Academic Enrichment Services Careers & Employment

Job applications

Unless you’re using informal job search methods, your job application is likely to be the first correspondence you will have with an employer who will use it to decide whether to shortlist you for an interview. Your application needs to stand out, as employers often have to deal with a large volume of applications for a single position.

Treat your application as a marketing document by highlighting your skills and to demonstrate how you meet the requirements for each position and organisation you apply for. Your application is the first evidence an employer will see of your written communication, research, analytical and organisational skills.

Initially, obtaining a position description and researching the employer online will make the task easier. Refer to the job advertisement, selection criteria and other company information which indicate what the employer expects from a person in the position. Expressing your qualities and strengths as they relate to the position will form the basis of your application.

Employers can easily differentiate between a targeted application and one that does not incorporate the priorities, values and skills required by them. Submitting a generic application suggests a lack of interest, research and attention to detail. Without showing an understanding of how you match the requirements of the position and identifying why you’ve applied, you’re unlikely to make it to interview.

This section provides advice on job applications including:

Careers & Employment can assist you to write a professional and effective resumé

The Careers Resource Centre (CRC) has many examples of resumés including several in our Wise Up For Work publication (access via Careers Online).

Also, access our online resumé guide Resumé Express via Careers Online.

The KickStart Skills 4 Work seminar series held at lunchtimes during semester features resumé writing topics.

Resumé Self-Check (150KB | PDF) is a useful summary of key points to ensure your resumé is up to scratch.

Action Verbs for your Resumé and Application Letters (118KB | PDF) is a very useful list of words to help you with preparing all application documents.

Tips and Resources for Academic Position Applications (116KB | PDF) provides ideas on how to highlight your research and teaching experience as well as any published work.

Paul Lockman

Paul Lockman

Resumé resources and tips

Paul Lockman, Employment & Systems Officer, talks about some of the key resources available to assist students when creating a resumé and some of the traps to avoid.

Click the 'play' button to listen via Quicktime. Duration 8 min 15 sec.

Alternatively download the interview (MP3, 7.7 MB)

Interview conducted by Kate Abraham, Careers Consultant.

Audio transcript (pdf | 19 KB)

 

top of pagetop of page
top of page