After a little more than five years working with a software company, my position was eliminated, and I found myself in an unexpected state of “retirement.” And “retirement” for me means spending my days searching for what’s next.
Virtually all companies now have you complete an online job application, and some of these applications can take up to an hour to complete. Additionally, some of these applications have screening questions that you must answer before you can submit your application.
Here are some tips to help you complete online job applications:
- Have one folder on your computer that has just these files in it. This will make it easier for you to find the most current versions. (Move older versions to a subfolder.)
- Resume (Word and PDF)
- References (Word and PDF)
- Transcript (PDF only)
- Q and A (Word only)
- In your Q and A file, keep a running log of the screening questions that you are asked and your responses to these questions. If a new application asks new questions, add them to the file.
- By writing your answers to screening questions in a Word document, rather than directly in the online application, you’ll be able to more easily see any errors that have slipped in.
- You can often repurpose previous responses with only minor edits.
- Read your responses aloud to ensure that the words flow smoothly.
- Carefully copy your responses from Word and paste into the application. Be sure you’re answering the correct question with your response.
- And if the application times out or errors out before you click Submit, you will have all of your responses saved in Word, so you won’t need to rewrite from scratch! (This tip alone has helped me keep from pulling out my virtual hair.)
- Typical screening questions are often similar to the following:
- Why do you want to work here? (Be sure to take a look at the company’s vision and mission statements, and then echo some of the company’s wording in your response.)
- Explain your experience and skills in X. (X will be something that comes from the job description. Use this space to address how your background matches with what the company’s requirements are. You may be asked this question multiple times to address several aspects of the job.)
What other tips would you add?
