewing you.

Do you know what the job entails? It's amazing how often job applicants send in cover letters that seem to have nothing to do with the position being sought. A mere description of what you did at previous jobs gives only a partial picture of your potential. Look very carefully at the job description and make sure you describe how you understand the various duties. Then back it up by pointing to the applicable transferable skills on your resume and a few anecdotes about how you have mastered them.

Have you explained any work history gaps? An unwritten rule about applications is to never highlight your weaknesses. Another rule of thumb, however, is to anticipate some questions you know you're going to face. One of the most common red flags hiring manager pick up on is work-history gaps in a resume, so you'll want to address that as soon as possible.

Fortunately, hiring managers are human and they realize how hard it has been to find work in the last few years. It used to be that a three-month gap in a resume was cause for concern, but today it is quite reasonable to expect job searches to last six to nine months these days. Anything longer than nine months to a year, however, should be explained in the cover letter. Just blaming the Great Recession will only get you so far; make sure you mention any other volunteer efforts, internships, education programs or other part-time gigs you may have taken during your period of unemployment to keep your skills sharp.

Are you willing to move here? This may seem self-evident if you're sending in an application from outside the area, but some job seekers — even those applying from several states away — don't bother to acknowledge the distance. If you're planning a move in the immediate future, be sure to state it right up front. If you're applying from somewhere beyond a two-hour drive but have no plans to move, you need to convince the hiring manager that you can maintain a long commute. Employers want to hire happy and well-rested workers, so they will be looking for people who are 1) content to live within a reasonable distance of the job location, and 2) able to schedule enough down time after hours so they don't burn themselves out in endless commuter traffic.

How can you help meet the company's needs? This may be the hardest message to get across, given the limited information in most job descriptions, but it's also the most important role of the cover letter/resume combo. Do as much research as you can on the company. What problems are the employers trying to solve with this position? What goals are they trying to accomplish? How will this position make their business run more smoothly?

The closer you come to answering all of the above questions in your cover letter and resume, the better your chances that a hiring manager will ask you the question: "When can you come in for an interview?"

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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George Lewis | October 1, 2012 9:37 AM | Reply

It's like acting in a play. Play the role of an eager willing do anything to please employee to get the job. Demonstrate that you are willing to compromise your own integrity to earn a living. Say whatever is necessary, convince yourself you mean it, , pee in a jar, provide any personal information demanded without complaint. Sure the employer will pay you as little as he has to and work you as hard as he can; and he'll contribute money to the campaigns of politicians who will pass anti-worker legislation but be grateful none the less, for you are one of the lucky ones--you have a job.