4 Grave Mistakes You Are Probably Making When Applying For Jobs Online

Slowly the job search process has shifted and more and more people are applying for jobs online. This is a blessing to the job seekers because it cuts down on the resources spent when applying for a job.
However, just like any other form of job application there are rules to follow and mistakes you should avoid.
Sadly, most people make very silly mistakes when it comes to sending online job applications and as such end up ruining their chances of getting a job.

Here Are Some Mistakes People Make When Applying For Jobs Online

1. Not Adding A Subject
So many people forget to include a subject/reference when applying for jobs via email. This is a big mistake because your email will not be opened.
Hiring managers do not have time to guess what your email is about and they receive hundreds if not thousands of them. Therefore, it is up to you as a job seeker to make sure you include a subject in your email.
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Some jobs even go as far as telling you what you should put in the subject. Failing to do so will only lead to disqualification.
The next time you apply for a job via email please ensure you indicate what the email is about. For example, “REF: Application For Communication Officer Job.”
2. Not Following instructions
Before you apply for a job you are supposed to go through the full job description well in order to know what the company is looking for. Not only that, but most organisations will give you specific instructions on how to apply for the position.
For example, they can say that one needs to quote the title of the position you’re applying for as the reference or to indicate your expected salary on your CV.
Some also specify how many attachments you need to send while others strictly ask you to send your CV only and no other documents.
Now as a job seeker, it is important that you follow these rules because failure to do so will lead to disqualification. So before applying for any job ensure you understand what is required from you and follow the instructions given if any.
3. Sending Poorly Formatted Documents
I once saw a job application someone had made where their CV and Cover Letter was upside down. Now this might seem like a simple thing that has no effect on whether you get the job or not, but the employer does not have time to start rotating your documents in order to see if you are qualified.
Most recruiters take at most 3 minutes to go through an application and upon opening your email if the documents are not properly formatted they move on to the next.
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The same also applies to the font and colours used to write your CV and Cover Letter as well as grammatical errors. You need to proof read all the documents before sending then.
You need to make looking at your CV as easy as possible which means that before sending in an application, you need to ensure that all the documents are okay and do not have any mistakes.
4. Emailing Every Organisation
Although not as common as the other mistakes it is still one that is made enough to be on this list. You need to remember that if you copy any other person on that email the recipients will be able to see.
Today I received an email from someone applying for a job. The problem is that this person had copied over 5 other organisations in the same email. I can see all the companies she applied to and so can whoever received her email.
This means that all the other organisations that received the same email know that he has applied to other companies as well.
This means that in all those organisations his application will not be considered because employers don’t want to see that you are applying for jobs in other organisations.
5. Applying in the wrong place
This is also a very common mistake job seekers make when a job is posted even on job sites like Career Point Kenya, applying in the comment section does not mean you have applied for the position. Neither dose sending your application anywhere other than the indicated email in the advert.
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It is always advisable to apply where the advert tells you to be it via email or on the company website. This is because job sites do not go through applications for those positions all they do is advertise them.
Making online applications may make the process easier but it is also important that you follow instructions provided and avoid silly mistakes in order to better your chances of getting your dream job.
By Michelle Wanjiku
The writer is a communication officer/digital marketer at Career Point Kenya. Email: michelle@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke