5 key insights: the positive response of recruiters towards your application
In the competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is crucial when applying for a position. Lena Ludwig, a career expert at StepStone, emphasises the importance of crafting a personal story that aligns your passion and motivation with the position and the company.
According to Ludwig, highlighting measurable accomplishments and telling your professional story in a way that demonstrates why you are applying and how your career choices relate to the role is key. If possible, mentioning a shared contact can help establish a personal connection with the hiring manager, improving the impact of your application.
However, many job seekers make the mistake of submitting unnecessary documents such as school and work references, language certificates, certificates, and recommendation letters. While these documents may seem important, they are often not necessary in a job application. A CV should usually not be missing in a job application, but appropriate references can also be helpful, albeit not decisive, according to Ludwig.
Companies often ask for "complete documents" in job ads without specifying what exactly is required. It is essential to focus on providing information that proves your skills in a job application. What counts above all are information that proves one's skills, according to Ludwig. A clear application with skills and experiences clearly recognizable often makes a better impression than a graphically demanding one.
In terms of the CV, a cover letter should be short, specific, and tailored to the job if it is explicitly requested. Design and layout are not decisive factors. A survey by Stepstone among 700 recruiters suggests that only about a third (34 percent) consider the cover letter decisive in a job application.
Job application videos are not necessary or helpful for most positions, according to Lena Ludwig. They should only be used where they are explicitly expected or fit the industry.
Interestingly, only 21 percent of recruiters consider a renowned employer as decisive in a job application. Structure, rather than creative design, is more important to recruiters according to Ludwig.
In summary, focusing on emphasising measurable achievements, narrating your professional motivation and passion that connect to the job, and if possible, referencing a mutual contact can help your application stand out and focus on what recruiters find compelling. Keeping your application clear, focused on your skills, and tailored to the job is the key to a successful job application.
- To make a distinctive impression in the competitive job market, it's essential to showcase measurable achievements and align your career path with the role's requirements, as Lena Ludwig, a career expert at StepStone, suggests.
- In the process of applying for business-related positions, crafting a compelling personal story that explains why you are applying and how your career choices relate to the company can help establish a connection with the hiring manager, according to Ludwig.
