Prioritising applications. My green light system to ease the load

Since the pandemic, the number of people applying for each advertised job has rocketed. For some graduate roles, the average number of people applying is around 140, but many jobs have hundreds of applications. The ability of recruiters to sort through those applications is limited, and the efficiency of automated and AI systems is being questioned. So how do you battle against the tide of applications?

What is critical in media is that you show in your application more than basic qualifications and skills. You must show how you have utilised those skills effectively, using examples of content and tasks you have completed well. But in an application, you also need to show that you ‘get it’. That you know what the employer does and what they need from you. Too many applications fail to bridge that gap.

Doing that well takes effort, though, and job applications are already exhausting enough. So that's why I use the Green Light System to help prioritise the right jobs.

THREE GREEN LIGHTS

If you see a job that looks ‘perfect’, then you should put in 100% effort into the application. Perfect means a company you like and know, a role that you are clearly qualified for and one that pays what you need it to pay (if that is disclosed). If all those green lights go on, then you must give this application the best shot.

That means making sure your CV is right for this role and has the skills clearly outlined that match the job spec. The title on your CV should also easily tell HR that you are right for the job.

In your cover letter or statement, you need to make sure that you outline your skills and experience well (as I have explained), but also talk about the company and show that you understand the audience, the content and what they are trying to achieve. Doing this requires research and therefore a lot more effort. For the jobs that have three green lights, this extra effort is really worth it and could make the difference.

TWO GREEN LIGHTS

For these jobs, I would reduce the effort from 100% to 60%.

Sometimes it is harder to know if you are the right fit for a job and have all the qualifications and skills needed. It is fair to say that not all recruiters are looking for a 100% match. There can be room for some of the essentials to be missing, but if you feel you are a little short of the demands outlined in the advert, or you are not sure about the company and the type of role, then reduce the workload in the application.

In these cases, it might be fine to adjust the CV a little and write a unique cover letter, but perhaps spend less time researching the company and thinking about how you can add to their team. Still put in a good application, but don't bust a gut doing all the things I feel are needed for the three-green-light jobs.

ONE GREEN LIGHT

Sometimes you are taking a punt, or you might not know the company at all. Perhaps the role sounds interesting, but you feel you are probably short of a lot of the essential skills and experience. It is actually still fine to apply, but do not expend the same energy.

I would suggest putting 25% effort into it. It means not dwelling on small details and just making sure you are accurate with the information and describe yourself effectively. Having a good template for a cover letter really helps here.

EASY / QUICK APPLY

These are fine to do and, on a day when you are busy or struggling with the mental pressure of it all, putting in a couple of these means you have done something.

One of the issues around the job hunt is getting overwhelmed and defeated by it. Feeling like that is common, but it is also good to feel like you have done something.

If a job looks like it might not be a good fit BUT perhaps demands some of your core skills and is in the right sector or adjacent to it, then the odd easy and quick apply on Indeed or LinkedIn is fine.

Just don't do it if you can avoid it for those jobs that you really want. Always try to go directly to the company's application portal/system.