Careers Service Assistant Eamon, gives an oversight of his experience working at the University Careers Service and how he has helped students to become more adept at preparing job application documents.

One of the central purposes of going to University is being afforded the ability to unlock employment opportunities that otherwise mightn’t be available. That is not to say that your dream career will not be accessible without a university degree, but it sure goes a long way to helping you get there.

Since starting at the University’s Career Service, I’ve been given the role of helping others on this journey toward their career goals. When asked what I do for work, I often jokingly say ‘I make people’s dreams come true’. Whilst this mightn’t be the entire picture, it is true that the career service does play an important function in helping those who lack direction, or the knowledge on the processes of applying for jobs. I have helped hundreds of students, from first-years applying for jobs in Cafes, to graduates applying for graduate positions at large organisations, and in doing so I have picked up a few universal principles when preparing application documents.

Firstly, the ability to write clearly and persuasively is the key. If you are able to write short, sharp and meaningful sentences that sell yourself, then you are three-quarters of the way to securing an interview. A lot of the time, the feedback I give students is about writing style, and the ability to truly capture your audience (the employer) can only be done through the use of short and eloquent sentences. This can be the single most powerful weapon in an applicant’s armoury, should they utilise it properly.

Secondly, presentation, presentation, presentation. While being honest is also important, its always safe to use your application documents to best reflect your professional identity. Things like font, style and structure are all extremely important things when constructing a resume. On average employers take about 6 seconds when making a decision on a resume, so it’s vital that your resume be aesthetically appealing.

Thirdly, make sure you tailor your application documents to those who will be reading them. I quite often give feedback to students who have written generic cover letters or resumes, without properly researching and tailoring their documents to the organisation and employer. I can think of no better words than those of Ken Haemer who said “designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it ‘to whom it may concern”.

It is these universal truths, which provide a fundamental underpinning to preparing application documents, that may help lay the foundations for building a solid employment history that helps you to achieve your ‘dream job’.