3 RULES FOR GETTING AN INTERVIEW

(BY A GOOD RECRUITMENT AGENT!)

When you want to find the best new opportunity, you can scour the ads or ask an agent to help you. Either way your primary objective is to get an interview.

I am biased.  I know a good recruitment agent will increase your chances of getting an interview.  If they have a reputation for finding good talent, their recommended candidates have an advantage.  More than that they will make sure the opportunity fits with your aspirations and vice versa.  They manage the process, support you, keep you updated and iron out any wrinkles.

Nevertheless, if you want to apply for a job directly, these are the 3 golden rules that we follow:

 

RULE 1: ROUND PEG, ROUND HOLE!

DO NOT waste time applying if your experience is not what the client is asking for.  THE MOST COMMON REASON AN APPLICATION DOES NOT PROGRESS TO AN INTERVIEW IS BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE IS NOT RELEVANT!

It is not rocket science!

Note: In a ‘survival’ or ‘recovering’ economic environment, salary is a major ‘relevance’ factor.  If you can, check what salary is on offer – this will avoid disappointment and make your application more relevant.

 

RULE 2: THINK INSIDE THE BOX

With most companies adopting online, box ticking, application tracking systems, it is much easier for RELEVANT (see rule 1) applications to get noticed.  If your experience ticks all the boxes, and your salary expectations are within range, hey presto.

However, boxes are good at being rigid and, in the embryonic world of BIM, terminologies and definitions are frequently vague and confusing.  Flexibility is required but not often provided.  Slowly, systems are adapting with ‘essential’ boxes requiring a tick to get through the first ‘sift’ and ‘nice to have’ ones to help refine the shortlist further.

Whatever the system, you need to tick the ‘essential’ boxes otherwise you are wasting everybody’s time!  So, read the advert / brief at least twice to see if you have the essential experience and the logistics work (location and salary).

Ideally, the system allows you to write a paragraph on why you are applying for the role.  This is NOT an opportunity for you to tell the reader that you can do everything.  This IS an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself though.  Ask yourself, “What does the reader want to read?”

  • Someone who has the relevant experience;
  • Someone who understands the opportunity;
  • Someone who is positive and explains why they are interested in the opportunity;
  • Someone who can spell and write properly (how do so many people get this wrong in the age of the spell checker?).

 

RULE 3: A GOOD CV

Whether you are applying through a tracking system or sending your CV to a human being, a good CV will make you stand out from the crowd.  They are rare and taking the time to write yours properly will pay dividends and get you more interviews.

How to write A GOOD CV.