Application is self-advertisement

The Job Application as an Adventure

Imagine you’re embarking on an exciting expedition – and the journey begins with a job application. What’s a job application in this adventure? In simple terms, it’s your personal advertisement, inviting yourself on a thrilling journey with a company. You are the product that you want to sell to a company, and the company has certain needs that you might be able to fulfil.

No worries, though – you don’t have to print posters or produce TV commercials... or do you?

Let’s take a little detour into the world of consumer psychology. There’s a well-established concept here, the AIDA principle, which works quite well in the adventure world too:

• A = Attention (grab attention)
• I = Interest (spark interest)
• D = Desire (create desire)
• A = Action (prompt action)

When we embark on an adventure, whether it's buying a new backpack or renting a canoe, we think ahead about what we’re looking for, how much we’re willing to spend, and what it needs to do. It’s similar when applying for a job.

Grabbing Attention

In our search for the perfect adventure gear, a product needs to stand out to grab our attention. This could be through eye-catching design, interesting packaging, or recommendations.

On the job market, companies use a similar strategy. They aim to capture your attention through job adverts, websites, fairs, and other marketing methods. Even if you’ve already applied, you should also make yourself visible online so that recruiters and HR managers can find you. A profile on platforms like LinkedIn can be a helpful tool.

Sparking Interest

Once a product has grabbed your attention, it needs to spark your interest. Advertisers use specific design features, special offers, or exciting announcements to achieve this.

Similarly, companies design their job ads and websites to capture your interest. The way they present themselves can vary greatly – from traditional to modern and dynamic. As a job seeker, your goal is to tailor your application to fit the company and the role you're applying for.

Creating Desire

The next step in our journey is to create the desire to own that particular product. Advertising succeeds when it makes us feel like we’ve been waiting for the perfect product.

For companies, this means they want to make you feel the desire to work for them. They highlight benefits, exciting tasks, or other attractions. Your goal is to ignite the company’s desire, making them feel like you are the perfect fit for the position.

Prompting Action

At the end of any advertising campaign, the goal is to prompt us to buy the product or take some other action. In the application process, this means companies want to encourage you to apply and, ideally, sign a contract.

Conversely, as a job seeker, your goal is to get the company to shortlist you, invite you to an interview, and perhaps even make a job offer.

So, your application becomes an exciting journey, where you showcase your strengths and qualifications in the best light, with the ultimate goal of getting your foot in the door of your dream company.

Ein Text! Sie können ihn mit Inhalt füllen, verschieben, kopieren oder löschen.