Taking your strengths to the market
Whilst it might feel uncomfortable to do, it’s essential that you ‘blow your own trumpet’ on your CV. The summary section at the top of your CV gives recruiters a 30 second soundbite of your skills, experience and aims. It should state the following
- Your core skills
- Where/how you have developed these skills (through academic and/or professional experience)
- What you want to do in the future?
- Demonstrating your knowledge about the role/industry
- Matching your skills and experience to the role offered
- A clean layout, with clearly defined sections that explicitly highlight key information.
- It should indicate that the candidate thinks logically and can express ideas concisely.
- Obviously displayed achievements
- Concise explanation of experience, with a heavier focus on the skills developed/utilised
Before submitting your CV for a job, you must ensure that it is in ‘showroom condition’ – you never get a second chance to make a first impression and it helps to see things from your potential employer’s perspective. You are trying to shift the balance – from initially being a seller of your skills and experience, to the employer becoming a buyer. Your CV must prompt the employer; it must motivate them and give them cause to buy into you.
How your CV is assessed
1. The first glance – Is this worth my time?
a. A clean layout, with clearly defined sections that explicitly highlight key information.
i. Indicates that the candidate thinks logically and
2. The double take – Does this match the job requirements?
a. Obviously displayed achievements
3. In-depth scrutiny – Does this make the short-list?
a. Concise explanation of experience, with a heavier focus on the skills developed/utilised
What a covering letter should do
A covering letter is your opportunity to demonstrate your specific interest in the role being offered. Note that we say ‘your specific interest in the role being offered’, not ‘your interest in the specific role’. It enables you to differentiate yourself from other candidates by:
Covering letters are impact documents and should be short – generally no more than 300 words. This is why:
Imagine you’re a recruiter at a prestigious, well-known firm. Your inbox is full of CVs and covering letters, the vast majority of which will be from highly relevant candidates who have attended top universities. You have to assess the applications within a short timescale.
In the described situation, would you be excited by a two page covering letter? You probably wouldn’t.
Due to the sheer volumes of applications, our consultants learnt that it’s necessary to be brutal. A two-page covering letter will be assessed for the same amount of time as a well thought out, targeted three paragraph statement of purpose. Covering letters are assessed by recruiters using the same three-step methodology as for CVs:
The Recruiter’s Thought Process
The First Glance – Is this worth my time?
The Double Take – Does this candidate match the job’s requirements?
In-depth scrutiny – Does this make the short-list?
