One of the hardest challenges for young Africans is finding a job. Anyone who has their first job will tell you that you need to apply to hundreds of jobs before succeeding. In fact, it takes an average of 162 failed applications before you get hired for your first job.
It might feel overwhelming to think about this, but the good news is that AI and other online tools can help!
Whether you are currently employed or not, looking for your next job is a valuable activity, whether you take that job or not. By looking at the skills required in higher-level jobs in your industry, you get a better idea of where you need to grow, and in interviews, you could make new connections or learn about a new development in your field that can open new doors for you.
In this Milestone, we are applying for a job. You do not have to apply for a job, but taking the steps below is an opportunity to grow.
We’re going to try two different platforms. LinkedIn, and a freelance site, Upwork.
LinkedIn is the most popular place where jobs are posted; most companies use it to find talent. Let’s dive in and search for job opportunities near us or even a remote job.
Head to LinkedIn.com and follow the guide below if you’re unfamiliar with how job applications work on LinkedIn.
Remember to keep the link to your next job to submit at the end.
Upwork (Optional)
Getting a job on LinkedIn is a significant commitment, so if you’re just starting out, have some skills, and you’re struggling to get work, there are many freelance sites you can look for a short-term job, a.k.a a “gig”.
The gig economy is one of Africans’ biggest opportunities to earn a decent wage. Many companies are moving away from full-time employees and instead hire people in the short term to meet their business needs. Sites like Upwork provide a platform for us to complete a project and get paid fast.
Getting involved in a couple of projects on these sites gives us the opportunity to apply our skills, learn some valuable lessons, and build a professional portfolio of our work.
In this guide, we create a freelancing profile on Upwork and apply for a part-time gig.
Head to Upwork.com and follow the guide below.
A cover letter is a way for us to explain why our skills and experience make us perfect for the job.
However, recruiters get hundreds of cover letters for each job opening.
So recruiters often use a system called the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that automatically checks how suitable an applicant is for a specific job. If our application doesn’t pass the ATS, it fails before anyone sees it!
The ATS works with keywords. If our CV and cover letter have the same keywords as the job advert, we can pass the ATS check.
To make a good cover letter, we need to:
- Convince the ATS we have what it takes.
- Explain to the recruiter why we are the perfect fit.
In this guide, we create a cover letter using the job we saved earlier. We will use AI to write a custom cover letter that matches our skills to their requirements.
Now that we have created a cover letter, it is time to battle with the ATS! Many paid and free tools help you create a cover letter and CV that stands out. This guide uses a free tool (5 scans allowed) to check if our application is close enough to the job requirements to pass the ATS. We will show you step-by-step how to improve your cover letter.
Remember to create a PDF document of your cover letter using a template or Google Docs. You will have to submit it at the end.
We hunted down the job we wanted, used their job requirements to convince them that we were the best candidates for it, and ensured we passed that pesky ATS.
Now, for the last hurdle – applying for that job.
If you’ve never applied for a job on LinkedIn, the guide below will help you, but don’t skip this… At the end, there’s a tip for getting your application to the top of the pile!
Last Update: November 21, 2024
