Last week we talked client pitches. This week, let’s discuss job applications. How can you make your job application stick out like a punk duck?
Common Sense:
a Brief Introduction
Let’s give some thought to the folks who read your job applications. Most folks placing ads for freelance writers and bloggers probably have a few things in common:
1) They’re too busy to do the writing work themselves, or they’d be doing it instead of hiring you.
2) Their inboxes are already overflowing and (if they’ve never placed a job ad online before they have no idea that) they’re in for about a thousand responses in the first day of the ad’s appearance online.
3) They do not have time to deal with bullshit.
I mention #2 because I’ve seen way too many freelance writers and bloggers complain that they’re peeved about job-posters not responding to every single applicant to let them know the position has been filled. This is entirely unpractical. I’ve put out ads. Within an hour, I usually have at least one or two hundred responses to go through, and I usually put my ads out late at night — not even peek job-hunt time.
I mention #3 because I’ve seen way too many freelance writers and bloggers admit that they apply for any job they’re even a tiny bit interested in, whether or not they’re qualified, often with a boilerplate cover letter, and usually without taking the time to bother following the job-poster’s instructions. Let’s assume you’re not these people. I like to think you’re all smarter than that.
Put Yourself in His Shoes
The potential employer has posted his ad, and he’s now being flooded with responses. Maybe he’s read a few dozen (or a few hundred) replies by the time you read the ad and decide to respond. He’s probably going blind by this point. But beyond blind, he’s feeling overwhelmed and aggravated.
“Must every applicant go on and on about himself, sharing details that have nothing to do with the position I’m hiring for?” he asks himself as he reaches for the Advil. “And where are those links to clips I asked for? Doesn’t anyone understand the meaning of PLEASE NO ATTACHMENTS?”
He’s pissed now. It’s 9:45 a.m., and he’s already planning that drink he’s going to have after work.
(Ok, maybe not every job poster feels this way. But I sure as hell did.)
“Screw this mess,” he says to the computer screen, because he’s talking to inanimate objects now. “I’m not going through all this shit. I’ll just scroll through my inbox for subject lines that look interesting.”
Get Your Foot in the Door (and Out of Your Mouth)
You’ve felt his pain. His overpriced shoes are too tight, and he’s just kicked himself in the ass for not hiring someone to hire someone for him. Before you hit “send” on that job application, let’s punk it up a little.
Your subject line rules all.
I have a Christian buddy who likes to say he’s the only bible some folks will ever read. Your subject line is like that. Very few people are reading through a thousand applications or even opening all the emails. If your subject line stands out like a punk duck, you have a better chance of getting your application read.
Unless the job ad specifically states “put yada yada in the subject line” you want to get creative. The standard craigslist reply line isn’t going to cut it, nor will copy/pasting the job’s title or writing “blogger position” and calling it a day.
The only high paying lawyer blogging gig I ever got off craigslist I got because of my subject line. I know because the guy doing the hiring told me. Out of nine hundred applications in three days, he told me he only read about a dozen. My subject line was ‘RE: Blogging Position — Experienced Personal Injury Blogger and Former Paralegal‘. I sent the email from my “Law Firm Blogger” domain, so he knew I meant business. (He told me that too.)
Brevity is your friend.
I’m not talking about responding with two lines, but three short paragraphs should cut it for your cover letter.
The beginning: Hook them here, because this may be all they bother to read before hitting the delete button. In these first few sentences, make them believe you’re the perfect person for the job. What can you do for them that other applicants probably can’t? An example, taken straight from a cover letter that got me a gig (with the client’s website url removed for confidentiality):
As a former paralegal who has been blogging for law firms since 2004, I would love to be considered for the position with [your website]. I come with impeccable references from lawyers whose blogs regularly convert web-surfers into paying clients via high quality, well researched, search engine optimized blog posts ghostwritten to attract the kind of cases they want.
The middle: Illustrate that you’ve done your homework and actually care about the position. You’ve scoured their website (assuming they listed one in the ad) and have taken the time to figure out what you can bring to the table. Let them know about it. From that same application:
In reviewing your website, I noticed many of your topic areas fall under the drug liability spectrum. Because I write for two personal injury firms, I have quite a bit of experience covering recalled drugs and dangerous medications still on the market. I scan the news on these topics daily and am familiar with many of the lawsuits already filed (e.g. Ketek, Ortho Evra, Avandia). I subscribe to the FDA and MedWatch recall and mailing lists and have Google News alerts set up for countless drug names and related keywords to stay up on the latest information available.
The end: Wrap things up with a bonus hook and a little ass-kissing. They took the time to read your response out of about a billion others. Be genuinely grateful. My conclusion:
As requested, I have pasted below two articles to give you an idea of my writing capabilities. To give you an idea of my ability to adapt my writing voice to that of the attorney I write for, the first is an informal news-related piece I wrote for [firm name] when Medtronic’s Sprint Fidelis leads were first recalled in October; this blog post brought in 45 potential client inquiries, 4 of whom retained [firm name]. The second is a post on a case study [lawyer name, managing partner of law firm name] assigned to me in August regarding his [client name] case; this blog post brought him two new clients for related matters.
I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.
How do YOU punk up your job applications?
Any tips or tricks you’ve found to get your application read and get yourself hired? Share them in the comments!
Missed the beginning of this series? Catch up with Do you stick out like a punk duck? and Punk up your client pitches!
If you don’t want to miss the rest of the series, which will include tips for punking up your websites and blogs, your marketing and social networking skills, your query letters and resumes, and your existing client relationships….
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This is a great post. You could have split it into 3, actually.
First of all, brevity is always your friend assuming you choose your words wisely. That’s the advantage of working on the Web, you’re rarely in a situation where you can’t rethink what you’re about to say. (The flip side of course is that once said, your words are beyond any control unlike in the real world where they’ll usually be forgotten or remembered by only one person)
Regarding the frustration of too many job seekers and not enough time to reject them, we just began a nice rant-bate on my blog last week. Lots of great responses from recruiters:
An Open Letter to the Recruiters of the World From Job Seekers Everywhere - http://jobmob.co.il/blog/open-letter-world-recruiters/
I’m curious, Amy - why not use your network to find and hire writers? More effective than a job ad and less email to wade through or even subject lines to skim.
Jacob from JobMob’s last blog post..4 Things to Know and Do Before Employers Google Your Name
Hi Amy - This is brilliant advice. I haven’t applied for a job for a long time. But I did do a little bit of freelance writing a few years ago and I’d like to do some more.
When people were applying to work for me, one thing that stood out was whether they actually bothered to use my name on the application. Like you said, some people will apply for any job going and often they’ll send the same letter to everyone, which is really offputting.
I love the duck by the way.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Grilled Frog On Toast Anyone?
Hi Jacob — Thanks for stopping by. I’ll have to stop by you blog and read your rant-bate.
To answer your question of why don’t I use my network to hire writers, I do whenever possible. I didn’t always have a network.
Even now, if one of my lawyers needs someone with a background in an area where I don’t know anyone, I do have to put out a call for a writer. Now I start with an email to my network and usually someone knows someone. Occasionally though, I still have to put out an ad.
Hey Cath. Here I thought you were freelancing all the time. Shows what little I know.
You make a GREAT point about getting the name right. In this day and age, it isn’t always possible to use a name because most job ads don’t give you a name to use. But yes, there’s nothing like reading a message that says “Dear Sir” when you’ve said “Please email Amy at …” 
Amy, that was a wonderful post! I have an HR background, so I’ve been on both sides of the coin - sending out applications and fielding hundreds of applications. I love how you show potential clients real results in the third paragraph - how could they NOT want to hire you?
My personal pet peeve about applicants this week is those who don’t take no for an answer. I am the managing editor for a medical science site and the same person keeps applying over and over again. I send the rejection (due to poor grammar and spelling; lack of punctuation) and then the next day, I get an e-mail that is practically begging me. I feel like saying, “if you can send me one e-mail without an error, I’ll accept you.” But it hasn’t happened yet!
Leigh’s last blog post..Client Handbooks
I’ve come to realize that job applications and query letters to agents are pretty much the same. They have to grab the reader within five seconds because the reader has hundreds (or thousands) of letters and is usually itching for a reason to skip every letter.
I remember being on the hiring end with hundreds of resumes and by doing a quick scan I would go from 200 to 10 to 2 worth interviewing then adding back in 2 who were borderline (just to have a decent number to interview). That first 200 to 10 (5%) would happen in under 20 seconds per application. (Yeah, I was pretty ruthless).
Fortunately I don’t do either at the moment.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..A Life Without Somedays: Erin Doland Interview
Leigh — Thank you! I’ve glad you liked.
I probably should have added a few bits here, based on your comments. I always think “learn to proofread” is a given, and then I have to hire someone and I realize, “oh yeah, people don’t proofread, nor do they even read the job ad all the way through.” I don’t envy your managing editor position. I’m too mean to be suited for that kind of position, because I would have sent the email you’re talking about. 
I do think “don’t bug the shit out of your editor” is a good point — one which I should have included here, and one I plan to cover in my Punk Up Your Query Letters article. Stay tuned. 
Alex — First off, lucky you.
I’m all for the way you do it. I call it my ADDscan. 
I have to admit (sadly) that I’m behind on my blog reading so I’ve had trouble keeping up with this awesome duck series. Boo hoo *wipes tears*
But seriously, I’m going to absorb it all as soon as I can. I do love how you’ve shown how you get fantabulous gigs by sharing your own cover letter with us! *claps hands* Thanks for always sharing your knowledge with us, Amy. You’re the bestest punk duck ever!!!! 
*smiles*
Michele
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