Five Insights: The Way Your Job Application Stands out (or Falls Flat) in Recruiter's Eyes
When applying for a job, it's essential to make a good impression and showcase your skills and experiences effectively. According to career expert Lena Ludwig from job portal Stepstone, structure is more important than creative design in a job application.
Many applicants make the mistake of submitting unnecessary documents, such as school and work references, language certificates, certificates, and recommendation letters. Ludwig advises that a resume should usually be included in an application, and relevant references can be helpful but are not usually decisive. Application videos play a minor role in most positions and should only be used where explicitly expected or suitable for the industry.
Companies often ask for "complete documents" in job ads without specifying what exactly is required. However, focusing on providing information that demonstrates one's skills is most important. Ludwig suggests that an application should be clear and easy to read, with the most important information easily accessible. She recommends using bullet points to highlight key skills and experiences.
A survey by Stepstone found that only about a third (34%) of recruiters consider the cover letter decisive. Recruiters typically prioritise relevant work experience, cultural fit, communication skills, and demonstrated soft skills over elements such as cover letters, creative design, big name employers, application videos, or overloaded documents.
Relevant work experience is crucial, with 80% of hiring managers ranking it as the most crucial resume element. This directly reflects the candidate’s job readiness and capability. Cultural fit and soft skills, such as adaptability, communication, and positive attitude, are also critical, with research showing that 89% of hiring failures result from poor cultural fit rather than lack of skills.
Effective, tailored communication is essential, including personalised messaging and active listening that reveal deeper candidate qualities beyond resumes or cover letters. Recruiters value quality of hire, which includes not just performance but integration into company culture, impacting long-term success.
While cover letters, creative design, employer brand names, application videos, and extensive documents may add some interest, they are less decisive than the core qualifications, fit, and communication skills recruiters assess. Overloading applications with excessive or irrelevant content can be detrimental.
In contrast, focusing on the candidate’s demonstrated ability, cultural alignment, and clear, honest presentation is more important than flashy or extensive supplemental materials. If a cover letter is explicitly requested, Ludwig suggests that it should be short, specific, and tailored to the job.
By following these tips, job applicants can increase their chances of success and stand out to recruiters in a positive way.
- A job applicant should focus on providing clear and easy-to-read application materials that showcase relevant work experience, cultural fit, communication skills, and demonstrated soft skills, rather than relying on creative design, cover letters, big name employers, application videos, or excessive documents.
- Effective vocational training and education-and-self-development in areas like job-search, communication skills, adaptability, and positive attitude are crucial in a job application process, as they can increase a candidate's chances of being successfully hired and integrating into a company culture.