The parade of the Olympic athletes in London on Monday this week reminded us of the achievements which are possible provided you are prepared to be prepared. It is not just hard work, although success will not come without this, but focus.
As with the Olympics is essential to know both what you are good at and what you are looking for. If you are fast like Usain Bolt go for the sprints whereas if you are like Mo Farah go for the distance events. In today’s highly competitive job market, and it is a competition (which is the name used in the public sector when it advertises jobs), there is no point in talking about ‘transferable skills’ as you have got to beat off people who already have the skills being sought.
So your first step is to decide (and be realistic) on what you can offer and what job(s) you are going to go after. Finding the right job is a selling and not a hunting process, since with internet job boards it is easy to find out what is available. In fact many job sites will advise you via an email when they there is a vacancy for which you might be suitable.
In selling yourself when job seeking, the first hurdle is to sell yourself on paper. If you don’t get through the heats you won’t get a chance to compete in the finals. In a similar way if you don’t impress with your CV you won’t get the opportunity to sell yourself ‘face to face’.
The first step is to put yourself ‘into the shoes’ of the potential employer or ‘buyer’. Find out what they are looking for.
The advertisement should, if it is properly written give you core information.
Anything else you can find out about the company will help you. Try their Internet site; ask current employees or customers if you know some of them.
The clearer you are on what is required, (i.e. which event you are competing in) the easier it will be to hit the target.
The next step is to customise your CV to highlight how you meet the requirements. By this I don’t mean lying.
Apart from the ethics of doing so, anyone who does will eventually be found out. Let’s assume someone inflates his/her salary to imply their current job is bigger than it really it; the true salary will become evident when the P45 of tax paid is handed over the new employer.
There is however no harm in omitting certain facts. I can remember a situation a few years ago. An engineering company was looking for a project manager. One of the candidates had excellent relevant experience but in his CV he stated that he a BSc in Zoology.
You may not think it logical but the potential employer never felt comfortable with the candidate because he really wanted an engineer. If the candidate had just stated he had a BSc and omitted that it was in Zoology the employer would not have been so hung up. The employer would have felt that a bachelor of science was a relevant qualification.
On the subject of degree I can never understand why some candidates undersell themselves by stating their degree was a lower second (or even third class).
It is not dishonest to leave this out and you may not be asked at interview what class of degree you obtained. (If it wasn’t a ‘good’ degree be prepared to explain why just in case you are asked).
If you got a first (even though they seem easier to get today!!!) do state this.
I believe it is also very important to state your achievements. Many professional recruiters use the following argument when ‘selling’ candidates to their clients. If the candidate has done it for another organisation, s/he can do it for you. E.g. a Financial Controller who has reduced outstanding debts by say £0.5 million. Incidentally this is why more and more interviews are using ‘evidence seeking’ questions.
These focus on what the candidate has actually done/achieved in his/her career to date rather than on what the candidate might do if in new situation. After all experience, of itself, is nothing more than a opportunity to have performed.
Skilled Human Resource professionals will scan your CV (or question you at interview) to see what has actually been delivered in your previous jobs rather just what the duties were.
Now you have got into the finals I will, in a later article, tell you how to perform at your best at the interview.