Text guides

Job applications

Build applications from work you actually did. Match the role, keep the evidence and make missing information visible.

12 practical tasks. Each guide includes a sample request and a way to check the answer.

Match a job description to your experienceRead each requirement in the vacancy and put a real example beside it. That gives you a useful starting point for a resume or cover letter, especially when the job title sounds familiar but the day-to-day work is different.
Turn resume duties into evidence of your workStart with what you personally did, then add any result your records support. A resume bullet about managing stock, for example, can explain which items you tracked and how the counts were used. Leave out figures you cannot verify.
Shorten a resume around one jobStart from the posting, not from the space you need to free up. List what the employer asks for, then sort every resume item into keep, compress or remove. A written reason for each choice keeps you from cutting dates or qualifications the application depends on.
Build a cover letter from three real examplesChoose three pieces of real work that match what this vacancy asks for. Describe what you did and what resulted, then add one fact about the employer that you can check. Cut any sentence that would fit another applicant or another employer.
Fit a job application answer into its word limitRead the question for every part it asks, then build the answer from a claim, one example and an outcome. Count words after each trim. When the limit forces a cut, remove background and keep the evidence that answers what was asked.
Make a job application tracker you will useA tracker works when it is small enough to update after each application. Record the role, the date you submitted, who you dealt with, the last reply and the next action. Keep dates an employer asked for separate from reminders you chose.
Find the missing details in a job advertisementBefore you write an application, list what the ad states and what it leaves out. Common gaps include location, pay, hours and who may apply. Turn each gap into a short question for the recruiter, and do not guess an answer.
Prepare a brief for someone giving you a referenceOnce someone agrees to be your referee, send a short brief with four items: the role, two or three pieces of work they saw firsthand, the format the employer wants and the due date. Supply facts and links. The referee supplies the opinions.
Write a factual career-break line for a resumeA career-break line can be as short as dates and a plain label. Add detail only if you want to and it is true. Draft two versions at different levels of disclosure, then pick the one that suits the role and your comfort.
Build a job-title list from work you want to doThe work you want may appear under several job titles. Start with specific tasks you enjoy and compare them with duties in actual vacancies. Keep the title and its source together so you can tell a useful search term from a plausible-sounding label.
Check a resume file before submitting itOpen the file you intend to submit after exporting it. A resume that looked right in the editor can contain a broken page break, an old phone number or a link to the wrong portfolio. Keep the employer's format instructions beside the file during the check.
Choose portfolio samples for a specific jobStart from the posting's requirements and shortlist samples that show them. For each one, note your own contribution, whether you may share it and what context a viewer needs. A few well-explained samples serve a reader better than a long folder.

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