| What are employers looking for? | | | | function effectively. It is of no use telling the |
| Employers want to employ the "right" people, with | | | | hiring manager about your life history and where |
| the right skills in the right positions. They want | | | | you attended school, all that should have been |
| people whose values will resonate with the | | | | captured in your resume. Instead, in your |
| company's culture. Your resume must not only | | | | cover letter briefly answer the following questions |
| show your skills and capabilities but must reflect | | | | which will inform him of who you are; |
| how you share vision with the company's thinking. | | | | - What skills have you acquired? |
| Taking time to research the company's values will | | | | - What are your strengths? |
| enhance your chances of having your resume | | | | - What you have done and achieved in your last |
| considered for selection. | | | | role? |
| How does the hiring manager make his selection | | | | - What can you offer? |
| from hundreds of resumes? | | | | The above questions should flow |
| Content is King – but looks do count. The | | | | chronologically as in the following example; |
| first thing that will attract the hiring manager's | | | | - Because you majored in Human Resources your |
| attention will be the look of your resume. A dirty | | | | strongest skill is in sharpening the skills of workers. |
| and unattractive resume with glaring misspelt | | | | - Your strength lies in bringing the best out of |
| words is a sure way of pushing the hiring | | | | people due to your training background. |
| manager away to view the next resume. Your | | | | - You were responsible for the training and |
| resume is an important tool in your personal | | | | induction of 50 interns undergoing internship |
| branding arsenal and the design and layout has | | | | programme, 20 of interns have since been |
| critical impact on whether your resume will be | | | | appointed on a permanent basis. |
| selected for shortlisting. | | | | - You will hit the ground running and prepare |
| How does hiring managers select resumes? | | | | customized training manuals once you have |
| Hiring managers scan resumes and check whether | | | | conducted the skills audit of staff. |
| the applicants meet the minimum requirements of | | | | The above responses will serve as a teaser |
| the job. They scan resumes for qualifications, | | | | and will prompt the hiring manager to want to |
| experience, skills and capabilities acquired, last | | | | know more about your capabilities. At a glance, |
| place of employment and average length of time | | | | your cover letter should sell you to the hiring |
| spent in previous jobs. Your cover letter | | | | manager and compel the hiring manager to move |
| should be like an individual voice in a crowd, and | | | | to the next step –interview. In the interview |
| provide the hiring manager with insights that | | | | illustrate and elaborate on these responses more |
| motivates the reasons why you should be | | | | fully, providing figures, timelines and the ultimate |
| considered for selection, interview and the job. | | | | outcomes/results of your contribution to your |
| Mention your portable and transferable skills if | | | | previous company, and how you will use the |
| your skills and experiences are not directly related | | | | same skills in achieving the goals of his company. |
| to the job you have applied for. What you share | | | | If you can clearly articulate in your resume who |
| in your cover letter must be enlightening and | | | | you are and what you can do for the employer, |
| answer un - asked interview questions. | | | | you will convince the hiring manager to want to |
| Consider the following questions as you prepare | | | | know you better. The self assessment that |
| your cover letter; | | | | comes from asking yourself the most important |
| - Tell us about yourself? | | | | question that no one else can answer; who am |
| The hiring manager does not know you and he | | | | I? Will result in a resume that illustrates that you |
| wants to know you better. But does he want | | | | can do the job and convince the hiring manager |
| to know your personal and private life? No, he | | | | that you want to build a mutual beneficial |
| wants someone who is a perfect match for the | | | | relationship. |
| company, someone who will perform a specific | | | | |