4 Things Every Job Seeker Should Do Before Sending Out A Job Application

By Judith Moraa

Looking for a job in Kenya has never been fun but of course as a prudent job seeker, you can always make it better and much easier.
What do I mean?
Let me take you back to the drawing board. Imagine you’ve just found a job posting and it appears to be the perfect fit.
The position is with a company you’ve always wished to work for maybe Safaricom, Royal Media, PWC, Deloitte or any other big shot in the job market.
And luckily, you meet each one of the qualifications that the employer is looking for. How perfect can this job posting possibly get?
READ ALSO >>> Top Mistakes Kenyans Make When Applying For Jobs
So, Instead of applying for the job right away, it’s important to stop for a few minutes to carefully read the job posting and think of it as a lead.
Here is what you should do before sending any job application.
1. Do a thorough research about the company
 Once you identify the company and the position, and assuming you have thoroughly gone through the job description and understood it, go a step further and check out the employer’s website and read through their career page.
You should also take a look at their blog in case they have any and get a gist of what the company is all about, read about the people who work there, and read out their company news.
This will give you a better idea on how to market yourself through that cover letter, a crucial thing that most job seekers miss out on.
2. Do some little work on your online reputation
 I always assume that this usually goes without saying. Well, but since everyone talks about it, make sure that you clean up your Facebook or twitter and most importantly LinkedIn.
Many people feel like it’s unprofessional to have your actions monitored even on social media, but the truth is, once it’s out there, it’s hard to remove it. And since every other employer is online today, you wouldn’t want to sell yourself short.
Review your privacy settings and if it’s questionable, maybe leave it off the Internet.
3. Remember, you’re going to need a strong CV and cover letter for that job
 Standards for professional CVs vary from one employer in Kenya to another change and just because it worked for you three or ten years ago doesn’t mean it will work now.
You need a strong CV tailor made for that specific job you intend to apply for.
Need I not say that you also need a CV template that will interest the employer . Ensure that whatever you are sending out is your best template.  Use the knowledge you’ve gained so far to create an application letter that shows your extreme enthusiasm in working for the company.
4. Also, focus greatly on your accomplishments in line with the job
Most employers who advertise for the several jobs in Kenya like to hear that you’ve done what they are looking for before.
They don’t want to take you for the job and start training you all over again.
So if you have good accomplishments in the areas that the job description has focused on, shine, shine and shine!
For example, if you are applying for nursing or as a sales manager jobs , the employer definitely has a basic understanding of your job description.
Sending in a CV with a general list of nursing or sales responsibilities isn’t going to make you stand out during the shortlisting process. No, on the contrary.
So, seek to answer the question, why are you the perfect nurse? What makes you different from the other 200 sales managers that have applied for that position? And the answer is simple:  Your Great accomplishments!
Now that you know this,
If you follow these steps before applying for any job and maybe add onto the list, you’ll be guaranteed to stand out against other job seekers by impressing an employer with your CV and application letter. This is the only trick to surviving the job search wave in Kenya!