Job Search 101: The Online Job Application and Beyond

Sarah Dickerson is a recent graduate of Wellesley College living in Boston, MA. She has written for other online publications including Girl’s Guide to Paris, Café Abroad, and Artspace Marketplace. She currently works at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Are you a working woman who is looking for a new job? Or perhaps you’ve been home with children, and are hoping to reignite a career. Completing a job application is no easy task, particularly in today’s world, where so much happens online. Here are some of my best tips for completing a resume, writing a cover letter, completing an online application, and compiling a writing sample.

1. Resumes. The key to writing an effective resume is to make it easy to read. In terms of formatting, put your name and contact information at the top of the resume, and make the education and experience you want to highlight extremely easy to find on the page by playing around with different fonts and formats.

Only the most relevant information should be put on your resume. For example, if you were applying for a waitressing job, an employer wouldn’t be looking at your impressive computer skills so much as your customer service background. Ask someone to look over your resume and tell you to where their eyes are most drawn. Also, unless writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV), keep it to one page.

2. Cover Letters. Even if applying online, cover letters should be properly formatted by typing your address, the date, the employer’s address, a salutation, the body, a closing, a typed name, and any enclosures. Instead of addressing the letter to “Director of…” try searching online for the employer’s specific name. This is surprisingly easy thanks to online networking websites like LinkedIn, and it will make your letter more personal and effective. Introduce yourself and highlight the most relevant aspects of your experience in the letter. At the end of the letter, emphasize your enthusiasm for the company and the job and take an assertive stance on following up. Like your resume, the cover letter should be one page in length.

Tips for making your cover letter stand out: If you have typed recommendations on your LinkedIn profile or other sources, type “Enc. Recommendations” at the bottom of the cover letter, and then write the unsolicited quotes and the sources on the second page of your cover letter. Also, for more exposure, copy and paste the letter into the body of your e-mail submission, or at least input a truncated version.

3. Online Applications. When applying online, the vast majority of employers use an online application form. To save time and to save your sanity, type a comprehensive document ahead of time with the information you’ll be asked for. Compile a thorough list of all previous employers in this document including addresses and telephone numbers, a list of references with their current contact information, and your current contact information as well.

When it comes time to fill out the same online application for different employers’ databases, you can easily copy and paste the information you saved in this document. At the end of the application form, you’ll usually be asked to upload a cover letter and resume. Pay attention to the directions in the job description, and make sure each cover letter and resume is custom tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.

You should also investigate ASCII resume former. That is an electronic resume optimized for copying and pasting into e-mails, online job boards, submission forms, and customized online employer application forms.

4. Writing Samples. Technically everything you’re submitting is a writing sample, so proofread! If an employer requires any additional writing samples, make sure you’re submitting material that is appropriate to the audience. For example, if it’s a technical position, submit technical writing, and if it’s an academic position, submit a research paper. Have confidence in your work but also take the opportunity, again, to proofread!