• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Career / How to Apply for a Job to Get to the Interview of Your Dreams

How to Apply for a Job to Get to the Interview of Your Dreams

June 25, 2018 //  by Gabriel Seiglie

Shares32FacebookTweet

We all know that landing a job doesn’t come easy. Job board websites plague the internet, and finding the right positions to apply for can make you feel like you’re wearing a blindfold trying to find a black cat in a dark room. Hardest of all is figuring out how to apply for a job. Thankfully, we’ve collected some job application tips and tricks that can help you land the job you want.

Learn more about how to apply for a job with these 15 job application tips.

1. Build a strong network

job applications
giphy.com

This one might seem obvious. We know your college career advisors have told you enough times to make you roll your eyes, but those advisors have a reason for that. Florida International University Marketing Professor Tim Birrittella stressed the importance of making connections. “Most people are hired because they know someone who knows someone,” he said. Networking with professors, your college’s career services and even classmates make a strong start, but don’t be afraid to walk into the place you want to work and make yourself known.

2. DON’T Look only on job boards

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

Websites like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter have great features, but you’ll be hard-pressed to stand out as an applicant. Use the connections features on these websites as much as—if not more than—the job search features. This strategy will enable you to learn about people, research companies and expand your network.

3. DO Read the job posting

job applications
giphy.com

Most jobs—even the ones you find through your connections—will have an application process. Pay close attention to exactly what the applicant wants and make sure you don’t miss anything. If they ask for a cover letter, provide it. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes: if you asked a potential applicant for something and they didn’t have it, how can you be sure of their reliability?

4. DON’T Forget to spell check

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

A lot of job applicants make this mistake, and at a high cost. Pay attention to common misspellings. Birrittella said, “A customer is someone who shops at the store; a costumer is someone who works in Vegas making costumes. Make sure you use the right one.” Other common mistakes? Definitely vs defiantly, led vs lead, and necessary vs neccesary. Spell check might not catch everything, so have someone you trust look over your application documents.

5. Customize your application

job applications
giphy.com

You know how long you take to pick a phone case? Considering dozens of options before you pick the one that’s sturdy enough to protect your phone, but doesn’t cramp your style? Employers do the same thing with applicant searches. You want to make sure your application fits the job posting. Read the job ad well and tailor your resume and cover letter to match. If applying for a job in graphic design, make your resume visually appealing. If applying for finance, list relevant jobs and point out the aspects of the positions closest to what the job ad says the company wants. If the job ad says the company is looking for someone with particular experience, elaborate on that in your cover letter.

6. DON’T Use bland wording

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

Just like writing, you want to make sure your resume and cover letter show strong writing skills. Change up the wording, be specific and avoid “to be” verbs. Writing ability displays strong communication skills, so, naturally, companies expect a flawless cover letter and resume. Even if the particular position primarily involves other tasks, you’ll likely write emails, memos or other written communication, so you want your resume and cover letter to be a testament to your ability.

7. Follow up with your application

job applications
giphy.com

You want to leave a good impression on the hiring company. A day or two after you submit, reach out to the company and let them know to keep an eye out for your application. This offers a great opportunity to mention how excited you are to work for them and to leave the best impression.

8. DON’T Be rude

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

You want to make yourself noticed, but you don’t want to come across as rude. Be pleasantly persistent. If you haven’t heard back about a week after your first attempt, consider going in to the company and showing your face. Leave a good impression on the receptionist, too.

9. Practice for the interview

job applications
giphy.com

So you got an interview! Great job! Now comes the hours of preparation. Think ahead to the possible questions you’ll have to answer. Ask a friend to drill you and practice answering them out loud. Practice so many times your cat starts asking you questions. Be conversational, polite and thorough. Also remember that most interviewers will give you an opportunity to ask them questions. FIU Writing Center Director Glen Hutchinson said, “I usually try to ask a question to learn more about the strengths of where I’m applying.” Ask the interviewer what they like about working for the company. This shows that you’ve considered the position seriously and want to learn as much as possible.

10. DON’T Go in unprepared

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

Aside from practicing questions, start researching the company. Go beyond the company website; do a Google search and read about them. How was the company founded? Do they have a plan for growth? If you know these things, you can make yourself stand out by mentioning them and explaining how you can help them move on in the path they have planned. You don’t want your knowledge of the company to be limited to their name and address.

11. Be punctual

job applications
giphy.com

Make sure you show up early. Too many people overlook this, but punctuality—or an absence of punctuality—says a lot about your work ethic. FIU Writing Center Coordinator Charles Donate said, “It’s rather important to arrive a few minutes earlier than the scheduled interview time.” Again, when searching for the perfect person to fill a position, you would want to check on their overall responsibility and respect for the company, its leaders and other employees. To pass the first test of punctuality, you may want to scope out the area before you show up, just so you can see where to park and how busy traffic is.

12. Show up

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

Some people will simply skip the interview. If you do have to cancel, call ahead of time and let them know. Ask if you can reschedule and they’ll probably be willing to do so as long as you show off your manners and communication skills.

13. Get contact information

how to apply for a job
giphy.com

At the interview’s beginning or end, make sure you have the interviewer’s name. If you spoke to a panel, make sure you have names of each person present. Take business cards if available. If not, ask them to spell their names. This shows that you care about the people themselves, not just about landing the job.

14. DON’T Forget to send a thank-you note

job applications
giphy.com

You’ll want to send a note to the interviewer, thanking them for their time. Tie in points that were brought up during the interview and remind them of some of your qualifications. Be brief. Birrittella suggests sending two copies of the note: one via email and one hard copy mailed in. The email copy will arrive instantaneously and shows off your punctuality and proactivity. The hard copy may end up in a personnel file that can be read by executives with the power to hire—or promote—you because of your thoughtfulness.

15. Follow through

job applications
giphy.com

You can do everything right and land your dream job. If you do, congrats! But if you don’t keep up with all the exceptional work you’ve done, it will amount to nothing. Show up on time, be eager and excited to work and put in as much effort as you can. Remember, this is your dream job. Be happy about it.

Shares32FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Career How to Get a Job Internships

About Gabriel Seiglie

Gabriel is working towards his MA in Linguistics at Florida International University. He has a passion for reading, technology, and AI (which won't take over the world, btw).

You May Also Like

5 Tips for Getting Your Social Media Ready for the Professional World

resume styles

College Magazine’s Guide to Resume Styles for Landing the Job

Community College Professor walks through the halls

Higher Education: Why Teaching Community College Makes the Ideal Career

College Magazine’s Guide to the Engineering Major

Writer

How to Use Your Creative Writing Degree: 10 Tips and Tricks

corporate

7 Insider Tips on How to Climb the Corporate Ladder

career development

How Your College Career Center Can Land You a Job During COVID-19

how to become a software engineer

College Magazine’s Guide to Becoming a Software Engineer

CM Guide Health Science

College Magazine’s Guide to the Health Science Major

Overview of three people at a desk working

Work in the Way? 10 Guilt-Free Reasons To Leave Your Job

10 Office Ethics Commandments That Apply to Daily Life

What Is a Good Credit Score and How Do I Get One of Those?

10 Invaluable Skills You Get from Learning and Working Virtually

future teacher

CM’s Ultimate Guide to the English Education Major

Finance Managers

Become the Next Warren Buffett: CM’s Guide to Portfolio Management

cover letter

The Cover Letter: Your Secret Weapon into the Professional World

peace corps

Top 10 Well-Kept Secrets to Succeeding in the Peace Corps

online portfolio

10 Steps to Building an Impressive Online Portfolio in 2020

woman on the phone

Bridge the Gap: CM’s Guide to the Interpreting Profession

internships

How To Make Your Internship Work For You

professionals working together

CM’s Guide to the Public Relations Major

doctors medical school good majors for medical school

10 Good Majors For Med School that Aren’t Biology

woman working a remote job

Remote Job Offers: 10 Tips to Help You Make Up Your Mind

letter

How to Write a Thank You Note to Land That Dream Job

Previous Post: «Vellabox Top 10 Monthly Subscriptions For College Students
Next Post: Weight Watchers Internship Weight Watchers internship»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

climate change protest
335

Top 10 Colleges Where You Can Make A Difference in the Climate Crisis

226

The 10 Best Organizations You Should Donate To in 2021

coffee w heart
11

A Barista’s Guide to Making Delicious Coffee Drinks at Home

6

5 Reasons Why You Should Become a Morning Person in 2021

2

Keeping Up with the Coronavirus: How is it Spread?

Featured Chapter: UCLA

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.