In step three, you finally talk to someone and apply for a role. Here’s what to consider.
How to apply for a role
What agencies and employers have in common is that they employ a gatekeeping process designed to filter out as much noise as possible.
If there's a good match between your CV and their needs, they will contact you, as they need to fill the vacancy. When you talk to a recruiter, whether from an agency or employer, the point of the discussion is to get out of the screening and into the shortlisting pile on their desk — and, hopefully, an interview, whether face-to-face or telephone. Recruiters have targets and rarely call you for a social chat.
Bearing this in mind, consider what their needs are.
Language
They don't want to look bad by recommending you, or waste the hiring manager's time, so you need to give them enough confidence that you know what you're talking about that they put you forward.
To gain confidence, they want to know what you can do now, so focus on that and not on what you've done in the past. The briefing from the hiring manager is unlikely to be set in the past tense, so neither should your conversation.
You may think it's relevant that in 2009, you worked in a particular environment, but they won't, and they certainly are unlikely to make that connection. It will be relevant occasionally, so be careful how you bring it into the conversation. I worked for my current employer almost 20 years previously but didn't mention it to the recruiter. It turned out that it would have been OK, but you can't guarantee it'll turn out well.
Keep the conversation current and make the link between your knowledge and their understanding of the role obvious. Spell it out if needed, and help them join the dots between your CV and their job description and person requirements.
If you find a slight mismatch between your CV & LinkedIn profile and their language, consider whether to tweak your CV to align the language. For example, my company talks about Information & Digital Technology (IDT), whilst another might say Information & Communications Technology (ICT). If it appears to be an issue, spend ten minutes rewording.
Confidence & Control
You also need to come across as being confident and in control. Recruiters, screeners, and interviewers can all spot desperation a mile away. So can you, in others. You must approach every contact with confidence and in a relaxed way. You won't get the first job you apply for, so you're not a failure. Treat every contact as an opportunity to tweak your style and approach, and treat every discussion as positively as possible. Put yourself in the shoes of an interviewer and view yourself in the third person.
Try to make sure that every time you talk to someone, you:
Take the call on your terms. It's better to take their number and call back than to talk to them if you're not in the right frame of mind, in a noisy location, or travelling through tunnels or mobile dead zones. Use that time to get yourself back in the 'zone' and have a good conversation when you can show them your best side. It also shows them respect by not being distracted when you talk to them;
Use your headset to come across clearly and professionally without background noise. I have witnessed interviews in loud cafes and wonder why on earth the person chose to subject the interviewer to the sound of steaming milk;
Glean as much information as you can from the recruiter about the job, why they are recruiting now, what the perfect candidate will be like, and the organisation's major challenges;
Take notes on the conversation to refer back to later;
Follow up with an email to say thank you and to clarify any points;
Find out the next steps and call back when they're due (e.g. sifting, telephone interview, etc);
Have some questions in your notes that you want to ask about the position. Never ask about salary, annual holidays or benefits with an employer unless asked and
Smile when talking, which makes you sound friendlier.
If you've done these things, you'll sooner or later make it out of the discussion step and be invited to interview, the next job search phase. Now, you need to focus on making the interview work for you.
Notes on specific job search processes
Covering Letters
If you have the opportunity to send a cover letter with a CV when applying for a role, follow these rules:
Make it fit one side of A4 when printed;
Start by stating the role you're applying for;
In the next paragraph, explain why you are a good fit for the role. Note that this means you need to know the role and be able to relate the narrative to your CV;
In the next paragraph, clarify what value you believe you can add;
In the last paragraph, state that you'd like to discuss the role further, giving clear and simple contact information.
Use simple, to-the-point language that respects the time of the reader. Don't expect a call if they have to read three pages of self-indulgent rubbish.
Finally, use ChatGPT or your favourite AI to improve your letter. I have experimented extensively with cover letters I've received, and it's a step worth taking. There hasn't been a single case yet that didn't come through the process much improved.
Application Forms
These still exist, particularly in the public sector. If you need to complete one, follow this advice:
Read it carefully and answer the questions asked, not what you think was asked;
Be aware that one reason for using an application form is to hide information such as age, gender and ethnicity from the assessors. Therefore, when giving information, do it neutrally;
Don't be tempted to copy and paste from your CV. Follow the language and structure given to you in the form itself and provide the examples they asked for, not the ones you already have prepared;
Use your favourite AI to improve your narrative in the free-text fields.
Good luck! Let's now focus on interviews. If you have any more tips, please let me know.
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