Other articles: Putting a Spin on Work Experience Claims & Credibility -- The Essence of Selling
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Asking Questions -- An Essential and Overlooked Step
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First of all ... good luck! You'll need it. By responding to advertised
positions, you just about guarantee that your resume and letter will
When an employer receives this many resumes, you can bet there will be a
ruthless screening process. Eighty percent or more of
the resumes and letters may even be weeded out before any are
passed along to the hiring manager or team.
Often, your letter and resume will be scanned by a clerk with little
knowledge of the intricacies of the advertised position. They may
have a checklist put together by someone in Human Resources of the
specific experience someone decided is "essential" for the job. Score
poorly on their list, and no one else will ever see your resume. But
you say you have something equivalent or better? Too bad it's not on
their list. You're out.
Yes, it's a tough sell. But not hopeless. Every job my wife has ever
had she got by responding to an ad in the newspaper. I don't think
she believes me when I say this isn't the most efficient way to
look for work.
First, you have to think about who's going to respond to the ad.
You'll be selling against competition and you
have to think about who that competition is likely to include. There
will probably be resumes sent in by people with nearly identical jobs
at other, maybe smaller, companies. In other words, there's almost
certain to be applicants who "fit" better on paper. People with more
checks on the checklist.
The strategy in selling against competition is: 1) differentiate
yourself, and 2) help the employer feel the value he or she will gain
from those differences. Everyone who gets selected for an interview
will probably have the core requirements, so it's often easier to stand
out from the competition by showing the employer the full bundle of
valuable abilities you can offer.
This may not make any impression on the clerk with the checklist,
but unless you're perfect for the position as the employer has
imagined it -- and can prove it -- it's probably your best chance at
getting an interview.
Read More About Writing a Persuasive Cover Letter:
The problem with all guides to resumes and cover letters is that they may make you believe there are absolute rules which must be followed.... Read it here
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