How Not To Send Your Job Application

Many readers send job applications to Jobs Media. The blog editor is sorry to inform them that we do not harbour any more information about openings than what we post. If we know it, we post it.

Each unsolicited CV we receive is a wasted effort on the sender’s part. If you wish to apply to a job, send it to the contact email mentioned in each job post.

Hence we request readers to not send us applications. We only post job information. We do not actually provide jobs. We do not forward CVs on your behalf.

Jobs Media would also like to share a few tips, based on our observations of the applications received.

(1) Please do not apply to jobs without a cover letter. It reduces your chances of landing that job.

(2) If you’re applying to an employer who does not know you, a well-written cover letter lets the employer know you and your career achievements. If you skip this step, you miss the chance of introducing yourself.

(3) Run a spell-check and grammar check on your application and CV. Mistakes on these documents will reflect poorly upon you, especially when you’re applying for a job in the media where spelling and grammar are sacrosanct.

(4) If you’re unsure about a spelling or a grammar usage, consult your seniors, professors, parents or someone who has a stronger understanding of language.

(5) Try to follow up your email application with a phone call to the employer, or if possible, a visit to his office. A face-to-face interaction would help your application stand out among the hundreds or thousands of other applications that might have been sent for that job opening.

(6) It’s good to be enthusiastic but it’s also important to not push your luck. Some months back, a company had posted on Jobs Media about an opening for a sub editor in their web team. The sensible applicants applied for the job only if it matched their career interests. However, some over-enthusiastic applicants shot off their CVs asking for openings for news readers, camerapersons, producers and what not. On one hand, these applicants were searching for jobs which did not exist. On the other hand, the company spent their valuable time deleting mails from such applicants. It was a waste of time for both parties.

(7) If you do not receive a reply from your prospective employer, you may write to them asking about the status of your application. If you still do not receive a reply, it is advisable to not try too hard. If this employer wants to hire you, he will get back to you.

(8) Using SMS and chat slang in your cover letter may also work against you. Applying to a job is considered a formal affair and it is best to use normal, simple, correct and well-punctuated English – which means, pls do nt use wrds such as dese, 4 dey cn b a pain 2 da readr, n ur applctn wd b rejctd.

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