Yes, it is essential to explain your background and experience. However, in the job search world – brevity is best. So say what you need to say.
Everyone is in a rush these days: fast food, fast cars, high-speed, this, etc. Well, recruiters are no different. But unfortunately, they tend to be an impatient breed when it comes to hiring. Mainly because it’s a buyer’s market right now with so many people looking for work, so they are inundated with resumes.
Keep in mind that most recruiters take less than 20 seconds to review your resume and make a decision about whether it’s worth considering your background any further. Therefore, to acquire a job, you must be concise.
Design a Minimalist Cover Letter and Resume
Take your time while writing your cover letter and CV. Eliminate any unnecessary words. “Eliminate any unnecessary words,” I may have written.” See the difference? Examine your cover letter and CV for brevity.
Consider whether you can leave out words such as “a” or “the” without changing your intent. For example, do you have to say you “assisted the marketing director,” or can you say “assisted marketing director?” It might seem trivial, but it saves space and reading time.
Additionally, think about your use of words. Too many people dump loads of adjectives into their resumes – creative, self-motivated, detail-oriented, and so on – to emulate what employers have written in the job posting. However, instead of copying all the descriptive words, describe what you have done. What actions have you successfully taken in your career that demonstrate you ARE creative, self-motivated, and detail-oriented?
Finally, get to the point swiftly. Say what needs to be said to grab the reader’s attention and no more. Your job is not to fill up all the white space on the page but to tell the recruiter or hiring manager the skills you possess that make you suitable for the job opening.
Say a Lot in a Few Important Words
One of the areas of frustration for many recruiters is the inability of job seekers to answer interview questions without launching into some long-winded explanation.
Think of a courtroom drama you have seen. The witnesses are frequently briefed about the questions they may be asked. They are advised to answer only the question. It would help if you did the same in a job interview. Don’t over-explain, go off on tangents or provide more detail than required. Instead, give the recruiter the information they want and wait for a follow-up question. If they’re going to hear more or require further explanation, they’ll ask.
Wrap it Up!
The recruiter asks for questions after the interview. While they want you to walk away satisfied you got all the answers you need, don’t overstay your welcome. Regardless, it would help if you always had a terrific last interview question available. Primarily because it shows you’re interested.
However, don’t overstay your welcome. Asking a page-full of questions is pretentious; unless, of course, the recruiter did a terrible job and neglected to provide any detail. In this case, you should reconsider joining this company.
Don’t forget to thank them. They are still the sign of a true professional. Nothing fancy, just something short and sweet and to the point. That will help you land the job.
