I want to blow apart the myth that qualifications lead to jobs! Don't get me wrong, I have some qualifications and I would always recommend to clients that they are worth working hard for, but on their own qualifications are just that, pieces of paper with important words typed in fancy fonts. On its own a certificate will not open a door to a well paid job. Only you can open that door by presenting yourself as a complete package. Without the right attitude, integrity of character and experience (that is application of knowledge), then that piece of paper is worthless.
To understand this, as a job seeker, it is essential to put yourself into the shoes of an employer who is seeking to hire the right person. In any batch of written applications the first thing an employer will do is bin those CVs and Application Forms with poor layout and formatting, spelling errors, incorrect grammar, lack of understanding about the job being applied for, etc. Presentation and written communications is everything at this stage to get past the initial hurdle. Make sure you get your CV and covering letter checked by a mentor who will help you achieve the highest possible standard.
The second action taken by the employer is to scrutinise the documents for people they can trust - do the dates add up, is the description of who they say they are making sense and what have they done so far with their life? Are they communicating something meaningful to me or is it waffle?
The third action taken by the employer is to work out the package that applicants are bringing to the table. What are their qualifications (which incidentally should be evident in the first sentence)? What experience do they have? What career decisions have they made up until now?
In other words, employers use a Head, Hands and Heart principle. They want to know three things a) what you know, b) what you've done and c) how you operate. It's easy for employers to gain this information from a written application but so many people miss the mark by a mile.
Let me give you a very simple example. If I want to hire someone to serve tea for my up market customers then I need someone competent in tea-making to do this. They don't have to be qualified just competent. From the batch of applications received I see the following:
- At level One a potential employee knows that to make tea they will need a mug, boiled water, a tea bag and some milk - and they are capable of assembling these in the right order to produce a standard mug of tea.
- At level Two (school leaver/GCSE level) an employee knows the basics but is also aware that some people may prefer sugar or lemon with their tea and if a teapot is used the customer is able to pour their own tea to taste. They will also understand that all these different elements are better served on a tray.
- At level Three (college leaver/A'Level) an employee might understand the basics and have experience of serving tea on a tray but will also be knowledgeable about fruit teas and will offer a selection and take the trouble to serve tea using a bone china teapot to make the tea a more presentable and enjoyable experience.
- At level Four (diploma level) an employee will be very knowledgeable about a wide range of teas from around the world and will be able to recommend different types for different occasions. A linen tray cloth may be used with bone china to serve the tea and the service will be first class and include appropriate polite conversation all served with a smile.
- At level Five (advanced degree level) an employee will be a specialist with many years experience of serving tea in a variety of places and can talk knowledgeably about tea imports and the benefits of various blends, etc. Probably will be able to discuss the history of tea-making and it profitability, etc.
An employer will want to select for interview those applicants who, on paper at least, fit the type of person (person specification) that he has in mind for his business. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that a level Five applicant will get the job because much will depend on several other factors, such as whether the applicant will fit into the environment and alongside other colleagues, etc. Only the interview will demonstrate this.
So my advice to any jobseekers reading this is to make sure you know yourself well enough to say in once sentence what you know, what you can do and how you like to do it. Here are some examples below of how the Head, Hands and Heart principle can be applied in a profile statement at the top of your CV:-
- A qualified mechanic with over 3 years experience of farm vehicle repairs who enjoys providing a high degree of customer service.
- A well motivated shop assistant with some experience of fashion retail sales who is keen to learn and wants to develop a range of new skills.
- A highly qualified Linguist & Translator with more than 28 years experience of providing a comprehensive service via a network or freelancers; willing to offer a rapid response no frills service at fees to suit most budgets.
