Dear all,
I have received numerous emails / PMs regarding the application and as much as I would like to get back to everyone in time I thought it might be easier if I write a blog post. There might be many points that you know already; in any case I tried to list what I think are the most important things to pay attention to when filing your application:
- Prepare a clean cut CV
Don´t forget that we have to screen many applications, so the easier you make the job for the people reading your CV, the better your chances are. How?
- List different sections (education, professional experience etc.) separately with clear headers
- Show dates prominently next to activity (don´t make it a hassle to find out whether you have graduated one months or five years ago)
- Follow chronologic order (preferably from today backwards in time for each section respectively)
- Make important details stand out (font, underline, italics)
- List your tasks in internships and specialization during your studies in bullet points
- Keep it concise
As we have to screen many applications, CVs of several pages (meaning more than two or max. three pages) might be hard to read thoroughly. As for the cover letter, I would suggest one page as the limit.
- Pay attention to detail
Remember that this is the first impression you make, so show your dedication by taking some extra time on reviewing your application.
- Avoid typos: Typos suggest that you have not read through your application and you probably don´t care too much. If necessary ask your mom to read it for youJ
- Don´t try to make documents become one single PDF file by scanning them in together. There are many PDF editor websites where you can integrate your files.
- Separate CV from cover letter. They are different documents so don´t put them consecutively on the same page.
- Bonus: Get the company name and the GP track name right and upload it to the right place. Also, uploading the right file is a plus ;)
- Keep it classy
It is your decision whether you want to have a photo on your CV or not but if you do, make sure to do it the right way. It might seem exaggerated that I point this out, however a not appropriate photo could give the wrong impression about anyone despite the best of intentions.
A CV photo should be:
- With an appropriate dress on (no hoodies or bikinis)
- Aimed at the face and shoulders (not full body)
- With a clear background (could be inside or outside but no bathroom tiles in the back)
- Decent quality
- Name document clearly when uploading
Example try to have file names like “Cover_letter_John_Smith.pdf” instead of “Sharkymike_v342_randomcompany_january_whateverblabla.pdf”
- Put effort into your cover letter
When writing your cover letter I strongly encourage you to take your time and:
- Read about the company and the industry and maybe just think about it for a couple of days
- Write about personal motivation and skills, but most importantly show where you could add value to the company. What you put down should answer two questions: Why would you like this job? and How could you contribute?
- If you have too many sentences starting with “I did …”, “I am…”, “I would…” you might want to reconsider the point above
- Don´t pressure yourself
Trying to include everything and handing in your application in two hours won´t do you any good. Try focus on what is relevant, e.g. highlight having taken a course in pharmaceutical marketing while leaving out having won third place at a poetry reciting competition in elementary school.
- Leave some time to reflect
Writing the cover letter and reading it a couple of days later, then changing something and reading it again will help you get the end result right. Which seems good today, might look completely different in a couple of days, so make sure you give yourself the possibility to revise your letter.
- Do an extra check-up
Do I have my personal details right? Did I read over all the documents? Are they all typo-less, informative and neat? Are they the right ones? Did I upload everything including transcripts and reference letters? Is it all clearly structured for the person screening it?
- Upload & Relax
At this point there is nothing left to change, so lay back and enjoy a job well-done. Don´t torment yourself over the details during the days to follow as it is pointless. In severe cases maybe eat some chocolate to decrease the stress factorJ
28 Comments to The 10 things you need to get right when preparing your application
thank you lilla… it is very useful information to me… if i have any doubts .. i wil get back to u…
Lilla,
Thank you for the great information posted in the blog. It is very kind of you to take time, from your busy schedule, in order to provide guidance to others who are seeking to improve their chances in the market place.
I sent the basic information necessary to apply for the Global Marketing position. I did not include a Cover Letter. I believe the reason behind it is the fact that my CV should be the “condensed” version of my professional career. The one thing that I use as my Cover Letter, once I have the opportunity to schedule a phone or in-person interview, is my passion for what I do.
The motivation behind applying for this Global Marketing position with NNI is an inseparable mixture of personal and professional ingredients. The professional ingredient could be compared to using yeast in the making of bread. It would make my career rise to a peak never reached before. The personal ingredient has connections to the fact that I am diabetic type 2. Without insulin, specifically Novolog, I could not have had the opportunity to reach the goals that I have set for myself. It is like the fire or heat that “cooks” the dough and makes bread.
Unfortunately, passion cannot be appropriately described in a Cover Letter or CV. I know that one has to go inside of a bakery in order to enjoy the scents and aromas of freshly baked breads or pastries. I also know that I can be the candidate for this Global Marketing position. I have all the necessary ingredients, including the fire. I am only missing the place to do it. Yes, you guessed right. The place is Novo Nordisk.
Thanks again and kindest regards,
Ildefonso.
P.S.: Could I use this posting as a Cover Letter?
Do that:)
Hi Ildefonso,
I see that you are very passionate about getting into the graduate programme, which is exactly what we are looking for, however as it is a criteria for a succesful application (requirement if you will) please be so kind as to contact the application administration if you have not uploaded a cover letter as I am afraid otherwise your application might not be considered.
On a different note: make sure that you take a close look at the placements in the different graduate tracks in terms of geography if you would like to specifically work in NNI.
Take care!
Lilla
Hello,
I have a practical question regarding the grade transcripts. I come from an Italian university, and, of course, they provide me with a transcript in Italian as well as grades following the Italian system. I do not find the information saying that is required a transcript in English. Should I then provide the Italian one and, maybe, a personal English translation?
Thanks for whoever answers. :)
Hi Lillla,
I am Danish, must the application and CV be in English or is Danish ok?
Thank you
Alle the best from Anna
http://www.novonordisk.com/careers/graduate/r-and-d-global-development_uk.asp After choosing my favorite program how do I have to continue? I would like to aplly but how? Tksss
Hi Iolanda! you should be able to find all the necessary information regarding the technicalities for the application on the website.
everything strictly in English!
well, ideally i would tell you to get your transcripts in English from the university because you are surely going to need them also later on. if you cannot do that, then you can provide your own translation, however then your left to the good faith of the person screening your application…
Hi :-) It’s a global programme and the hiring managers are often non-Danes, so write the application and CV in English please. BR Franz Veisig, Online resp.
Apply using the link to the right on the programme page (‘”Your next step”). BR Franz Veisig, Online resp. PS: Please note that 9 of 11 programmes are hiring in 2013. Global Development is not one of them
Thank you very much for your useful post. I have completed my masters in Computer Engineering in 2011.Can I apply for a post in Novo Nordisk’s graduate programme? Today is the first day I have visited this website and after reading about the graduate program, I am highly interested to apply for a position. As, it is my first day and the deadline is very close where I have some confusions about selecting path to follow. Could you please give me a little idea about selecting the right way for computer engineering background people. I am looking forward to hear from you. Thank you.
I´m glad I could help. If you are from a computer engineering background, I would suggest you apply to Business IT. As for having finished in 2011; one of the requirements is to not have more than 1 year of professonal experience, so it depends on your background.
Hi Lila, thank you very much for helping us with your posts, all of them are really useful to me.
I have graduated in 2010 in pharmaceutical chemistry and since 2011 i have been doing an internship at a hospital pharmacy in Italy.
Do you think i could apply? (i ask you because i graduated 2 years ago).
Thank you in advance
Hi Lilla,
Thank you for the great tips. What is your opinion about the length of the cover letter? Do you think a full page is overdoing it?
Hi Lilla
Thanks for your informative information. I have already submitted my application before I saw and read your painstaking advice but I need to know if I got everything or most things right using the standards you provided here. I completed a master’s degree in Philosophy at Aarhus University in October last year with good grades and am still searching for a professional job so I applied for the Novo Nordisk Global Marketing graduate programme. Would you think my degree is qualified for the programme? And would you think that having not done any professional job for one year or having not worked for up to one year would disqualify me? Moreover, I did not include reference letters because I didn’t think they were strictly required but I provided detailed information of my referees in my CV knowing that if Novo Nordisk contacts them anytime about me, they are ever ready to respond. Would you think that not providing actual reference letters could disqualify me?
However, I made my CV and Cover letter succinct and salient as possible and tried to show the inter-relationship between my degree, the graduate programme and my motivation and skills for it.
Kindly let me know what you think on the issues I raised.
Hi Lilla,
Thank You!!! You’ve shared very useful information for all the participants. It’s really helped me in shaping my application for graduate programme.
Also, I would like to Thank all your colleagues who blogged their experience and information pertaining to whole selection process.
Thanks & Best Regards,
Sourabh Jain
Dear Lilla
I submitted an application for the Business Processes Graduate Programme. However I could only submit a provisional transcript and would only receive a certified transcript from my University this week.
Would it be possible to submit the certified copy after the deadline?
Thank you for posting your experience, it sounds like a great place to work. :)
Monique
Hi Monique, I think the provisional subscript should do just fine for now!
glad to help:)
Hi Ugo! not having reference letters will not disqualify you, they are just an optional plus. Your application is being reviewed and we will get back to you soon!
Hi Lilla
Thanks for the feedback. Chocolate really does make a difference :)
Hi,
Is it possible to add a personal reference to my application after having it submitted?
If so, where?
Best Regards
Troels
Dear Lilla
I submitted an application for global marketing Graduate Programme. I had my MBA major marketing in Nov 2012 and Bachelor degree of pharmaceutical science in may 2007 with five years professional experience in SALES only but not marketing…so am i eligible to this program..?
we will review and let you know!
im afraid not :/
true that;)