How well do you know the job application process?
When you’re in the middle of it, the job application process can seem a little overwhelming and there are quite a few steps between you seeing a job you love and being offered the position. Before you even apply, you may have a few questions.What should I include in my application? How long should my CV be? Will I need a covering letter? How many interviews should I expect to participate in—and will testing be involved? How will the employer assess my application? And finally, how do I know if I am likely to receive a job offer?Knowing how the process works can help to ease the nerves. So, we’ve put together a quick guide that tells you everything you need to know about the job application process.Get your CV readyAll employers ask for a CV as part of your job application, so it’s essential that it’s well-organised and polished.At Sanctuary, we carefully review every CV that is sent to us, but not all recruiters or employers have the time. According to research, recruiters spend up to 7 seconds looking at a CV, which means they’re quickly scanning to see if you’re a good fit for a role.In order to pass the ‘7-second test’, you need to make sure that your CV is concise and clearly laid out so that an employer can pick out your key skills and experience quickly. Remember, some recruiters will sift through roughly 250 CVs for every job they advertise, so you want to be sure that yours matches the job description as closely as possible.In an age where personal branding is more important than ever, you may be tempted to add a photo of yourself to your CV. But this can be more harmful than you think; on average, there’s an 88% job rejection rate if you include a self-portrait. Plus, the inclusion of a photograph can sometimes alter the template of your CV when opened by the employer.Read more about what your CV should include.Write a cover letterWhen applying for a role directly, you will usually have to send in a covering letter each time you apply for a job as 53% of employers prefer candidates who have cover letters with their CVs. This can differ if you’re applying for a locum position through Sanctuary as these rarely require a covering letter. For permanent positions, your consultant will provide the employer with a detailed summary of your capabilities. It's still helpful to have a good covering letter ready, though.Your cover letter should be roughly three paragraphs long and include examples from your past experience to demonstrate why you are qualified for the role. Even if it's optional, including a cover letter is the best way to pitch your case for an interview.However, keep in mind that, on average, it takes just one or two errors for your application to be rejected. You must check to make sure that you’ve referred to practice models correctly, that your dates match up and you have no spelling or grammar mistakes. Once you’ve checked it, check it again (and then get a friend to look over it once more, just in case!)Apply for jobsYou can apply for jobs online, via email, or even in person. No matter what position you are applying for, be sure to follow the recruiter's specific directions for filling out the application.At Sanctuary, we’ve made the application process really easy. You can either apply for a job you’ve seen on our website or through a job board (e.g. Indeed). Once we have a copy of your CV and contact details, and have identified you as a strong candidate, we’ll put you forward for interview. Meanwhile, we also look for similar roles that we think you’ll be interested in, which can take a lot of the weight out of the application process.It is worth being mindful of is your online presence during this process, as some employers may have a look at your social media profile as part of their selection process. Of those that do, almost 4 in 5 say they rejected an applicant based on something they discovered online.Screening your applicationSince 250 CVs are typically submitted for each job position, with the first applications coming in on average just 200 seconds after the job is posted, employers often use applicant tracking software to recruit, screen, hire, track, and manage applicants for employment. Therefore, your application will likely be screened to determine if you are a match for the job. The software will match the information in the job applications submitted with the position requirements, so be sure to include the full titles of your job roles and qualifications rather than acronyms.ScreeningScreening can take many different forms. When applying for a frontline health or social care job, your professional registration, experience and references should sufficiently demonstrate your capabilities. Beyond this, identity and compliance checks will be carried out by the employer or recruiter to confirm your qualifications/registration and check for any criminal convictions.For non-clinical roles though, you may be expected to take a pre-employment test. These can include talent assessment tests, cognitive and personality tests, and background checks. Some tests are conducted as part of the job application process, and others will take place further along in the hiring process, after the interview and before a job offer.Interview processOn average, employers interview up to 6 candidates for each role, although this largely depends how they are choosing to recruit. If Sanctuary is recruiting exclusively for a position, you may be one of three people who have been put forward.If you have been selected for an interview, the employer can already see you being a good fit. During the interview, you will be invited to talk to the line manager, hiring manager, or employer – and sometimes all three.No matter how much interview experience you have, it’s good to be as prepared as possible. Do your research on the organisation and have a read through our interview guide, which is packed full of helpful tips. We have also prepared information on the STAR interview technique and a phone interview guide. Job offersEmployers will usually let you know within 24-48 hours, and often sooner, whether you’ve got the job. It’s a great moment when you receive the call you’ve been waiting for. All that’s left is for you to accept the position, agree a start date, review and sign your contract and hand your notice in to your current employer and prepare for your first day.Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test…Find more careers advice here.
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Make social media work for you: 3 common mistakes that will hurt your job search
Social media is integral to job searching in the digital age. However, if you’re not careful, it can also hinder your chances. As of February 2022, 84.3% of people in the UK are active on social media. UK adults spend an average of nearly 2 hours on social platforms every day. Let’s dive in to how you can not only avoid harming your job prospects with your social media activity but actually enhance them - from using LinkedIn to expand your network and build your personal brand, to following a company on Instagram to gain insight into their company culture. What not to doHere are 3 things to keep in mind with your online presence: Evidence of an active social life and partying with friends won’t cause any harm, but photos of you black-out drunk will. And any mention of illegal substances is an absolute no-go. Embracing your inner keyboard warrior and getting into heated public arguments may raise concerns about your interpersonal skills and how easy you’d be to work with. We hope this goes without saying, but never attack individuals or groups, and do not engage in any behaviour that is racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. So now we’ve covered what not to do; what can you do to make social media work for you when you’re looking for your next role? Lock them downThe easiest way to avoid future employers scrutinising your social media accounts is to set your accounts to private. This approach has its advantages in that it doesn’t leave you worrying about that one photo from an ill-advised night out ten years ago resurfacing… but it also cuts you off from all the benefits of using social media well. Post thoughtfullyTypical everyday posts won’t do you any harm (personally, my Instagram consists mostly of food, friends, and photos of my dog.) But intentional and more in-depth posts that engage critically with issues will demonstrate that you’re intelligent, thoughtful, and able to articulate your views well. Comment respectfully and constructivelyIt’s easy to criticise. When you comment on others’ posts and on discussions in groups, focus on being constructive and bringing something of value to the conversation. Whether you’re expressing an opinion, offering a tip, or simply saying thank you for whatever useful content the person posted, be courteous, respectful, and kind. Share content relevant to your industryEngaging with what’s going on in your industry is perhaps one of the best ways to impress potential employers with your social media presence. Follow relevant pages, join groups, comment on posts, share news and views, and – unless it’s confidential – talk about what you’ve been working on. If you’re a children’s social worker, for example, you might share your favourite resources. If you work in the charity sector, you might link to news articles related to the issue your charity focuses on, and so on. Don’t neglect LinkedInLinkedIn is the least popular of the major social networking platforms amongst young people - as of September 2022, only about 17% of 18-24 year olds in the UK have an account. But if you don’t have a presence on there, you’re missing out on some valuable opportunities. Not only does it act as a sort of online CV, it’s also a place where you can network with people in your sector. Active use of LinkedIn should be part of your job-hunting strategy. Connect with people you work with or have worked with in the past, join relevant groups, and enjoy all the useful content that is posted every day. You can also set yourself as “open to opportunities” so that recruiters can reach out to you with appropriate positions. Demonstrate your valuesSome people worry that they should be apolitical on social media. But this isn’t the case. Engaging with current affairs can be a fantastic way to show your values and how you live them. Of course, think before you post or re-share anything, but be yourself and demonstrate what’s important to you. Many employers will view the willingness to speak up for what you believe in as a very attractive trait in a potential employee. Follow companies and engage with them The vast majority of companies have a social media presence. So, if you’ve applied for a job or even think you might like to work with them someday, follow them on social media. Engage with their posts, and tag them if you talk about their products or services. While the person who runs the social media accounts is unlikely to be the hiring manager, your interviewer probably also follows those accounts. If they recognise your name and are impressed by your comments, they’ll remember you. And if they look up your social media presence later in the recruitment process, they’ll be impressed to see your expressed interest in the company. Build a brandAt its core, a personal brand is about demonstrating who you are as a person, what you do, and what’s important to you. Think about what you want to be associated with, and act accordingly. If you want to become known for a particular kind of work or as an expert in a particular subject, build your social media presence around that. Think about the kind of personality you want to convey, and assess whether or not a post contributes to that goal before you hit “submit.” Don’t ruin your career in 280 characters. Speak to your Sanctuary consultant today for further guidance on your job search.
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