How to Submit an Online Job Application

Application for employment in an increasingly online marketplace generally entails submitting your resume and cover letter by email rather than postal mail. Some businesses provide online application forms that are accessible directly from their websites. You may use this site to apply for jobs by selecting the position you want to apply for, entering your work experience, abilities, and education into online areas, and then submitting your information with a simple click of a button.

Forms submitted on the internet are distinct from one another and will need different information. Some employers, for example, want you to "copy and paste" your resume and cover letter into two separate spaces on their application form. Others need candidates to fill out many categories, such as "job experience," "education," and so forth, while others do not. Others demand you to submit both your resume and cover letter, as well as fill out areas that require the same employment-related information as the previous ones.

In whatever online application form a corporation may use, ensure that all of your information is entered into one or more of the available fields. Don't be hesitant to provide more information, particularly if the application requires a résumé as well as a detailed summary of your job experience. Your information will be instantly placed into an online database, where recruiting managers will likely hunt for keywords to use in the selection process. The greater the number of times your keywords appear, the better.

Many firms, particularly major ones, offer online application forms. However, many others merely request that applicants e-mail their application materials to the relevant individual or to a generic employment address, such as "hiringmanager@anycompany.com." In this case, extreme vigilance is advised. Make certain you submit your resume and cover letter in the format requested by the recruiting manager. Some companies prefer that the resume and cover letter be supplied as two different papers rather than as one single document (usually in a Text Only format or as Microsoft Word documents). Other businesses prefer that the cover letter be included in the body of the e-mail, with the resume being included as an attachment. Another option is to send an e-mail in which you include both your résumé and cover letter as attachments.

In the latter case, be certain that your materials are simple to read. It is common for resumes to seem jumbled when they are copied and pasted into the body of an e-mail because of their intricate formatting. According to Beth Camp, a recruiter, "If you e-mail a résumé, it must be just as professional as if it were printed on paper." I would recommend providing your resume as an attachment as well as in the body of your e-mail message. " This is an effective method of avoiding a potential formatting disaster. Another option is to submit your resume and cover letter online first, followed by paper copies of both documents.

Some job searchers choose to acquire domain names and build their own websites in order to post their resumes (as well as other application materials) on the internet. Because HTML is a static Web page, anybody may see your resume in its right format just by visiting your website. This is a benefit of utilizing HTML to format your resume and create a static Web page. As a result, rather than mailing or e-mailing your resume every time you want someone to view it, you can just give them the correct website address and they will be able to access it on their own. An additional benefit of posting your resume on the Internet is that you may attract the attention of recruiters and companies that you would not have otherwise considered. Make copies of your resume in PDF (portable document format) and Microsoft Word files available for download on your website to make it simpler for people to find and download your resume.

Unfortunately, there are certain disadvantages to posting your CV online. However, one disadvantage is that your information becomes available to everyone, even uninvited visitors. As a result, you should never give out personal information such as your home address, social security number, or any other identifying information. The fact that not all hiring managers will go out of their way to visit your website is another disadvantage. Even if your resume is simply a click away, many hiring managers would prefer that you send or e-mail it to them rather than fax it.

Whenever possible, it is best not to go against the stated preferences of an employer when it comes to the delivery of your application documents. Sending an attachment when copy-and-pasting is asked, for example, is inappropriate. It is common for businesses to avoid attachments because they are concerned about catching a virus, or because they do not have suitable software, or simply because they do not want to be inconvenienced by the additional step of opening the file itself.

When you are putting together your application papers and putting them into an e-mail, wait until you are finished before filling in the "to" box. A half-finished e-mail sent to a firm may be mistakenly sent to the employer's inbox, ruining your chances of generating a good first impression and, more importantly, of landing an interview. If you were asked to copy and paste your resume and cover letter, be sure to verify the finished product for formatting errors at least once before running it through a spell checker one last time.

Please double-check that you are attaching the correct versions of your papers (i.e., the company-tailored and updated versions) to the employer if you are sending them through email. Additionally, make certain that they are labeled in a professional manner. The choice of one job seeker to keep several copies of his resume under names such as "Resume for Strategic Sourcing Jobs" has caused him regret. According to the job seeker, "I was submitting applications for three distinct sorts of employment.

However, I did not want every potential employer to be aware of this. By naming my outgoing resumes in the manner in which I did, I effectively broadcast the fact that I lacked a strong sense of direction in my profession. " Keeping your resume under your name simply (for example, Simone Piette résumé) or under your name plus the name of the firm is probably the most effective technique for saving your resume online (example: Greenfield resume from Simone Piette). Make sure to include in your e-mail a description of the attachment as well as the program you used to create it. In the body of your e-mail, you may include something like this: "Please view my attached résumé, which is in Microsoft Word version 2002."

Before a hiring manager ever reads your e-mail, she should have a clear understanding of who you are and what position you are looking for. Your name, the position name (and job number, if applicable), and the contents of your application should all be included in the "Subject" line (example, "Simone Piette resume and cover letter for Executive Assistant Position").

If you've been suggested for a position by someone else, be sure you "cc" (carbon copy) or "bcc" (blind carbon copy) your reference when you submit your job application. This means adding that person's email address to the "cc" or "bcc" section of the email you're sending to the hiring manager, which will allow that individual to get an identical duplicate of the email you're sending to the hiring manager. Because you want to keep him up to date on the status of your project, you should copy him on all correspondence.If someone has volunteered to assist you, he or she should be aware of the stage at which you are now in the application process. (Please keep in mind that certain e-mail systems do not include "cc" or "bcc" fields, in which case you will need to provide your reference in a second e-mail.)

Make a backup copy of your outgoing e-mail in your "Sent Mail" folder in case your message does not get delivered and you need to send it again.