If you’ve not fallen victim of long submission queues or failing emails then you can say it better. We’ve all waited for the last day to get on something. From college, we waited for the last day to submit. At most times, we survived.
But with job applications, never wait for the last day to apply especially if you get to know about the job vacancy in time. Here are a few things that could happen in the deadline day and how to avoid them:
Failing emails
We continue to receive messages on how a submission email ‘is not working. ‘ Here’s one thing you have to be aware of, mailboxes get full. Mail servers fail at the same time. If there’s lots of applications being sent via email and received all at the same time, something will surely go wrong. There are no guarantees even with technology. Hence if you believe a certain job vacancy will attract a lot of applications, you should send your application way before the deadline.
Long queues at the employers office
The deadline day is the ‘rush hour.’ If your intention is to hand in an application at the employers offices, then don’t wait to submit until the last day. Other candidates will also be submitting on the same day. You don’t want to wait in long queues just to submit your application.
Closing date has an hour stipulated
Some employers stipulate the hour on which applications close. This might be a minor detail but if you get to discover that applications close at 12:00hrs when your assumption was that applications close at 17:00hrs then you’ve already missed your chance. It’s important to know the exact time on which applications close to avoid any inconveniences.
Any other thing that could happen if you wait until the last day:
- Traffic
- Printers not working or failing technology, including viruses corrupting your files
- Need to get a reference letter
- The deadline day is on a weekend or a holiday
- Something urgent comes up
Lastly, the employer can find the best fit for the job during the application period. That means your application will not even stand a chance.
Rule of thumb: at least hand in your job application a day before the deadline.