CV AD NVE IW C ES
A 2014 STUDY ANALYSED over 2 million job ads across 11 countries to find the words most commonly used by employers to describe the type of person they are looking for when recruiting. Almost a quarter of all ads demanded traits such as passion, motivation and flexibility. We ask our Connect experts to explain what these words really mean – and how you can prove yourself to your future employer.
EFFECTIVE JOB AD MENTIONS: 127,847 By far the most popular word in job ads but also one of the most ambiguous, ‘effective’ is an umbrella term for a number of traits that employers are looking for. When they say effective, they mean organised, efficient, productive and able to prioritise. But how can you prove that to employers in your CV? “Always be on time,” advises Connect Appointments recruitment consultant Ami Skimins. “You’d be surprised how rare that is!” Ami also advises proving your efficiency by bringing all the relevant documentation in the first instance. “I deal with lots of warehouse and production workers,” explain Ami. “If they bring this to register with me, they’re off to a good start – it also shows they would be prepared for an interview.”
COMMUNICATION SKILLS JOB AD MENTIONS: 124,460 Again, this is another vague phrase as it could include everything from being a skilled public speaker to a competent writer. It can be hard to demonstrate your ability to be articulate and clear through your CV alone – so make sure you prove it during the interview stage. “You know right away when you first meet a candidate if he or she is the right fit for you and your client,” says Connect consultant Colin Doran. “First impressions are definitely important.” Colin believes you can demonstrate your communication skills if you can back up what you’ve said on your CV. “Know your CV inside out – know your dates of employment and how to describe previous experience.”
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MOTIVATED
PASSIONATE
JOB AD MENTIONS: 123,686
JOB AD MENTIONS: 91,384
By definition, any candidate who applies for a job is motivated to get it – but that doesn’t mean the hard work ends there. There are some straightforward ways to show employers how keen you are. “If a candidate has made the effort to smarten up and brings everything that was asked, it’s a good start,” says Colin. He advises always turning up to interviews on time, looking smart and being ready with a firm handshake. “If someone comes in with a hoody and trainers and hasn’t bothered to shave, what are you going to think?” he asks.
Employers want to see that money isn’t your only motivator, and that you also have a vested interest in seeing the company do well. “It is essential that you are passionate about what you are doing,” says Gary Sloss at Connect. “If you care about what you do, you can ensure that whatever you are working on is a success.” Gary recommends doing your homework and researching the company’s ethos, history, products and market sector, and be prepared to talk about how recent trends may affect their organisation.
QUALIFIED
CHALLENGING
JOB AD MENTIONS: 114,581
JOB AD MENTIONS: 89,566
Usually knowing if you are qualified for the job is pretty straight forward – you should know automatically if you have the relevant training and experience to be a qualified engineer or electrician, for example. “An ideal candidate for any position should have the correct skillset to carry out the role successfully,” says Connect’s Arlene Hughes. But she does believe that personality is just as important as any academic or training accomplishments. “The right attitude to work is always essential.”
“Job ads often describe the role as demanding or challenging to ensure they attract the right candidates,” explains Arlene. “They want to make sure they find someone that has drive and commitment for the job, even when it gets difficult.” To demonstrate that you are ready for challenges, mention briefl y some obstacles you faced in previous roles on your CV and be prepared to discuss them in full at the interview.
FLEXIBLE JOB AD MENTIONS: 110,323 The job market is a crowded place at the moment – experts say that of all the people who apply for a job, only 2% reach the interview stage. As a result, companies look for candidates who aren’t afraid to go above and beyond what is expected of them. “Flexibility is very important because businesses can be very reactive places,” says consultant Lynda McLaughlin. “Candidates need to be able to adapt to whatever challenges are thrown at them.” Display any evidence of flexible working on your CV – extracurricular projects, covering shifts or completing overtime. Lynda also recommends showing the same enthusiasm during interviews. “Be confident and be friendly!” says Lynda. “Showing the ability to fit into any team or organisation is very important.”
ISSUE 2 | GET CONNECTED
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