How to Make Your Job Application Stand Out From the Crowd in 2025

Standing out in a competitive job market requires more than just meeting the basic criteria. It demands a strategic, polished, and proactive approach. In this blog, we explore practical steps to elevate your job application, featuring expert insights from industry professionals.  

We will also highlight the valuable support available through the Griffith College Careers Service and the Griffith College Alumni Network, both of which offer current students and alumni tailored guidance, resources, and connections to help them succeed in their career journeys. 

Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile 

• Set your location and enable “Open to Work”, specifying the types of roles you’re interested in. 

• Ensure your profile is fully up to date and includes all relevant Experience, Education, Licenses & Certifications, Volunteering, Skills, and Honours & awards. 

• Use the Experience section to highlight the tangible impact you’ve made in your previous roles and any results-driven accomplishments/responsibilities. 

• Include plenty of relevant keywords that match the type of job and industry you're targeting. 

• Use a professional, high-resolution headshot taken by someone else. While your photo should be professional, it is recommended that you smile in the photo as this will help you look more approachable. 

Top Tips For Your CV 

• Avoid unnecessary information such as photos, date of birth, marital status, or full address. 

• Add a brief Personal Profile summarising your career focus and key skills at the top of your CV. 

• Include dates and locations for each role listed in the “Professional Experience” section. 

• For each of your previous roles, highlight your key accomplishments as well as the responsibilities you carried out. 

• Include keywords used in the job description you are applying for throughout your CV so applicant tracking systems can recognise you as a qualified candidate. 

• Carefully proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, and maintain a clean format. Get a friend to review it for you too! 

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

While some employers are moving away from cover letters and primarily focusing on LinkedIn profiles, many are still looking for a cover letter. When done correctly, they can be a great opportunity to not just tell them why you want the job, but why you’re the ideal candidate for it (tailor your cover letter to the job – don’t send a generic message). Make sure to also use the cover letter to convey that you have actually researched the company and its values. 

Track and Organise Your Job Search

• Keep a spreadsheet of your job application process so you know who you’ve contacted and when you need to follow up. 

• When you’re networking, create a similar spreadsheet to document who you’ve contacted, how you contacted them (LinkedIn, Griffith Alumni Network, etc.), who they are, when you contacted them, and the outcome. 

• Always follow up! Send an email or better yet, make a phone call a few days after you have applied for a job. The more you show that you are interested in the job, the more your CV is likely to be noticed. 

Examples of Job Search Channels:

• LinkedIn - Connect with professionals, follow companies, and engage with industry content. 

• Indeed - Broad job search platform with opportunities across all sectors. 

• IrishJobs.ie - A leading job board for roles in Ireland. 

• PublicJobs.ie - Official portal for public sector and civil service roles in Ireland. 

• Griffith Alumni Network - Leverage your alumni community for connections, mentorship, and job leads.

• Company Career Pages - Visit the “Careers” section on company websites to find exclusive openings.

How to Leverage the Griffith College Alumni Network

• If you haven’t already joined the Network, go to www.griffithalumninetwork.com.

• There are thousands of alumni on the Griffith Alumni Network who are willing to help. This is an excellent resource for gaining insights into the sector you want to work in and how people with your degree have obtained their roles. If a Griffith College alumni is working at the company you’re applying at, contact them and ask for advice on the interview process or the company’s work culture and values. 

• Click on the “Directory” tab, click on “Affiliation” – Alum and search under the “Willing to help” criteria. You can narrow your search by using other search criteria, such as faculty/course, location, etc. 

• Once you find someone whose profile interests you, send them a message. If they don’t respond within a few days, contact the alumni office and we can follow up on your behalf: griffithalumni@griffith.ie. 

Using LinkedIn to Connect with Griffith College Graduates

There are many Griffith College Alumni with LinkedIn profiles you can connect with when job searching. Perhaps there is a Griffith College graduate already working at the company you are interested in and will be willing to offer you advice.  Here are the steps to take to reach out to people of interest: 

• Go to www.linkedin.com, then search for Griffith College Dublin (whether you’re a graduate of our Dublin, Cork or Limerick campuses and click on “See alumni”. 

• Filter by country, city, and any other criteria specific to your needs. You can filter by company, degree, and more. Once you’ve found someone you want to connect with, click on “Connect” and make sure to include a note in your message. 

When undertaking your job search, there are many people who are happy to help by opening doors and offering advice, so don’t be afraid to reach out! 

To learn more about the career support available at Griffith College and contact a member of the team, please visit the Careers Office page here.