Sylvia's Journal

Today I got a glimpse of the labor market here and how desperate it is. While our IT people tried to figure out why my mail program did not work (potentially a disaster of major proportions as it is our link with each other, far and near, for work and for family and friends) I leafed through the thick binder that our HR manager had deposited on my desk. It contained some 40 applications to a position for a leadership development manager I had posted. As it turned out the position is withdrawn but I was curious to see who had applied.

Of the 40 CVs two were misfiled and were for another position, one appeared much more appropriate for a position we are about to announce in our pharmaceutical unit, two or three were of people I knew and who are indeed potential, though not obvious, candidates. A few I marked as ‘potential’ though less so and I would want to check references first. All the rest where miles off base. I had asked for a leadership development manager but I got accountants, financial managers, IT managers, computer programmers, cardiologists, hygiene teachers, assistant orthopedic surgeons, military interpreters and professional experiences even further afield.

It felt as if some people automatically applied to any position they saw advertised that promised an interesting employer (we are), a reasonable salary (we pay OK) and potential for further development (sometimes). May be some were attracted by status (and international organization) or they had worked for our organization in its predecessor project (and thus knew all the above from personal experience). Sometimes the name of the position was typed in a blank spot in a form letter that had a different font and typeface. Some had no cover letter at all. Very few mentioned in their cover letter why their particular experience was relevant for the job. They mentioned it was relevant and he (all but one were men) was just what I was looking for, but not why.

The language in the cover letters was sometimes hyperbole, sometimes touching, sometimes full of clichés, I imagined copied from others or out of how-to books that were written in the previous century. I was looking for an organized person, a good English writer, yet several of the CVs were full of spelling mistakes and rather jarring in their presentation with a jumble of fonts, underlines, italics and font sizes.

I think I have spotted a business opportunity for entrepreneurial English majors: ‘We help you get a job: resume writing skills, interviewing skills, English writing skills.’ A well written resume, a good presentation and a confident interview will increase one’s chances a hundred-fold.