How to Apply for Job : A Recollection

Disclaimer : this post by no means serves as a comprehensive and thorough guide on how to apply for job. Rather, I will share some of my idea and insight, based on my personal experience, which hopefully helps you to get the job of your dream. Also, this post only covers the topic of  how to find a job in industry.

Just when I was about to graduate from Master Degree in KAIST, I started on collecting all the information related to job application, starting from making the proper CV towards preparing for the interview, both general and technical. Thanks to all my friends and also my family who continuously and enormously supported me, both mentally and logistically, that finally I was able to land an offer from one great company in Singapore.

Finding a job is undoubtedly one of the most important aspect in life that we all will encounter, sooner or later. However, it's also very baffling and confusing to get even the slightest of information regarding that matter (be it about the job vacancy, how to get your CV right, etc.). I often got some questions regarding those stuffs, which makes me think that perhaps it will be helpful for me to jot down some of the most essential knowledges to know regarding this job application thingy.

1. Job Vacancies

I obtained the question revolving this topic much more often than the other aspects. But well, I also remembered that the first time I tried to find the job, there were around 10-20 people that I asked for, specifically for getting the knowledge about this topic. So yeah, I think it's best to enlist all those basic sources that you may use for getting those informations.

• Company Website

This may sound obvious, but actually the website for job vacancy is sometimes tricky to be found. For me, since I was interested in finding the IT-Related jobs, I was surfing through all the IT Companies' website, and I found the job openings only from the middle-sized to gigantic company (like Google, Facebook, etc.). Usually they enlisted lots of job openings for various positions that they are interested in recruiting, and for each job openings, they always enlist the job description, how to apply, minimal requirement and some extra qualifications that are great to have. Look at those informations meticulously and carefully, and use your own judgement to decide whether to apply or not based on the requirements enlisted.

Here is the thing: usually they enlisted lots of requirements in their website, but don't hesitate to apply if you find just few requirements that you don't possess. In most cases, they will still try to consider you even in that case, and be more certain to apply if you possess several criteria they enlisted on those extra qualifications. To apply, usually they provide you with the link on that very same page (at least they will provide the recruitment email, in which you need to send the email of interest together with your CV)

• Friends' Referral

Sounds weird, isn't it? But really, friends (or connections) are sometimes your best source. If you have friends who are working in a company that you are interested in, try to ask them for any job openings there. Or, sometimes the company they're working in have sort of referral program which allows them to refer their friends to work there. Your friends are usually more than delighted to refer you to some certain positions in their company, and you will stand a little above other candidates for that particular job position (since basically you have already obtained some leverage from the insider people if you pursue this method). Of course, in most cases, friends' referral may only guarantee you to get into the interview, but isn't it good, considering that most people fail even the document screening phase?

• Job Vacancy Website

Okay, so no friends to rely on, and basically you're very new to this world of job application, so what should you do then? Thank goodness, now there are lots of platform that may support you and provide you with job vacancies' information. Take for example LinkedIn or Wanted. Yes, you heard it right. I know many people loathe LinkedIn as a mere social media used to boast our achievement or whatsoever, but note that they also provide you access towards abundant number of job openings that you might be interested in. Utilise those job applications' website towards its full potential to get as many essential information as possible.

• Job Fair

Another resources that you may find interesting is the job fair, which is usually conducted in school or some convention centers. This may be a great chance for you to attend one, as you may introduce yourself to the people of the company of your interest, and also you may leverage your achievement there to get them notified about your interest in working in their company. Also, in several job fairs, you may also apply for the job on the spot (they may also ask for your CV to be submitted in place, so just make sure to get your CV ready anytime, since the chance to apply for job can come anytime and anywhere)

2. About how to make a proper CV

Okay, after getting the access towards those job openings (including all the requirements etc.), people usually asked me on how to format the CV that is best to be used for application. Well, sadly speaking, there are no absolute answer for this matter. Why? Because each company has their own preference for the candidates they want to recruit, and that's your job to get yourself some spotlight in each of them. 

Luckily, there may be several advices on how to personalise your CV based on those company's interest.

• Take a look, once more, at the requirement for the job

From those requirements enlisted, usually you get the idea on what kind of experience, skillset and educational background that they are expecting from you, the candidate. Mentally check all the ability that you have that match the requirements they enlisted, and put that on your CV. For example, if they mentioned they need someone having at least Master's Degree (and you have it), make sure to include your educational background there (including your Bachelor and Master Degree, and PhD if you have it). Or, if they require you to be fluent in some programs (maybe MS Excel, or Python, or anything else), include those info in your skillset and put those into your CV (if you have those skills, of course).

• Be careful on how you line up those informations in your CV

Each company requires different things from the applicants, and even if several things are same, usually they emphasised on different things. So how to know on those stuffs? Again, look at the requirement, and see which points are mandatory and which points are optional (or additional). Usually one needs to include the info about skills, experience and educational background to the minimal. Put those information on top of your CV (if you have also done several projects that you may think useful to boost up your profile, include those as well there). The rest, well, you may add after that (for example, extracurricular activity or honors or awards that you have obtained during your study). To put it simply, put all the points mentioned in the requirements above anything else, and make sure to put an emphasis on those mandatory and optional requirements in your CV.

• Make your CV simple and concise

In my experience, the simple and concise CV is much more preferable for the recruiters than the lengthy one. So make sure to keep your CV easy to read. Also, in my experience, 1 page (or a little bit more) of CV is the ideal one. Just try to follow the CV formatting available on the website (giving some art towards your CV may make your CV more attractive to the recruiter as well, so keep in mind for that)

3. How to prepare for interview

Another most common question about this job application thingy; how to prepare for the interview. Yes, it may sound quite tricky to be tackled on. Because usually the interviewer does not only look for whether you're resourceful and knowing everything that they asked; they sometimes also look at your attitude and your behaviour during the interview itself. Since, their target is not the one that merely possess lots of knowledge or problem solving skills, but it's more to whether you will be a great fit for the company. Considering that each company has different cultures, so you may find this a little bit challenging.

Here are several tips which I found may be beneficial for you to know.

• Before the Interview : Know what to prepare

After passing the screening phase, they will definitely ask you to do interview. Try to get some information on whether the interview will be technical or general. Usually if it's the HR interview (or manager interview), it will be more general than technical. They are more likely to know about you, and maybe they will ask some questions related with the CV you're submitting during the application, so make sure to review your CV before this interview.

If it will be technical, well, you better prepare for all the material that they might ask during the interview. In my case, since I applied for Machine Learning position, I studied about all Machine Learning related stuff before I get into the interview.

• Dring the Interview : Be prepared

In the interview, again it will be tricky to know what kind of question that they may ask. If it's technical, you may be safe since you should have prepared everything related to this stuff before the interview. However, if it's general, then there are vast amount of possibilities on the kind of questions.

Sometimes they ask you about the salary information, so make sure to do some research about this. If this is impossible to do so, just be honest (BUT, you need to be logical as well). Like last time, when I was asked about this, I provided them with the reasoning that I was in Korea at that time, and hence it's tricky to find information about the usual expenses in Singapore. I just mentioned the expenses in Korea and try to estimate the expenses in Singapore, and try to come up with the number.

Sometimes it's related to your CV, so yeah make sure you entered all the right information there. Just that should be enough.

• After the Interview : Ask the question

So you have answered all the questions beautifully, the interviewer got fascinated by you (hopefully), and now it's nearing the end of the interview section. That's usually the time when they asked if you have any question. Use this chance to get to know more about the company. However, be noted not to ask the question that you may find easily on the internet. It will make you look really bad if you ask those kind of stuffs.

Instead, try to get to know about the culture inside the company itself. Try to ask about the project that you may be working on there, considering the position you're applying for. Try to ask literally anything that is not provided on the internet. 

4. Finale

Yeap, that's all for my insight. Hopefully it will help you to get the job you're dreaming for. Lastly, happy applying and may the odds be ever in your favor :)

(credits : The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins)