Job Application Checklist: 7 Steps You Must Take Before Applying for a Job

So, you just saw a posting of your dream job and you cannot wait to send your application. We get it: You are eager and excited, especially if it is a job you have always wanted and it is being offered by a company you have always wanted to work for. But before hitting that “apply” button, just hear us out: You may want to create your job application checklist first.

A job application checklist? What is that for?

Applying for a job is a lot like joining a contest. You are ultimately competing among several candidates, each with their own set of qualifications. Therefore, your goal is to stand out among the crowd, make the most of your opportunity, and lessen the chances of making mistakes in the application process.

When your dream job is within your grasp, you want to make sure that you are fully prepared first before applying. This is where a job application checklist can come in handy. It can serve as your step-by-step guide in preparing you for any job application.

Not sure where to start? Here are the seven most important things you need to include in your job application checklist.

1. Do your proper research

Before diving into a new work environment, you must first gather all available information about it first. In what ways can the company benefit you and your career? Does it share your values? Can it bring out the best in you? These are some of the things to know before applying for a job.

Visit the company’s official website to get a better sense of its corporate culture and values. You can also learn a lot about a company from its press releases and the latest news.

Even better, you can also try to connect with some of their employees to get some first-hand accounts of what it is like working in the company. Explore your own network for people who may know someone from the company or even reach out to them through social media. And if you don't have any personal connections, you can always use JobStreet’s Company Reviews to see what former and current employees have to say about the company you are applying for.

(Note: You can also give your own ratings to your current company to help other jobseekers.)

2. Pay attention to details

Make sure to go through every single detail in the job posting and take note of all the things to know before applying for the job. What is the nature of the role? Is it an entry-level or a senior-level position? Where will you be assigned to work if hired?

Most importantly, you need to pay attention to all instructions stated in the job ad. Know the required method of applying: is it through email or the site? What are the documents that you need to submit? Are there keywords or key phrases you need to indicate in your application?

Some jobseekers tend to overlook these instructions in their eagerness to apply. This is one of the most critical mistakes you might make. Failure to follow simple instructions creates a bad first impression, so make sure you do not miss any detail.

3. Make a full assessment of your qualifications

While it is important to find out what a company can offer you, it is also essential to know everything you can offer the company you wish to apply to. List down all your qualifications, accomplishments, and other experience. Put everything into consideration: Even your experiences and achievements in school or in your spare time may turn out to be useful.

After reading the job qualifications in the job ad carefully, compare these to your list of qualifications. Highlight everything you feel might be relevant to the job you want to apply for. From there, you can pinpoint the strengths you need to emphasise in your job application. The more relevant strengths you can highlight, the better.

4. Do a thorough sweep of your social media accounts

With the world becoming increasingly online, most of us leave behind a digital imprint, especially on our social media accounts. Many companies are aware of this and do their initial background check by browsing through candidates’ social media accounts.

It is, therefore, wise to check your social media history for any posts that can potentially be perceived as problematic. Make sure to delete these posts if there are any, or at least change your privacy settings to limit your account’s visibility. Remember: you want to create as good a first impression as possible. A clean social media history can help you achieve that.

5. Prepare yourself mentally

Every single item on your job application checklist will only matter if you have confidence in yourself. One of the biggest obstacles jobseekers face is fear. You need to overcome the fear of failure or rejection in order to seize opportunities. Do not allow negativity to creep into your thought process, as this could lead to paralysis and missed chances. Remember: Everyone has to start from the bottom. The fact that there is a long way up just means that there is plenty of room to learn and grow.

Hirers can tell whether or not a candidate exudes confidence. This is why it is also important to prepare yourself for a possible job interview. You need to first have belief in yourself as you practice answering questions. If you believe that the job is rightfully yours, you can answer any interview question with conviction.

6. Customise your cover letter

One of the biggest mistakes jobseekers can make is sending a standard cover letter for all job applications. While this can help save you some time, a standard one-for-all cover letter does little to catch hirers’ attention. Cover letters are often your first chance to communicate with the company. You can create a better first impression if you put more thought and care into your cover letter.

An effective cover letter lets the hirer know and feel right away that it was written specifically for them. It should make references to the company’s needs, as stated in their job posting; it should also mention how you can fill those needs. You can also add reasons why you want to work for them, the things you admire from the company, and why you want to be a part of it.

7. Make sure your resume is updated

Before sending in your resume, be sure that it is updated. Include your latest accomplishments or any new skills you have learned, especially those most relevant to the job you are applying for. In fact, your resume should be structured and tailored specifically to the job and the company you are applying for.

This is particularly important in the career objectives portion of your resume. Make sure that it states your passion for the specific job you are seeking. For the rest of your resume, place greater emphasis on what you have identified as your greatest strengths for the specific job posting. Hirers often go through several resumes for a single job opening. It is therefore ideal to make your best qualifications shine in your resume, so that the hirer sees them immediately, and hopefully, will stick out in their mind.

Summary

You can create and update your resume on JobStreet anytime. Done going through all the items on your job application checklist? Then #LetsGetToWork! Go to our jobs portal to find the right job for you. You can also get extra resources from our career tools, such as the Interview Practice tool and Salary Calculator so that you can tackle any job application with more knowledge and confidence.