Earlier this month, our agency began floating a job description for a new business internship over the summer.
We’re looking for a somewhat inexperienced, hungry college student to come in and help us clean up our new business systems / tools, create best practices & actually go out and assist me during the client prospecting process.
It’s the first time I’ve ever interviewed a group of candidates, and it’s been a real learning experience for me to understand what it is like to be on the other side of the table, so to speak.
During this process, I’ve developed a few pet-peeves that have completely turned me off to a few of our applicants.
Learn How to Formulate Your Thoughts in an Easy-to-Read Fashion
I can’t describe how difficult it is to read through paragraphs that contain 7 – 8 sentences a piece and cross multiple lines of thought. It’s tough!
Take these two examples below:
Example #1:
My name is Mike. I’m really looking forward to being a part of your organization. I have so much to bring to the table — I can write well, have experience with the Microsoft suite of products and understand how to manage deal flows in Salesforce. Please let me know what I can do to make my point clear that you should hire me.
Example #2:
Hello, my name is Mike.
I’m really looking forward to being a part of your organization and have so much to bring to the table:
- I can write well
- Experience with the Microsoft suite of product
- Understand how to manage deal flows in Salesforce
Please let me know what I can do to make my point clear that you should hire me.
Now, as an employer looking to make a hire and has to read through hundred’s of job applications, which example would you prefer to see? Which would stand out and show that you are truly a proficient communicator?
Less is More
To the point above, learn how to communicate the value you would bring to the table in a very sharp, concise fashion.
Get hyper critical with your verbal and written communication!
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Focus on the quality of each word in your sentences — what value does that sentence provide? Could you make your point more concisely?
- Focus on the benefit companies will see from hiring you. How can you make their lives better?
Measurement, Measurement, Measurement!
Again, focus on the measurable benefits employers have seen from hiring you in the past.
How can you put your value in terms of numbers? Great examples include:
- My company saw a X% increase in new business prospects
- Reduced employee turnover by Y%
Show me tangible measures of success! Make your skills an easy sell for me to understand why I want to hire you.
Tailor Skills to Job Description / Interview Questions
I’m completely fine with the fact that no one person will be the perfect employee out of the gate — there is definitely a learning curve to go through, especially for younger employees who are new to the professional realm.
But I really need you to show me something. I’m not asking for you to be a guru and have every single item on the job description checked off, but show me that you care enough and attempt to make a connection.
Take these two examples below:
Sample Question & Answer #1: Do you have any search engine marketing experience?
No, I do not.
Sample Question & Answer #2: Do you have any search engine marketing experience?
I did notice that you asked for that on the job description, and while I do not have extensive experience with search engine marketing I have begun to read articles on Search Engine Land and have been chatting with my cousin / mother / professor / whoever, a person that is a search expert, about some of the in’s and out’s of search engine marketing.
Again, see the difference?
If it was listed as a line item on the job description, at least recognize that and show me some effort.
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Aside from being the CEO at MKG Media Group, Mike is a dark beer aficionado with a healthy appetite for travel and pushing personal boundaries.
A proud graduate of Washington State University, Mike currently calls San Francisco home.