The successful candidate - how to be the person they want to hire, by Ros Jay
How often have you looked at a job advert and thought ‘I can do that - but how am I going to write something that convinces a stranger of my abilities’. You know deep down that you’re a good problem solver, able to use your own initiative, meet targets and stay calm under pressure. But when it comes to putting all that into words as part of an application, your highly developed communication skills desert you. If that’s a scenario you recognise, then this book could start to remove your writer’s block.
It provides a succinct and practical guide to some of the most commonly used words and phrases in recruitment. As well as explaining a range of terms - such as multi-tasking, forward-thinking, dynamic and pragmatic - in a recruitment context, there’s advice on how to demonstrate each skill both in writing and face-to-face. There’s guidance on the questions you’re likely to be asked and suggestions of examples you can draw on to demonstrate particular qualities.
An unusual but welcome extra is the information on hidden meanings. These nuggets are not available for all words and phrases but restricted to those where certain requirements might indicate problems. An emphasis on good interpersonal skills could be a warning that you will be dealing with some difficult people, or that others in the organisation are demoralised and uncooperative. The need to demonstrate an ability to be persuasive could mean constantly getting people to do something they are resistant to. And an insistence on high levels of energy might make you wonder what sort of workload you will be asked to cope with. Where these warnings are included, they are accompanied by suggestions for questions you can ask at interview to help you explore whether the realities of the job would suit you.
The 83 phrases covered are organised into seven sections, each dealing with a particular set of skills such as personal qualities, work style, and communication. The writing style is clear, direct and brimming with common sense suggestions that will be as valuable to the experienced professional as to the first time job seeker. Even if you don’t see yourself as having difficulty deciphering recruitment speak it’s a worthwhile read. The qualities analysed and explained are those every employer wants in some combination or other. It’s all too easy to overlook or take for granted the things you are good at. This book prompts you into thinking about, then effectively demonstrating, your strengths.
Irene Krechowiecka is a career coach, author and freelance journalist learning