“High-quality’’ Job applications

“There are millions of people looking for jobs. For every job we publish, we get three to four hundred applications. So, sending a high-quality application is key” says Julie Roberts, MeshPower’s Country Manager.

At Three Mountains, we help people to improve their soft skills like communication skills, work management skills, and personal effectiveness. These skills help people learn to be productive in their workplaces and to achieve their goals.

But first you have to get a job and a place to work – how? Do you know the tips and tricks needed to get recruited? Have you have ever wondered why, despite having all the qualifications, you still don’t get hired? One of the reasons might be a poor or weak job application.

From March to July 2021, we trained five groups of female energy sector engineers in soft skills, in order to increase their employability. I was part of the training team. I was surprised to see that so many skilled women were unable to write a high-quality job application and how to prepare well for a job interview.

We therefore decided to create an e-course on job applications, covering topics like: job searches, writing a cover letter and CV, and how to prepare for a job interview. This course helps learners to showcase their education, work experience, strengths, skills, and accomplishments in a clear and engaging way.

We took videos of employers and employees in different professional fields to learn about their experiences and advice. This is where we met Julie from MeshPower.

The employers explained what they consider a ‘good’ CV and cover letter, and what they want to learn about the candidate at the interview.

I have to say: I learned a lot! For example, one recruiter said: “If you give me a ten-page CV, I might not look at it. Give me a three-page CV or a two-page resume, telling me clearly what you’ve achieved. If someone worked somewhere as a teller, they often give a teller’s job description, not what they did in that job. Tell me what you achieved!”

I felt like she was talking about me:  I remembered I used to list my past job descriptions on my CV, rather than stating my achievements in that job!

This has made me do more research on how best to write about achievements at work. I want to help job seekers learn how to do this correctly.

I’m proud to say the draft e-course is now almost ready. You can help us to make it even better by signing up as a reviewer.

Once the draft course is finished, you will receive a link via email, allowing you to access the course and make comments. Your help is highly appreciated!

We plan to publish this course in September on our website.

Zachia Kamaliza