On the job with Rania: Getting your message across

If you've been sending your curriculum vitaé (CV) out and getting no response, one of the first troubleshooting tips I can give you is to check the clarity of the message your CV is carrying — if any.

Many people generalise their CV in a way that makes it almost unnoticeable. A generic CV — not to be confused with a simple one — is the one in which job descriptions are stated without a clear line that explains how a jobseeker's experience has evolved and advanced in a particular industry.

This lack of focus can be intentional by someone who is concerned that a clear career path may limit job opportunities in other industries or positions, or by an impatient jobseeker who thinks having a plain fit-it-all CV is the best way to apply for jobs. Taking this approach, however, may be excluding this jobseeker from all opportunities — including the ones he or she has got the qualifications and experience for.

You must strike a balance between leaving the door ajar for new opportunities and showing a commitment and in-depth knowledge of a particular area or industry. This balance requires spending some time on tailoring job applications before sending them out. In today's relatively tight job market, I would be surprised if anyone would pass on a job opportunity just for being short on time.

Here are a few tips on how to place a greater focus on the quality of applications to ensure your message is being heard.

Matchmaking

The more relevant the job opportunity is, the easier it is for you to customise your experience. A tangible way to assess how you measure up against a particular job is to look at the mandatory and the preferred requirements and see how many you can claim to have. If your score is between 80 per cent and 90 per cent, this is definitely a match made in a tough job market. Go for it!

Find preferences

Beyond the job requirements that are explicitly stated, there are always preferences that a hiring manager may imply in a job advertisement and they can be drawn from the statements made, for example, about the work environment, corporate plans or the team. Scan the advertisement thoroughly for hidden messages, and respond to them in a similar subtle tone. For instance, if an employer mentions that the company prides itself for distinguished customer service. You may want to highlight your accomplishments, awards, recognition in areas such as client retention, customer satisfaction, etc.

No exclusions

While you're building your CV around one theme, don't exclude valuable experience that might be sought if the situation changes down the road. Flexibility ranks high among employers in today's market, so be careful not to turn your specific points into rigid limits that seem hard to compromise — unless you are actually not willing to. If you're unsure whether you're going too far or not, leave the whole issue to a personal interview.

Focus on training

If a mandatory job requirement is missing in your experience, you can make up for it by highlighting relevant training or even willingness to training. Like a problem, not dealing with a missing qualification won't make it go away. I have seen hiring managers who would be just as happy to hear from a candidate an affirmation of willingness to receive and commit to training.

Connect the dots

Don't expect hiring managers to read between the lines of your CV. If you want to move ahead to the next stage, it is your duty to play up your relevant experience. This is particularly important in career milestones. For example, if you're applying for your first managerial position, bring up your previous experience that involved team leadership, initiatives or project management and focus on the results you achieved. Even if this experience is significantly smaller in responsibility and scope, it will hopefully demonstrate your potential for a larger role.

Be reasonable

If you're changing careers or applying for a job that is completely out of your way, don't make illogical arguments in your objective or try to twist your previous experience too far. If you do so, you may be seen as dishonest or completely misunderstanding the job. Either way, your CV may be tossed aside. Instead, bring up any soft skills that may be relevant to the role — people skills, communication, etc — then use your covering letter to explain why you're looking to change track.

Rania Oteify, a former business features editor with Gulf News, is currently a journalist based in Seattle.