Nowadays, digitals CVs have now become the standards application format for both recruiters and candidates. But be careful because paper and online application are really not drafted the same way.
In this article we share some advice to be taken into account when you send your CV by email.  Take a minute to read all the tips below; it could be a great advantage in the recruiter’s opinion. With the emergence of the email application, recruiters are drowning under e-CVs. Indeed with the easiness, the speed and the cost free aspect of sending an email, job seekers tend to send too many times their applications for vacancies that do not match their profile.
So, do not forget that HR recruiters read hundreds of applications per day and therefore a minor negative or positive detail in YOUR email can change your life.

In both types of application (letter post or online) you need to have your curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter.

• How to give a structure to your email? Never change the object of the email. If it is not automatically written, type the title of the ad and the reference code if given. Put your cover letter in the body text of your email and your CV in attachment.
• When candidates send an application by email, they often neglect the writing. So How to write an email application?  Be specific and to the point. Do not forget that you send this email to your next possible employer, so draft your email and cover letter with concentration and do not use “internet language” and/or any abbreviations. Use rather the same language as in a traditional formal post letter.
• How to render your email professional? Structure it, read it several times or submit it to your relatives for reading before sending it and use a footer with all the information needed to contact you.

  Here under are some small mistakes that you have to bear in mind (in order to avoid them) when applying for any job opportunities online.

• Use your personal email address. Do not use any professional ones because it can be negatively perceived by recruiters. On top of this, there is a risk that a colleague or even your boss sees it.
• Do not use any “funny “ email address. Do not tempt recruiters to throw your email directly to the bin.

So, a good thing would be perhaps to create a new specific email address dedicated exclusively to your job search. There are plenty of sites where you can create your free email account.

If you have any tips or any other advice for “online application”, please feel free to share them by posting a comment here under.

Generally speaking, the Internet brought access to a galaxy of information to many people. The most successful players online managed to offer an easy and quick access to the relevant information users are looking for. Obviously, this is the case of Google and its search engine, but it is also the case for Facebook or LinkedIn that managed to make any person you are looking for accessible to engage and connect. On the Web, the information overload is a new issue to address.

This is exactly the same when it comes to find a job. Recruiters’ task is not to find people anymore, or at least much less. Their task is to filter the zillion profiles they have access to and narrow it down to a shortlist worse continuing with. Now you know that, how do you think you can attract attention on your profile?

The good news is that it is not that difficult. However, branding yourself is time consuming and requests several skills to first build your profile, keep the momentum going and make it both stand out and accessible to your target employers. I would split the task in 3 main steps:

1. Create a rich curriculum vitae: the one sheet CV describing your background is not enough anymore, the Internet allow you to add video, produce all kinds of content and get endorsement from your network.
2. Make sure recruiters first find you before all other candidates: it request some “search engine optimisation” (SEO) skills and participation in relevant communities and publications
3. Engage on networking platforms and establish a professional network that will think about you whenever there is an opportunity for you

These 3 steps have to be detailed further and I am conscious I will need to explain. This is the purpose of this blog. In the meantime, ask yourself if your online profile rocks, if it is accessible to the recruiters that matter to you and if you have been active enough within your professional network.

Have a look at the presentation from the excellent resource CareerRealism below which delivers quite good insights on the topic even if it is not exhaustive: