THERE’S no escaping the internet if you’re jobhunting. E-mail is becoming the norm for CV submission and many companies accept only online applications. Here’s how to be first in the online rush.







1. Ditch the e-mail speak. “Hi” is not an appropriate way to start any correspondence with a prospective employer — you wouldn’t start your cover letter with it. If you’re sending a CV and cover letter by e-mail write a short, carefully-worded note in the message. And no smileys :-(







2. Don’t get carried away. It’s tempting to fire off lots of e-mail applications to all sorts of people, but take time to tailor each one to the employer. They can tell.



3. Knowledge is power. Online application forms allow employers to use sophisticated software to process applications. “Our search engine can look for a keyword, such as a degree or a college,” says Sarah Williams, a solutions consultant at Peopleclick, the online recruitment specialists (www.peopleclick.com). “You can also paste in a job spec and it will search for approximate matches.” So study the language and key phrases used by the organisation to which you are applying.







4. Don’t assume that they won’t read it. Employers might use technology to scan applications, but they still have eyes. “We read every application,” says Deborah Dalgleish, head of UK graduate recruitment at the City law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (www.freshfields.com/graduates/index.shtml). “We get applicants to write a personal statement online because we want people who can express themselves.” Firms may no longer judge you by the neatness of your handwriting but you can still impress with well-written answers.







5. Tailor yourself. Employers use online forms to find out whether you’ll fit in. “Have (applicants) understood why we’ve asked the question?” asks Susan Miller, the graduate client services director at StepStone, the online recruitment technology specialists (www.stepstone.com). “They should match the examples they give to the ethos of the company.”







6. Pimp your CV. Use an online CV builder. The most useful thing about it is that it reminds you of all the things that need to go on a CV.







7. Use the technology. Employers will think better of you. “People who apply online are more ‘with it’,” says Diana Sabey, director of product and content for the UK and Ireland at Monster, a recruitment website (www.monster.co.uk). “It shows that they know how the internet works.”







8. But don’t overuse it. “Don’t be over- reliant,” Dalgleish says. “Spellcheckers can’t tell if you’re using a word in context.” Don’t send attachments in obscure programmes that employers can’t open.







9. Print it out. Read the form through before you start and before you send. It’s easy to miss errors scrolling on a screen.







10. Save it. Before you press “send” make sure that you have a copy to refer to when you are called to interview.

FIND OUT MORE

• 36 per cent of companies surveyed for the Recruitment Confidence Index by Cranfield School of Management accept online CVs, 28 per cent use online application forms, 14 per cent respond to applicants automatically and 10 per cent use online tests.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Build your CV at www.jobszoo.com/cvonline.html.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Read The Monster Guide to Jobhunting, by Andrew Chapman (£8.57 plus postage at www.amazon.co.uk).
  
  
  

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