First: check you can apply
Before you spend an evening on an application, check the basics:
- The closing date and time. Note the time zone too.
- Where the job is, and whether it's on site, remote or a mix.
- Who can apply. Government jobs often have rules on citizenship, work rights or security clearance.
If you don't meet a must-have rule like these, the rest of the ad doesn't matter. Our government guides, such as the one on applying for US federal jobs, explain those rules.
Next: what to send, and the limits
The ad, or the information pack it links to, says what to send. Look for:
- the documents: a resume, a cover letter, a statement, or answers to questions
- the file type, such as PDF or Word
- page and word limits for each document
- how to apply: by email, on a job site, or on the employer's own system
Treat a limit in the ad as a rule, like the closing date. Our free file and page checker shows whether a file is within it.
Last: essential and desirable criteria
A job advert usually has the job description, the essential criteria and company details.
The job description helps you understand the job's responsibilities and tasks. The criteria say what the employer wants in the person.
Essential criteria are the must-haves. Desirable criteria are a bonus. Canada's public service calls them asset qualifications, and tells people to apply even if they have none.
List the essential criteria. For each one, write down a time you showed it. Those examples become your application and your interview answers.
Spot a fake job ad
The US Federal Trade Commission says honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. If a placement firm asks you for a fee, especially upfront, walk away.
Canada's Job Bank says real Canadian job ads won't ask for banking or personal information. The FTC gives a similar warning. If a company asks for your Social Security number or bank details before you even interview, it's probably a scam.
A job ad, read line by line
Here is a made-up job ad, with what each line tells you. Real ads put these lines in different places, so read to the end.
Made-up example
A made-up ad for a customer service officer in Sydney
Closing date
Who can apply
What to send
Essential
Desirable
Five lines, and you know whether to apply, what to send and what to prove.
Questions
Should I apply if I don't meet every desirable criterion?
Yes, if you meet the essential ones. Desirable criteria are a bonus. Canada's public service, for one, tells people to apply even with none of its asset qualifications.
What if the ad doesn't give a word limit?
Keep each document short and focused on the criteria. If you're unsure, ask the contact person named in the ad.
How can I tell if a job ad is a scam?
Be careful if you're asked to pay a fee, give bank details, or share ID numbers before an interview. Honest employers don't ask you to pay to get a job.
Sources
Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.
- How to write a CV · National Careers Service (England)
- 3. Applying for an APS job: cracking the code · Australian Public Service Commission
- Applying for Government of Canada jobs: How to apply · Public Service Commission of Canada
- Job Scams · US Federal Trade Commission
- Employer Background Checks and Your Rights · US Federal Trade Commission
- Job Search Safety Tips · Job Bank, Government of Canada