Does your application & CV pass the ‘Yeah & So What’ test?

Somewhre someone is looking for exactly what you offer. Nu-Recruit, Liverpool, Chester, Wirral If you’ve ever been in sales or customer services you might know this test. Tell your prospective customer a fact & if it’s totally irrelevant, it won’t pass the ‘yeah & so what test’. So try & sell a car to a Mum or Dad with 4 kids & keep telling them about the top speed the car will go to & they’ll zone out. Disinterested. It’ll alienate them. Conversely if you state the safety ratings, you’ll probably have more of a chance of getting them interested & listening & eventually considering buying. They’ll bite the bait & want to know more.

So I blog about job seeking, applying, employing & recruitment? How is this relevant?

Ok well bear with me.

Since the ‘recession’ I gets lots of CV’s from candidates who want to be considered for jobs that are on the same – or sometimes lower – level of responsibility & salary. And really, as the market is pretty busy with candidates looking for a move upwards & with more responsibility & that can be perceived as drive, you have to look at how you’re selling this move & your application email & of course your CV.

Think about it, so you want to take a pay-cut? A lesser role? Be closer to home? These tend to be the main factors & remember these are coming over on emailed applications that are supposedly written to SELL your CV:

  • I drive too far / my commute is too long.
  • I want less pressure.
  • I’ve been in my job too long, have struggled to get another at this level & so am happy want to side step into this initially…..
  • I want to take a step backwards as I made a bad career move.
  • I’m older / near retirement so have no need to prove myself any more (yes I actually get this).
  • My circumstances now mean I don’t need to earn as much.

And when you look at these reasons the tough view from most employers would be ‘yeah. And so what?’ Why would anyone employ a candidate that wants ‘a step back?’ It almost reads like ‘I can’t be bothered any more.’

You see, we’re in a market where employers would prefer to employ a candidate that’s driven to want more money. Achieve more of a career path through longevity with their business (not immediately but eventually). An employer doesn’t really see the long commute (that you chose to do unless relocation of your workplace was involved) as your reason for leaving. They’re not really interested in candidates wanting ‘less pressure’ – none of it is giving the right message which is I REALLY want to work for you, in your organisation, in JUST this job. It very much looks like you’re ticking YOUR own boxes – not the potential wish list for the employer.

Work on your reasons but remember it’ll always be trickier to sell a sideways move but get the message right & you’ll hopefully pass the ‘Yeah & so what’ test.

I’m Roseanne Stockton & I successfully run Nu-Recruit Career Consultants – I place permanent & temporary candidates of the very best quality into great local employers & jobs in Liverpool, Chester & Wirral. In a no-fuss, no nonsense way. And I love what I do.

Call me if you think my experience will help you get the best candidate for your job! And please feel free comment on my blog.

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