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How to get into the interview pile; as opposed to the reject pile?

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Steel

Ideal_Rock
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Ok I need help, please.

I am applying for (yet another) job and I want to at least get an interview. I cannot post the specifics of what I am applying for; so I know that you can only offer general help.

I cannot get the job I have trained for, for the last 5ish years because of the recession and my C.V has obviously been set up for a different but not unrelated career. In my original career choice I have, on a voluntary and paid basis, done or advised on some of the main aspects of this vacancy and know I could do the job with no problems once I am in the door. In fact I volunteered to help at this office before Christmas by telephone and e-mail (free of charge) but was refused because of Client privacy issues.

I am sending my C.V and a covering letter and want to know what to put in my covering letter to make it jump off the pile. Should I mention the obvious fact that I have trained for 5 years for a job that is not the job I am applying for. I cannot remove this training from my C.V as it leaves a huge gap. If I do not mention it will I just be removed to the reject pile in case they think I am using this full time permanent job as a stop-gap in my path to the careen trained for on my C.V (which it now looks like I will never have
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But not just that - what methods can I use to make my C.V sing?

The vacancy advert listed characteristics and skills required or desired for the role. Should I mention how I fulfil these criteria in my covering letter? Should I use examples?

Help me if you can - I know I am over thinking this but I really want this job...
 
My advice: Read the job description and take key words/phrases from the description and incorporate into your letter. Find a way to link your training to this new job even if its a stretch (without sounding like total BS of course).
 
You said you went in to volunteer... do you know anyone that works there personally... if you do, find out the actual hiring manager... bipass HR... they technically cannot take it... but they''ll know to follow up- and expect it.

OOOO good luck to you, I know you didn''t ask.. but here''s a little cover letter writing DUST!***
 
Steel:
In your cover letter explain exactly how you meet the hiring criteria. Pull the phrases right from the job description and use them as headers if you need to, but clearly outline how you are experienced and how you can work in this field.


Also for the brief time i worked in HR (8 months so take this as you will) I was in charge of weeding through the resumes, and the ones that popped were the ones that were modern looking, streamed lined, slllllightly different (might have used a different font then Time New roman) and ones that would have a small pop of colour in them (The best i ever saw was from an artist, he had a line vertically in the left margin with 3 art deco looking green circles, it got me looking at the resume just to see what he did to make him so bold to put something like that on his resume! (he also got an interview!) )

 
I don''t know how large the company is that you are applying to, but as employer, i have seen some c.v. with small photos of the applicant in one of the corners. if you decorate with some sort of line and place the small photo within creative boundries, it looks great!


it definately HELPED to keep the person in mind and made the c.v. stand out....


if u were able to go in person, bringing a tray of cookies always helps. we have had that done and that person stood out too. we are a company of over 20 people, so not a huge corporate office.... but these are some ideas that we have been impressed with.

good luck!!!
 
Okay, when a resume comes across my desk the things that impress me the most are...

1.When the applicant refers to my company by name and not "your company"...I like to feel as though this applicant didn''t mass mail out resumes and took the time to understand what our company was looking for.

2.Since my company is broken down into regions and you can clearly see on the website who is incharge of what region, I like it when an applicant addresses the CL to me and not to "whom it may concern".

3.When the applicant has found ways to highlight her skill set by "fitting" what I need in a new hire...meaning...if I listed "must be a great multi-tasker" I want the applicant to say "handles various tasks efficently"

4. HONESTY!!!! I''d read that you were "let go" from your last position than be surprised by the fact later on.
 
Ditto to most of the suggestions made so far....especially tailoring your CV and resume to the company and exact position you''re applying for. On my resume, in the ''Objective'' portion at the top, I make it specific to the position, e.g. To provide X, Y, Z as a JOB TITLE at COMPANY. I also have my name in a bright orange colour (my favourite colour) and I only print my resumes/CVs on high quality paper, NOT regular computer paper. Good luck!
 
Date: 1/21/2009 3:57:55 PM
Author: Eva17
I don''t know how large the company is that you are applying to, but as employer, i have seen some c.v. with small photos of the applicant in one of the corners. if you decorate with some sort of line and place the small photo within creative boundries, it looks great!


it definately HELPED to keep the person in mind and made the c.v. stand out....


if u were able to go in person, bringing a tray of cookies always helps. we have had that done and that person stood out too. we are a company of over 20 people, so not a huge corporate office.... but these are some ideas that we have been impressed with.

good luck!!!
I just wanted to make a note on this suggestion. It really, really depends on the company and the person doing the hiring.

I once worked for a company and was friends with the HR staff. They made fun of people that either put their photo in the resume or sent in a video of themselves. They didn''t find it creative, they found it egotistical and would actually show it around during lunch. Those people never made it into the interview pile. Now, the university where I worked for as well loved this...especially treats.

So just be careful.
 
Yes, to using the cover letter to highlight your skills/experience that would be beneficial to the job. Talk yourself up, being careful not to sound as though you ''hung the moon''. It''s a delicate balance, and a bit of a tightrope walk sometimes, but too much self confidence can land you in the reject pile. (I should know; I''ve tossed a lot of resumes from the super-confident applicants.)

A mistake many people make in resumes, or interviews, is that over-assured demeanor that says the interviewee would be foolish not to hire you. Or that the employer should ''jump'' at the chance to interview you.

Another mistake for the applicant is not reflecting on and responding to how the job (if they got it) would propel them forward in their careers. People who hire you want to know what you are looking forward to -- where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to accomplish? Because if you''re motivated to improving yourself, and expanding your skills, you''ll make a good employee. LOL Also a bit of a tightrope walk, because you don''t want to look as though you are using them as just a stepping stone to moving on!

Be sincere, be honest, be forthright with any job gaps or employment lapses. Be confident -- in your ability to be a great employee. And follow up your resume/letter with a phone call and politely inquire as to when you may interview. But never, ever call more than once to ask for an interview.
 
You might want to consider doing some research on the company to see if there is anything interesting going on. Are there any articles or press releases? If it is public, what can you find by looking at their SEC [or equivalent if not in the US] filings. What has been happening with their stock price and why, etc. You will certainly stand out if you incorporate this research because 99.9% of people applying would never think of doing these things. Also, research the people with whom you will be speaking.

Remember, people like people that are interested in them - same goes for companies. They want to know what is in it for them. In your cover letter I would suggest highlighting what you can do for them [based on your research and the ad] and why they should hire you. Also relate your prior experience into the terms of their needs. Tailor your bio as necessary.

Also, print it on a slightly different color paper [ecru, light sage, etc.] so it is easier to find when they go back to look for it because your letter had hit the nail on the head.
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Hope this helps.
 
Thank you all so much for responding.

I am going to tackle this tomorrow and will check how I am doing against your suggestions.

It is a bit complicated as the role is for a position in a government funded organisation. So although the office is quite small it is part of a very large big picture.

I was not allowed to volunteer for the org. that is hiring because of Client privacy. Should I mention that I did ask if I could last year; because it shows interest in the organisation and dedication to work for free or is that pushy and lame? The legal clinic I have volunteered at for the last few years is related but very different.

I am thinking I will use the job spec as headers in the cover letter and use examples of how I fulfil them.

I do have colour in my C.V. and I have received many compliments on the presentation and content of my C.V. before including personal calls from partners/principles letting me know how much they liked it and were sorry not to offer me a job. That is what is so frustrating. Unless these folks are all telling porkie pies* I cannot work out why I cannot get an interview.

Please post any comments you have...I really appreciate 'hearing' other POV's.

*which I have not ruled out
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Date: 1/21/2009 5:52:02 PM
Author: Steel
Thank you all so much for responding.

I am going to tackle this tomorrow and will check how I am doing against your suggestions.

It is a bit complicated as the role is for a position in a government funded organisation. So although the office is quite small it is part of a very large big picture.

I was not allowed to volunteer for the org. that is hiring because of Client privacy. Should I mention that I did ask if I could last year; because it shows interest in the organisation and dedication to work for free or is that pushy and lame? The legal clinic I have volunteered at for the last few years is related but very different.

I am thinking I will use the job spec as headers in the cover letter and use examples of how I fulfil them.

I do have colour in my C.V. and I have received many compliments on the presentation and content of my C.V. before including personal calls from partners/principles letting me know how much they liked it and were sorry not to offer me a job. That is what is so frustrating. Unless these folks are all telling porkie pies* I cannot work out why I cannot get an interview.

Please post any comments you have...I really appreciate ''hearing'' other POV''s.

*which I have not ruled out
15.gif
.
I don''t think they would take time to lie to you...I genuinely believe that they were impressed...give yourself some credit!!!!
 
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