Sending in job applications has never been easier. Gone are the days when one had to wait for days for the envelope to reach the destination by post. Unforeseen delays could well make you miss the application deadline. Now, it’s a matter of a few clicks. It’s the era of online applications and soft-copies. When to send, whom to send is all under the applicant’s control. But that doesn’t mean it’s not prone to errors. Online applications, much like offline ones, can get ignored.
You send out an online job application. You wait eagerly for a call or an email, but there’s no response. Does this situation sound familiar? Have you been in one, or do you know someone who has told you a similar story?
There are a couple of scenarios you can find yourself in when it comes to online applications. Perhaps you weren’t an exact match and you took a chance. Perhaps they found a better application and the call went there. In both cases, it wasn’t really your fault. It was just your luck.
In a third scenario, it was perhaps a silly mistake you made in the application process.
What are some mistakes you should never make while sending out an online application? Read on to find out.
- Bad Online Habits:
One obvious but major reason why an online application may have been ignored is poor email etiquettes.
The name of the email address from which the application has been sent, to whom has the email been sent, what has been written in the subject line, the greeting, and the way the email itself has been written plays a role here.
The email address should sound professional. It is a bad idea to send out an application from an address like “cooldude123@xyz.com”. Believe it or not, there are people who still use their email id’s created during their teens.
The subject line should clearly indicate the purpose of your email. Is there something specific they have asked to write in the subject line? Check the ad for such specifications.
Who is supposed to be the recipient? Is there a particular person who is going to be addressed here? Do you know the exact spelling and the pronoun? If not, it is a good idea to keep the greeting neutral or general.
- Using SMS Jargon:
One major blunder while drafting online applications is using online web jargon, or the SMS jargon. Avoid using abbreviations, or shortened spellings. For example, “you” should not be written as “u”, “time” should not be written as “tym”. Whether you are using a phone to send in the email or a computer, make sure ‘u do nt spl lyk dis’.
- Not Following the Steps:
Are you sending the application to the exact email mentioned? Are you supposed to attach any other document except the resume, like a cover letter, some kind of a form, or a proof?
Make sure you follow the exact procedure as described in the ad/job posting.
Not following procedures and instructions might suggest you aren’t taking the application process seriously, or that you aren’t really being careful about the smaller details. Moreover, your application might not even get noticed if you end up sending it to the wrong email address.
- Sending Multiple Applications for Different Positions at the Same Company:
Who wouldn’t want to utilise the convenience of email and effortlessly send multiple applications? But remember, sending in your online application to multiple people in the company can land you in not-so-good books of the company management.
It is not wrong to apply for more than one position if you want to take chances. But sending in applications for too many positions at the same company, in one go can make you come across as indecisive and as someone who isn’t taking any field seriously.
Unless it is specified that multiple applications from the same applicant for multiple positions are welcomed, and unless they are relevant to the field, it is a bad idea to send multiple online applications for multiple positions at the same company.
- Not Customising the CV and Cover letter:
Even in an offline application, it is a bad idea to send a generic, copy-pasted resume and cover letter.
But when it comes to online applications and email communication, the fact that one has sent a generic application can become clear if one isn’t careful. Especially if one makes a blunder like CC-ing the application to multiple companies; a full list of every company one has applied to, on full display!
There are the usual basics to be followed here as well: nicely typed out resumes, with readable fonts, no grammatical errors and concise details. Online applications, while a very easy way out, can also get daunting. Email writing isn’t something many people are comfortable with. Amidst the younger generation that specialises in texting, and the older generation habituated to offline applications, the email-centric online application for a job is a tricky process, and one that is prone to silly mistakes.