8 ways to see the applicant before you meet them:

The format and contents of a CV (Curriculum Vitae gives an overview of a person’s experience and other qualifications. In some countries, a C.V. is typically the first item that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants) says a lot about the experience & age of the applicant. Let’s discuss ways you can identify the right candidate for the job before you meet them.

Words:

Too many words and not being concise could be a warning that this person has immature communication skills. They’ll need time to use effective wording and phrases to communicate a clear point.

Personalisation:

Have they personalised the Cover Letter to you and specifically for the role that is being advertised or is this just a copy/paste job application? Either way, you’ll be able to read and feel whether this CV is for you or not.

Ambition:

As you read the CV, do you envisage this person filling higher roles available in the company? If you do, this candidate may only spend a short time in the role that you’re hiring for now, and will move up the ladder very quickly, while it doesn’t help you with your short-term problem (of filling this role for a long time) it helps to build a great tribe or community around you.

Experience:

The Hospitality, Travel & Tourism industry is a relatively small industry, we all know people. Follow up on their advised experience with a buddy or work colleague, people don’t mind confirming employment details. In fact, what a great best practice this would be, to help the longevity and honourability of our industry.

Research:

Is the applicants LinkedIn Profile noted on their CV, go ahead and check them out. See how their profile is set out, what experience they have (vs. what you can see on their CV), how engaged in their connections and groups. While you’re at it, search for them on all other social spaces, these are the days where you can do this almost anonymously.

What does their online presence say about them?

Email Address:

Please tell me they’ve listed a personal email address and not their current work address. Do yourself and your integrity a favour, don’t email them on a work email address with anything too relevant to their application, yes, their emails do get read.

Document Set-out:

You can tell if someone has typed this out for them, especially if they have two spaces after a period, this means it was done by someone who was taught to type on a typewriter.

On the other hand, it could be as simple as a ‘spell-check’ issue that shows me that this person hasn’t spent the time to double check the document. I question their attention to detail skills.

Technology can help to back up information on a CV, such as a QR Code can lead someone to the applicants personal website, where all their gathered and relevant information is listed which also can’t fit onto a 2 page CV. Smart thinking!!!

Skills:

Ensure their skills are relevant and current to the role that is advertised and not skills that they have done in the past that might be obsolete or irrelevant.

Come and see what else we can help you with, click here to see what will suit you.