Thursday, March 28, 2024

The best time to apply for a job

I was recently invited as a guest speaker in a job preparedness workshop.
The workshop objective was to equip fresh graduates with job search
skills. Among the topics covered were CV writing, interviewing skills and
how to successfully apply for jobs.
There was one common question with the participants. The majority wanted
to know whether there was a right time to apply for a job. Specifically,
they wanted to know whether it was okay to apply immediately when you
become aware of a vacancy or to wait until the notice is about to expire.

When it comes to job search, you have to keep abreast with the trends.
One of the changes that has taken place in the last decade is that over
90 percent of Kenyan employers are now demanding that job applications be
sent online. This is either by way of candidates sending their
applications via email or filling an online form. It’s only the public
service and a few firms that are yet to embrace technology and are still
insisting on hard copies.

You also have to be conscious that employers are taking a shorter time to
fill vacancies. The main reason being that technology has made it easier
to receive and process applications. When it was hard copies, employers
had to wait until they got many applications and only then would they
start the long manual process of going through the envelopes. Now, all
they have to do is check an email and if they are enough applications,
they start short listing. This is a task that can be performed by one
person thus saving on time and allowing the process to move faster.

There’s also the issue of having many job seekers in the market. Unlike
the early 2000 where the number of graduates was low, nowadays we have
thousands of graduates. It is estimated that every year, we have over
70,000 new graduates. This means that they are many employees chasing
fewer opportunities.

We can have as many as 2,000 applicants for some job adverts and the
tragedy is that we are only looking for one candidate. No wonder, some
of you keep asking why they don’t receive interview invites. The truth
is, they are too many applicants qualified for the job and job seekers
have to come up with creative ways of getting noticed. I will address
this issue of how to become visible in a competitive market in a
different article.

With this in mind, we can comfortably answer our question on when is the
right time to apply for a job. To ensure that you stand a chance of being
shortlisted, apply as soon as you become aware of the advert. This will
work in your favor should an employer start processing applicants as they
receive them.

You also stand a chance to beat the competition. You will be ahead of the
crowd that waits for the last minute. As a recruiter, we process
applications as we receive them. It’s no surprise to find out that a job
has already been filled within the duration indicated for sending
applications.

Even as you strive to apply for jobs, my advice is for you to ensure that
your documents are in order. Ensure that your CV is tailored for the job.
You also need to have a cover letter that explains why you are the best
candidates by providing more details that may not be on your CV.

Remember to follow employer’s instructions. If they have asked for salary
details, do provide.
As you can see, getting a job invite sometimes has more to do with the
process and steps taken than your qualifications and skills. You can be
the best candidate for the job, but if an employer doesn’t get a chance
to review your application, then it doesn’t count much.

This article is Contributed by Perminus Wainana. He has over ten years
experience in human resource management working with employers from
different sectors. His major goal is to build relationships with
employers in order to gain a better understanding of their recruitment
needs and meet the requirements in a cost effective and timely manner.
Email [email protected]

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