The Anatomy of a Job Application

A job application process can be as simple as finding the right position in online job listings and submitting a standard resume, but it typically involves a lot more time and effort. However, a job application is not brain surgery either. Or is it?  

Your Prospective Employer

If we indeed decide to use the metaphor of brain surgery in the job application process, then your prospective employer and his or her Human Resource department are the surgical team. They will be the hands-on team looking for problems such as signs of abnormalities and defects, but mainly for proof of a well-functioning nervous system. They'll be evaluating you as a prospective employee and as part of their existing team.  

The Cover Letter

Many job applicants overlook the importance of submitting a cover letter with their application, but a cover letter is as important as blood tests before a surgery. Surgeons are looking at blood tests before proceeding into the actual act of surgery to ensure that no patient is ushered into the O.R., if his or her blood test results show little promise of surgical success. Similarly, your potential future employer will look at your cover letter to get an overview of your qualifications or to find any immediate issues before referring to your resume for more detail. Writing a cover letter is a fairly simple, but very crucial, task. Every cover letter should have three main informational sections: basic bio (including name, address, contact information), statement of intention (where did I find out about the job offer, why am I interested, what do I expect to achieve), and the core argument (how can I be beneficial for the company, why am I a good match for the position offered). Check out our article on writing a cover letter that rocks for more information on how to get a potential employer's attention with your cover letter.  

The Application Form

If cover letters could be likened to pre-surgical blood tests, then the actual application form is a set of initial X-rays. As in the case of X-rays, the application form provides the surgical team with a basic outline of the person, allowing them to estimate its overall condition and to spot the most obvious surface anomalies and defects. The format of job application forms vary from employer to employer, but typically you can expect a standard set of information fields and questions. Apart from basic personal information, such as name, date of birth, address, and contact information, a standard application form will inquire about your eligibility to be employed in the state/country, your education and academic achievements, and your employment history. You may also prompted to provide a list of professional references, and some application forms also ask about criminal background.  

The Resume

When blood tests and X-rays clear the patient for follow-up procedures, a more detailed observation is in order. In this sense, an applicant’s resume works as a CAT scan, providing the surgical team with a closer look at the living, working brain, and its functioning in real time. Just like CAT scans, writing a resume is a time-consuming and thorough process. For the most part, the resume will cover the same basic information provided in the general application and the cover letter. However, in resumes this information is expected to be presented in a more detailed, smoothly-flowing, logical, coherent and persuasive manner. Applicants are judged also on their ability to communicate their ideas and arguments in such manner.  

Filing and Follow-up

The actual filing of a complete job application can be done in person, by traditional mail, or in electronic form online. Each way has its own pros and cons; applying in person will take some time and effort, but you can score a few points with a good first impression and you will also be able to observe the workplace and ask questions directly. It may not be the best idea to drop off your application in person on your way from the gym. Although there are some chances that you end up placing your application on a pile at the front desk, after brief pleasantries exchanged with the receptionist, you may get to meet the potential boss as well. Dress appropriately, and just in case, prepare ahead for a conversation with a manager or the employer. Be outgoing and polite. If you get the opportunity, ask a lot of questions about the business. Your curiosity will show a high level of interest. Don't be afraid to mention some reasons why you are pursuing an employment in the company, and you may even hint on why you are a good match for the job offered. Traditional mail takes the longest, and offers the lowest rate of timely feedback. Online applications are fast and efficient, but many electronic resumes are processed by pre-sorting software, requiring the applicant to master the know-how of molding resumes to game the automatic sorting system. Unless the job listing or offer specifically mentions to avoid follow-up communication, and you do not hear back after two weeks, it is generally accepted that you may inquire about the results of your application. Ask on any updates in the application review and whether or not there is anything else you can do to aid in the decision making process. You may consider and inquire about the option of visiting the workplace in person.