Alex Knight

As a graduate recruiter at Deloitte, I read hundreds – if not thousands – of applications. So, what makes a great application? 

One that speaks to the advertised role, has been proofread to the hilt and gives me a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for.

Too often I see silly, totally avoidable mistakes. So, to prevent this from happening – and to help you put together a great application – here are my top tips:

Alex Knight, Graduate Recruiter for Consulting, AAGE’s Graduate Recruiter of the Year 2017

1. Apply for the right area & program

Decide which program you’re eligible for (if you are applying for Deloitte - do thatby reading this and visit our student portal Your Future) and research which teams to apply for.
(Note - if you are applying for multiple teams/streams in the same business, only apply to 2-3 teams (our most successful candidates do this), and pick ones that really speak to who you are, what skills you have and where you see yourself thriving.)

2. Tailor each application to the role

Make sure you customise each application to your team of choice. It’ll take longer, but trust me, it’ll pay off. Each team’s looking for a different mix of skills, personalities and degree backgrounds – so draw attention to how you not only meet the criteria, but that your skills and values match up nicely with the team’s projects, culture and work ethic.

3. Give us a well-rounded view of who you are

As a student, we get that you probably won’t have heaps of experience. And that’s ok! Supplement this by showcasing any extracurricular activities you do (think student societies, sports and hobbies, volunteering), and any other training or achievements you might have up your sleeve.

4. Proofread, proofread, proofread
Silly typos and spelling errors tell us two things: At best – You don’t have an eye for detail. At worst – you don’t care enough to polish your application. So, please get someone (or a few people) to read over your application before submitting. We love grammar nerds!

5. Get all your paperwork together

Make sure you submit ALL required documentation upfront. As a recruiter, I love it when candidates do this because it shows me you’re super organised! It also helps that it makes my life infinitely easier. So include your CV, academic transcript and proof of working rights in Australia (ie VISA or Australian passport).

6. Make it easy for us to contact you

I can’t stress this one enough. Make sure your contact details are up to date. If we can’t contact you, how do we tell you that you’ve made it through?! Also: If you need to leave us a voicemail, please leave your full name and number. It’s near impossible to call you back otherwise.

7. Go above and beyond

Lastly, the applications that really stand out are the ones that show us you’re on the pulse. That you stay on top of industry news, and know what trends are disrupting or changing the landscape. So, read as widely as possible and it won’t hurt to follow our leaders on LinkedIn too =)

Good luck and we can’t wait to hear from you!