Your job application is the first impression an employer will have of you, so it’s important to make sure you get it right. We’ve compiled a list of things you’ll need to do to have the best chance at getting a job through Unitemps.
Update your CV and profile
The first thing to tick off your list when it comes to writing a good job application for Unitemps is to make sure your CV is up to date. Employers have lots of applications to look through so the ideal length for a CV is around one page, with anything more than two pages being too long.
Your CV should include some basic information:
- Personal details including your name, email address and contact number
- Educational background with your most recent qualifications listed first
- Employment history or work experience with your most recent or current position listed first
- Any other qualifications or certificates
If you find that your CV is looking a little sparse, even after providing all the information above, you can always include a section on your main set of skills and any personal interests or hobbies.
Speaking of skills, take some time to add your skills to your Unitemps profile. Sometimes the team is looking for someone with a specific ability, for example a person who can speak a certain language, and having this skill listed in your profile means that you will turn up in our search results. So you could end up being contacted about a role you haven’t applied for!
One last thing to do in order to make your job application a success is to ensure you only have one candidate profile, as keeping one profile up to date will save any future complications. If you’re having issues with your profile, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Tailor your cover letter to the position you are applying for
A cover letter or personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate how your skills and experience will be an advantage in the role and the benefits you would bring to the company.
The important thing to know about a cover letter is that the employer will be able to tell if you have purposely written one in a way that means it can be submitted as part of an application for any role. Although you may write about the same experience, try to treat each cover letter as a fresh opportunity to showcase how your abilities will be an asset for a specific position.
Take a look at our article on how to write a cover letter for more guidance on making sure yours stands out from the crowd.
Include references
You will need to include two references as part of a job application for Unitemps. Your referees should be people who are able to highlight what value you would bring to the role, for example your reliability or good communication skills. If you can, it’s best to include the contact details of someone who has supervised or line managed you, with many roles asking for the details of your most recent employer, however a colleague would work well too.
Don’t worry if you haven’t had any work experience as there are other ways to obtain character references. Perhaps one of your tutors would be happy to act as a reference for you, or someone you worked with as part of a voluntary placement. Don’t include family members and try to avoid using friends too, as the employer is looking for a reference from someone who has experienced working with you in a professional setting.
One last thing to remember is to get permission from whoever you use as a reference! It’s best to make sure that your referees are happy for you to share their contact details and to make them aware that they may get a call, so that they don’t feel they’ve been contacted out of the blue.
Read everything through at least once
Before submitting your application, check it through at least once for spelling, punctuation and grammar. It’s not the most exciting job in the world, but it’s an essential part of making sure your job application is successful, as an employer is unlikely to be forgiving of incorrect spellings or typos.
If you have made mistakes, spellcheck will point out the majority of them. However, it’s important you don’t rely solely on spellcheck to do the proof-reading for you as there are some things it won’t pick up on. For example, accidentally missing the last letter of ‘and’ and putting ‘an’ won’t be flagged as a spelling mistake, so avoid this by proof-reading the application yourself.
A useful tip here is to read everything slowly. It’s easy to quickly skim through something you have written, but this means you’re more likely to miss mistakes. If possible, ask somebody else to read it before you submit it, as they might notice something you haven’t.
Make note of the positions you have applied for
We understand that candidates can make several applications at once, but it doesn’t make a good impression if you don’t remember the job you applied for when we call to arrange an interview.
So once you’ve hit that all important ‘Submit’ button, keep a record of the job you have applied for and any important details, for example the job title, name of the company, the start date and rate of pay. Then, when you get a phone call from us, you know exactly what job you’re agreeing to attend an interview for.
Start preparing for the interview stage
After you have an interview date confirmed, it’s time to start preparing for it. Take a look back at the job description, research the company and read through our article on the common interview questions you could be asked to get ready for whatever questions come your way.
Are you going to be attending an in-person interview or will it be a video call? If it’s a physical interview, check the route you’re going to take to make sure you won’t be late on the day. Choose a smart, clean outfit to wear to increase your chance of making a positive first impression – even if the interview is described as ‘informal’, it’s still important to look professional.
If the interview is online, double check you have received a link to the video call and ensure that the software works on your computer (you don’t want to click the link 10 minutes before and realise you have to download a new programme!). On the day, set yourself up in a quiet area with a plain background, if possible, and remember to plug your laptop or computer in. There’s nothing worse than losing battery halfway through an interview.
Finally, good luck! We’re looking forward to receiving your application. If you would like more tips on how to be successful in your job search, take a look at the articles on our career advice page.
Last updated on 12 December 2022
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