Applications 

For candidates:

At Premium Staffing Solutions, we realise submitting job applications and attending interviews can cause elevated stress levels in even the most confident people. To combat this, we’ve highlighted below some tips to making your application and interview more fail proof.

Résumé

Your résumé is actually a short biography of your working life. It should be written to give us a complete, but succinct overview of your skills and experience. It should highlight your achievements, responsibilities and qualifications in chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Pay particular attention to skills relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Cover letter

First impressions count. Your cover letter is, in fact, the initial insight we have in to who you are, how you feel about the advertised position and why you should be interviewed.

Unlike your résumé, your cover letter should explain what sets you apart from other applicants. It needs to show us how you’ve utilised the particular skills required by the position in other places of employment. If you’re well organised, a good problem solver and possess other such qualities – let us know!

Tips for writing your resume and cover letter:

• Make sure all your contact details are correct. Check telephone numbers and email addresses.
• Use short, concise sentences in your cover letter. That way, your letter won’t sound confusing, or ramble.
• Check your cover letter for misspelled words and typos. (Don’t rely on a spell checker!)
• Leave each document for a day or so and re-read it.
• Have someone else read over each document. It’s surprising what others can pick up.
• Make sure each document is tailored directly to the position. Like you, potential employers like to think they’re important to you. Multi mail-out applications tend not to impress.

Interviews

Everyone is prone to nerves prior to an interview for any position. It’s expected, but those involved in the interview will try to make you feel comfortable, so try to settle as quickly as you can. Remember, you are there because others are interested in learning more about you!

Here are some tips:

• Dress for success. For whatever type of position, make sure you’re looking your best – clothes ironed, hair washed etc.
• Make sure you’ve studied the job description and worked out how to explain why your skills and experience are relative to the position.
• During introductions, shake hands, smile and say, “How do you do, (the interviewers name)?” rather than, “Hi” or worse still, nothing!
• Wait to be asked to sit down.
• When answering questions, look at the person – not the ceiling or the floor.