Cover letter examples can be a very good benchmark for a person who wants to know which cover letter is effective and which cover letter is ineffective. An effective cover letter will help any job applicant get that once in a lifetime chance to be called for an interview for a dream job.

Getting a good paying job is rare these days considering that companies have already hired very good people a long time ago or they are in the process of scaling down their operations due to economic reasons. It is thus very important to grab the opportunity for a good paying job when it presents itself.

Every job applicant should learn the value of a very convincing cover letter to be incorporated in his job application. The cover letter is actually the introduction to his application and the other attachments like his resume, work portfolio and other credentials are just secondary documents.

The cover letter is considered the primary document because it is the very first thing that the employer sees. In the same manner it is the very first information document that the employer reads. It is thus pertinent that the cover letter is written in a brief, concise and very convincing manner so that the employer will be encouraged either to read more about the applicant or to call him for an interview.

A sales letter is a very important part of selling goods and services. A cover letter works in the same way that a sales letter does. It gives an aura of marketability to the job applicant and this characteristic can get him that opportunity to be interviewed.

A cover letter is not a mere letter informing the employer that the applicant read of the job vacancy in a certain publication or bulletin board. It is not just a letter merely informing the employer that the applicant is hereby submitting his application for such vacancy.

A cover letter may be brief but it contains all there is to know about the applicant. It is really a creative way of summarizing what the applicant can do, what he has achieved and what he can do for the company if he is hired for the vacant position.

Through a cover letter a job applicant should make the employer realize that this person is the one we are looking for. This person possesses all the qualifications of the job. By reading the cover letter the employer should be encouraged to make a decision to meet with the applicant because he wants to know more about what he can offer the company.

Writing a cover is always a very big challenge even to people who already know how to write well. A winning cover letter is something that is achieved only after hours of reading cover letter examples from people who were there before and who knew how important cover letters are.

A person who wants to get inspired in writing a very good cover letter should look at the cover letter examples of people who used to be like him, eyeing a very good position and yet not knowing how to even get an interview. He should get his cue from cover letter samples of people who were once applicants but are now company managers, executives and even owners.

By: Mario J. Churchill

About the Author:

Your resume got you in the door for an interview, where you were a smash hit with the hiring manager, and just as impressive with a group of would-be coworkers in the second interview. And today they offered you the job!

But before you yell out in ecstasy and prepare a well earned celebration, stay even-tempered until you know everything you’re getting into, whether you’ll even accept the offer, and how you’ll execute this important transition. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

EVALUATE THE TERMS

Relax and Buy Some Time. You’re in a great position. This job vacancy has been costing the employer a lot of money, including interviewing time and lost productivity. They’re not doing you a favor by offering you the job; they see you as the solution to their problem! You need to give them an answer, but not immediately. Tell them you’re very pleased to receive the offer, and that you will get back to them with your response within, say, 48 hours.

Review the Offer. “Get it in writing” may be a cliché, but it’s really good advice. Many companies will detail the job offer in a formal letter. If you don’t get a written offer, it’s a good idea to ask for one. Or, consider writing your own letter, outlining your understanding of the offer. A standard offer letter will cover the following:

* Your job title;

* Your starting date;

* Whom you will report to;

* Compensation (wages or salary, bonuses, commissions);

* Benefits; and

* Vacation time and paid holidays.

Verify the Details. Does everything in the letter match what you and the company discussed during the interviews? Is the salary where you thought it would be? Is there a waiting period before your benefits kick in, or until you can begin using your vacation time? (Both are standard in many companies.) Know before you sign.

Negotiate the Terms. This may be your only opportunity to negotiate employment terms. Money may or may not be negotiable; the larger the company, the more rigid the salary structure tends to be. But either way, there are other things you can consider asking for, such as:

* A shorter waiting period for benefits;

* Additional vacation time;

* Shares of company stock or stock options;

* Flexibility in your work hours; or

* Company-paid career development training.

Don’t be unreasonable, but go ahead and inquire. (And now would also be a good time to let your boss-to-be know about that tropical vacation you’ve booked for next month.)

Trust Your Gut. Accepting a job offer should not be a knee-jerk reaction. It’s difficult, especially if you haven’t had a paycheck for awhile, but think hard about whether this is the right move for you to make at this stage of your career. Does this position – at this company – help you take your career in the direction you want to go? Is it the right cultural fit? Does it encourage work-life balance? Do people seem to enjoy working with each other? Does the company mission mesh with your values?

If anything doesn’t feel right, it may be wise to decline the offer. On the other hand, if you can answer those questions in the affirmative, go ahead and sign!

GIVE YOUR NOTICE

Once you’re sure you’re going to take the new job, let your current boss know and give the proper notice period (usually two weeks). In most cases, the company will ask for a resignation letter.

Resign Formally. Your resignation letter should not be an elaborate explanation of “why” you’re leaving. It should just state that you will be resigning your position, indicating the effective date (your last day on the job), and adding a polite “thank you” for the opportunities you had while working there.

Don’t be alarmed or take it personally if the company asks you to leave immediately, especially if you’re going to work for a competitor. In some companies, policy dictates that terminated employees be escorted off company property immediately. If your company has such a policy, be sure to purge your computer of personal files beforehand, as you will not have access to them once you resign.

Talk to HR. Review your benefits with a Human Resources representative at the company you’re leaving, especially about your health insurance coverage. Make sure you won’t be uninsured as you wait for your new benefits to kick in. In most cases, you will be dropped from the old company’s plan on the day of your departure, but you will be eligible for COBRA coverage, which provides for temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates as long as you pay the full cost of the premium yourself. Inquire also about how you will receive your final paycheck, and how the company handles compensation for time off you didn’t take.

Outline an Exit Strategy. Talk with your manager about what you need to accomplish before your last day. Are there any projects that must be completed? Do you need to transfer information, project deadlines, and other work details to your manager or the person who will assume your duties? Do it in a professional manner without expressing any glee that you’re leaving. You never know when your career path will cross again with those of former co-workers, so don’t give them a reason to resent you.

START THE NEW JOB

Don’t “Diss” Your Old Boss. It’s important to maintain your self-discipline and avoid complaining about your former company after you take a new job. Such griping will make your new employer skeptical about whether you are truly committed to the new job, or just wanted to get away from the old one. And they’ll probably wonder what you’ll be saying about them the next time you change jobs. Keep your focus positive and forward-looking once you’ve made a career move.

By: Rick Saia

About the Author:

When you are on the hunt for a wonderful job, there are steps you can take personally to overcome the lethargy and ‘comfort-zone’ mentality that bogs people down in work they don’t really like.

It’s time to grasp the nettle and get on with it and prepare for action.

Here are five starters for you to think about, right away, today!

1. Ask A Previous Boss

Remember that place you worked where there was a great culture and everyone seemed to get on really well. Only external circumstances took you away. And you’ve missed it ever since. The management team were supportive and encouraging and offered help anytime you needed it.

Well, now is the time to call that bluff and ask. Yep, that’s it, make the call. Your boss will usually be only to delighted to hear how you are getting on and even more pleased to help. Pick up the phone, make the call. You ever know.

2. Offer Yourself For Free

There are often great opportunities to build a resume by working either in a voluntary placement or just offering to work for free in a place where you might really want that dream job.

Making the effort to go out and get new experiences is a tremendous way to ensure that you find out more about what you are really looking for, as well as getting the experience that might help you actually get that job you want too.

3. Places You Go

The world around you is alive with places where you could find the job that you’ve always been looking for. Keeping your eyes open and understanding the people who work wherever you might come cross is great learning and, if you engage in conversation, who knows what vacancies might be ready to be filled right now.

4. Services You Use

Sometimes the very job you’ve wanted for ages is right there, under your nose. It might be at the doctor’s office, where they need someone just like you. Or a specialist store across the street that needs someone with your expertise – hobby even!

It is amazing how often the very services we use; the stores we frequent; and the sous chef at our favorite restaurant is ready to take someone on – and it’s just the job you’ve wanted, so be on the lookout!

5. It’s An Ears Thing!

And a big part of finding just what you want is about awareness and great listening skills. Some might say being nosy or overhearing more tan you should. Truth is, where a job vacancy is in the offing, not only do you owe it to yourself to do the best for you – but hey, the people who need you, need you to know about it.

Being able to sense what is going on around you is a vital skill. one that you can practice and nourish. So make the best of the skills you didn’t know you had, and probably didn’t realize how useful they could be!

Can you do this? Yes, of course you can! When those little gremlins start to question you, make sure you beat them down and say, that indeed, yes, you know you can!

By: Martin Haworth

About the Author:

Letters are described as written messages using various characters to convey or relay certain information.

It had be one of the oldest forms of communication, dating way back during the ancient Egypt. Written messages before, had been the only form of communication of people from different locations.

But with the advancement of modern technology, this has been just one of the many options for communication. Other forms had been introduced such as the use of telephones, telegraph and email messaging.

Letters are used for various reasons or purposes such as the following:

1. Personal communication of friends or relatives

2. Formal communication for business or office use

3. Public announcement

Cover letters in specific are used to introduce a need or a much broader topic. These are usually used for:

1. Application for a job posting or vacancy

2. Introduction in submitting a quotation for offered product/s or service/s

If the cover letter is used for applying for a vacant job post, the following should be included in the content of the letter:

1. An explanation on why the individual is sending a resume.

All resumes should have an accompanying cover letter that would explain what post the individual wants to apply for.

2. Indicate from where one had heard of such vacancy.

It would be of help if one would be specific in indicating where he or she had heard of the job vacancy, that is if it was from a television ad, from a certain website or through word of mouth.

Indicating the name of the individual who suggested that an application be sent or written is likewise appropriate.

3. Catchy enough for the reader to want to read your resume.

The letter should be polite and not over-demanding or too confident, so much as to arose interest to look upon the attached resume.

4. It should focus on the selling points of the individual.

This may include the education attained, past work experience or previous posts held, ever so slightly touching the said topic but not too much so as to loose interest to further read the accompanying resume.

5. The attitude of the individual should be a reflection of the letter.

Enthusiasm for work, politeness and motivation should all emanate from the letter so as to give the employer an overview of the individual’s positive points.

6. Any other information that is requested by the employer.

If the needed information is not stated in the letter or the attached resume, the individual should state the availability of the information upon personal appearance or request.

Below is the proper formatting of the cover letter for application purposes:

1. State the current date

2. Indicate the name to whom the letter would be forwarded

3. Designation and address of the person on number 2

4. An opening paragraph that is catchy or would arouse the interest of the person reading the letter.

5. The middle paragraph should point the interest of the applicant and should have created a desire on the part of the reader to consider for the position the sender of the letter.

6. The following paragraph should subtly direct the reader to read the attached resume.

7. The closing paragraph should ever so slightly hint or suggest a certain action from the reader, that is, the sender could state his or her available time for an interview, if needed.

By: Jimmy Sweeney

About the Author:

Obstetrics is the specialized branch of surgery dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after birth) and considered to be an important medical activity for nurturing new lives into this world.

During their service as obstetrics department of medicine, medical practitioners take precautions to a great deal. These doctors will have to see a pregnant woman on a regular basis to monitor a woman’s pregnancy progress. Due to involvement of great risks, the work of obstetricians is considered to be a complex activity.

With the increasing complexities in life, the demand of gynecology jobs has really increased to a great extent. In every corner of the world, gynecologists are needed to safeguard the new lives and better future of little ones can be ensured. Thus, gynecologists are needed every where in the world especially United States.

Ob/gyn career in United States

Being one of the responsible works of safeguarding infants into this world, Obstetrics career is regarded as really important. There are job vacancies located in different states of the US, where quality obstetrics and gynecologists are high in demands. So, if you have studied this special branch of medicine, you can try your luck looking for quality job vacancies as a gynecologist or obstetrician.

Internet provides a sufficient way to search the best medium to get best opportunities as an obstetrician or a gynecologist in various geographical locations of the US. All you have to do is to figure out what is your preference and start filling jobs forms and waits for your call to come. Ob/gyn jobs are available in abundance and ample opportunities are there to make a rock solid career in this arena. So, pull up your socks and search thoroughly to get a fulfilling job vacancy.

By: Anirban Bhattacharya

About the Author:

Nowadays getting hired is very difficult. It is more than just passing a resume, applying and forever hoping to get hired. Well it is time to stop hoping and start really getting hired.

Here are the steps on how to get pass job searching and start working.

Self Analysis

To start job searching you must first analyze yourself on what you want to be. You can be a Bum, an Entrepreneur, a Young Professional, or a Student Seeking Higher Studies. If you choose to be a Bum, Entrepreneur or a Student then you should stop reading this article and continue to pursue the career path that you chose. However, if you choose to become a Young Professional continue reading because all the information you need to get hired is in this article.

Preparation

Why do we need to prepare before job searching? Because Companies/Employers are very selective and among the numerous number of applicants they have they will choose the most deserving and who will make their company more productive. They are not looking to teach you, they are looking to get instant results from you. The other reason is competition, if you had an experience in working you may have a distinct advantage but nevertheless it is still the Companies/Employers that will have the decision when hiring an applicant.

Looking For a Company

Where do we look for a company that are hiring? A lot of companies post their job vacancy in, for example, newspaper ads, radio, TV, job fair, employment agencies, Internet, and if your University has College Placement Office they can provide you a job vacancy listing also. Another way of looking for a company is through Networking, when looking for a company you must always be resourceful; ask the people you know that is working for a company if they have an opening. When you find a company then you must prepare for the next step.

Resume

Books, magazines and the internet are the example of the resources you can get on how to make a presentable resume but the only point is be true to on what you will write. Don’t put on your resume what you do not know.

Cover Letter

Just like in making a resume there are a lot of resources in how to make a cover letter. Before you make a letter make sure that you know where to send the cover letter that you will make. It should be either on the Human Resource Supervisor or the Employer.

Interview

If the Company/Employer called your for an interview, you must also prepare for it. Again, why do we need to prepare? As I have written earlier companies are very selective. So what do we need to prepare?

Check Company

Why do we need to check the company? If you where ask by the interviewer what do you know about the company? What do you think your answer will be? It is much better if you know the history of the company as well as the product or services that they offer to their clients. You don’t exactly need to know all the information of the company, just a bit of knowledge about them is well enough.

What is the Job About?

You don’t apply for a job not knowing what the job is all about. It is foolishness in your part to apply for it. Before applying for the job position make sure you qualify for the requirements the company is asking for.

During the interview, the interviewer may it be the Human Resource Supervisor or the Employer will not just look at your credentials in your resume but also your personality as well. You must show the interviewer maturity, right attitude, and presentable appearance. It is important to make yourself presentable because you are offering your services to them and if they see you not well dressed they may think that you take their company for granted.

If you comply with what the company needs and they believe that you will be an asset to them in terms of productivity of their company. Automatically you will get hired and the very next day you can see yourself working in the company.

But if you see yourself not get hired, the answer lies in you; The Company doesn’t necessarily want you but you just don’t want to get hired, just as plain as simple as that.

By: Mark Louie Tobias

About the Author:

A technical CV is used to highlight particular skills that relate to technical jobs in professions such as IT, Engineering and Science.

The key to writing a technical CV is to get the right balance between describing your technical experience and making your CV easily read by a non-technical person such as a Human Resources Assistant. They will be looking for keywords in order to match your CV against a particular vacancy. Therefore, your CV should be clear and concise and written in good English. Technical jargon should be avoided except under the Key Skills and Technical Skills headings.

Do not list every technical skill you have acquired, however impressive they are, as this will distract the reader. Refer to the job vacancy to remind yourself of the skills the employer is looking for.

You should always include information about how long ago you last used each of your technical skills as the reader will be looking at how current your knowledge is.

The format of a technical CV should be similar to non-technical from the point of view that it should be laid out under clear headings, no more than two pages of A4 in length and have more white on the page than black to make it easy to read.

The employer will be most interested in your technical skills but remember your interpersonal skills are also important especially if the role for which you are applying is client-facing.

You need to capture the attention of the reader as soon as possible so that they are encouraged to read the rest of your CV. Therefore, in your introductory paragraph, usually called the ‘Profile’, you need to mention the technical skills the employer is asking for and any specific experience that relates to the employers business.

The Key Skills heading allows you to put more detail of relevant skills, experience and specific projects that will interest the employer. You can also highlight achievements, for example where you have saved the company money.

Your Career History should describe the company that you were working for in a couple of lines to put your role into context. Then describe your role and responsibilities. Remember, focus on the requirements of the job you are applying for and show how you have acquired the necessary skills and experience in previous jobs.

You should list specific technical skills and professional courses under a separate heading. Be concise and put the most relevant skills first.

Keep the description of your education brief. If you have a degree you may wish to exclude your lower qualifications altogether. Remember, adding unnecessary information dilutes the important points in your CV.

Finally, always include a cover letter explaining where you heard about the role and why your skills and experience are a perfect fit for the job. This can be an email with your CV attached or a formal letter.

E & O E – Copyright 2006 CV Writing Ltd

By: Sally Griffiths

About the Author:

The competitive job market also demands an effective CV cover letter, this should describe you in the best possible, more informal way. It can also give you a chance to convey to the prospective employer as to how much enthusiastic you are about the specific position that you are applying for.

It should be always kept in the mind that the employers pick only those people to give an employment to, whom they find will fit well as per their needs and job vacancy criteria. Therefore, you must research the company that you are planning to apply for, and include some of the facts that you have searched, in your cover letter. For example, short term and medium term objectives. This can also apply to those teleworking jobs, they also need your specific information, before handing over any work to you.

Below are ways can help you achieve impact in your CV and cover letter and stand out from the rest other application.

Use good writing style, not too complicated but concise and easy to read. Present interesting information of value to the prospective employers. Your document should grab the attention of the reader. Do not make a lengthy document. Use bullet-points for your achievements.

You will be able to obtain those “work at home” teleworking job opportunities. Remember there are two ways to present the facts, good and bad. Make an impact on the readers and motivate them to invite you for an interview.

Mike Kelly
http://www.cv-service.org

By: M Kelley

About the Author:

One of the best ways to really determine the right types of federal jobs for you is to search and research vacancy announcements. In the corporate world these are the same as job postings. They contain detailed job descriptions as well as the requirements as far as duties, skills, knowledge, abilities and accomplishments.

We’ll get into evaluating how the position fits you but first let’s crack the code when reading job/vacancy announcements.

Let’s look at the most critical elements of a job announcement:

AGENCY: You’ll see the agency name and office of the job at the top of the announcement. That gives you some hints about the job when you know the mission of the agency and their customers.

JOB TITLE: It is the title of the job. Federal Job Titles don’t always mean the same thing as they do in corporate or private sector job titles. For example a technical writer is typically known as someone that writes documents for technical systems, and is related to technology.

However, in government, a technical writer will cover a number of topics, depending on the agency and mission. In many cases, the title will be familiar but because government has its own descriptions and titles some job titles may be deceiving. You’ll have to read further into the announcement to find out if it is what you were actually researching.

GRADE: The grade info specifies the job series (what type of occupation class) and the level of the position as it relates to the government pay scales. For example, GS-1701-09 is a GS position, classified in the 1700 series, According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) GS-1700 is the EDUCATION GROUP which includes positions that involve administering, managing, supervising, performing, or supporting education or training work when the paramount requirement of the position is knowledge of, or skill in, education, training, or instruction processes. Series in this group are: GS-1701 – General Education and Training Series, GS-1702 – Education and Training Technician Series and so on. Salary Range: In the same example, GS-1709-09, the last two digits tell the position level which determines the salary range. For GS 9 level positions in that series (1700) the salary ranges from $$42,995-$55,846. These will vary from position to position. Some agencies use a different pay scale from the GS tables and some positions pay premiums for in demand roles.

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: The tracking number the government uses to uniquely identify each position

CLOSING DATE: There will often be a firm date but some jobs are also listed as “open continuously” or you might even find a closing date that is out a year or two. That means they are building the candidate database and as they hire they will find you in their records. The hiring may or may not be immediate. The HR specialist for the position may know this information. I’ll talk more about that later. But know that you must meet your deadline for closing date. There is one exception, but that will not apply to most of you reading this.

JOB LOCATION: Some jobs are specific to one location, and often there are a number of locations where positions are available. In either case, make sure you are willing to work in the geographic location specified and make sure you can apply if you are outside of the geographic location of the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The announcement will tell you if KSAs are required to be written separately or if they are to be included in your resume. In my experience it is best to express the KSAs in both your resume and separate KSA statement when required. When you read the KSAS, there may be one that seems like there is no way you can show that you have that kind of experience. As a KSA writer and federal process expert, I can tell you from experience that there are cases where we have overcome that hurdle with clients. However, if there’s more than one KSA that you feel you would have trouble demonstrating your experience, results and accomplishments, then you are likely to have trouble ranking high enough to get referred. I’ll explain that part too, when I get to the hiring process. For now, I just want you to get familiar with the announcements and start reading them. Writing KSAs is not fun for most people and they do have to be written in specific narrative form, to meet the requirements of the position.

DUTIES: Now we’re getting to the real meat. The actual description of duties that will be required to do the job. You must demonstrate in your resume that you can and ideally have performed the required duties of the position.

QUALIFICATIONS: This is a biggie. Read the qualifications very carefully to determine if you have the qualifications that are required. Sometimes, clients come to me wondering why they are not getting any results from after applying for a number of government jobs. Upon review, I notice that they are not the best qualified for the positions that they are applying for. Or, that they are qualified but those qualifications are not clearly stated in their resume in the way the HR specialists would easily understand.
This is not the time for a career change unless you clearly have demonstrated this experience elsewhere or earlier in your career. Be sure you select jobs you are qualified for.

HOW TO APPLY: Read the instructions. The usual application requires a federal resume, maybe KSAs, performance evaluation, DD214 (if former military), transcripts. If other documents are required they will be specified in the instructions to apply.

Once you have an idea that some jobs may be right for you, dig a little deeper next time into ‘Core Competencies” and then The Federal Hiring Process before we look at writing the Federal Resume, KSAs and submitting your application. Here’s Some Homework to Get You Started: Find some announcements that appeal to you, that you think you may qualify. Study the announcements. Set up a job search agent on http://USAjobs.com to find similar jobs.

By Dr. Daphne Houston

By: Dr. Daphne Houston

About the Author:

Abstract:

This paper introduces the concept of a new model of recruitment, in the training of human recourse managers, to enable better retention and a fundamental understanding of the recruitment process that leads to early leavers and unsatisfied employees. The principal idea is to see jobs as “squares” that contain certain information in order to recruit suitable candidates for the company and people as “circles” trying to fit into the squares but never quite making a comfortable fit. The psychological consequences to a bad fit of a circle to a square and the economic costs to companies are explored. The research for this paper was conducted in field studies and feedback from HR managers in China.

Background to Development of the Model

Many companies recruit continually and annually to fulfill the existing loss of employees who become dissatisfied with their jobs or find the company is dissatisfied with them. The costs of an employee leaving are great and include, the loss of the money spent on training, development, the original recruitment costs of advertising and time spent interviewing. The replacement employee re-spends those costs in being attracted by advertisements, placement, induction training and future development. Of course if this is a continuous process so the cost constantly rolls forward from loss of staff to re-employment at a considerable economic cost to the company.

How are Circles recruited into Squares?

We must first look at the current way in which HR managers draw up a job description and requirement of the candidates sort after. The process is called “deselection” in which the HR mangers first interview the department head or supervisor for an outline of skills, educational requirements and personality traits that the vacancy requires for efficient recruitment of the perfect candidate. Once this task is complete the HR manager places the advertisement in various media to attract potential candidates. This job vacancy in our model becomes the “square” It is at this point deselection takes place. The following sequence shows the way in which potential candidates are deselected as the process of recruitment moves forward.

How does deselection happen?

1. We advertise a post

2. We receive over a 100 applications & resumes

3. We dismiss all those that do not meet minimum requirements – the first deselection.

4. We then assess applications for interview – the second deselection.

5. We then interview and reject obvious personality problems – the third deselection

6. Finally we have a short-list for second interviews – the final deselection.

Now we have a new employee – the ROUND PERSON – the one not to be deselected.

This process above shows that in the end it is not the best person for the job often but in fact the person to survive the deselection process. The last man standing is a way of conceptualising the position. This person is our “circle” the best fit from the deselection process.
However problems become apparent through deselection when our person starts to work! This is because during the deselection process – some circles are not happy in their squares. So what problems will HR officers encounter – lets see for ourselves!

1. The person who cannot cope. The circle is too small for the square. (25%) They are overwhelmed by the tasks they are being asked to perform. This person was selected for economic reasons – they were cheap to hire.

2. The person who becomes bored by the job. This is because the person is too large for the square. (130%) They have more skills than the job requires. This person got through deselection as the best candidate via brilliant education and skills. This person was recruited because the company were lucky to find such a talent, even though they did not have the work to fully employ them.

3. Another person who is bored is the “perfect fit” (100%) they almost fit into the square with very little room for lack of experience or skills. This is the most frequent person who survives deselection, because they are exactly what were asked for in the company advertisement. They were recruited exactly because they were perfect for the job.

4. This person sees the job as a challenge and with prospects to grow. Their circle is about 60% of the square. They were often recruited as the best that the company could find at the time, because they could not find through deselection the 100% person.

If we now compare the length of time each of our circles will stay in employment we can see the economic sense of always recruiting option 4 of our list above. The person who cannot cope will often leave within three months of recruitment, an obvious bad decision based on economy of salary. Our number two circle will often stay slightly longer but leave at six months; this is usually because they stay for the easy money until boredom kills all enthusiasm to continue. The circle number three stays an average of one year. This is because the work is what they can achieve and is at their skill and educational level. However they have no challenge and no where to go forward. This often happens with job shifters, who merely swap one post for another at the same level. The final circle number 4 often stays for over two years. This then is our best choice for cost efficiency in recruitment terms. They start with sufficient skills and knowledge to fulfil most of the tasks described in the square but still have room for further training and a learning curve to meet all the squares requirements at a future point in time.

There are other things we can do of course. When we recruit any of our circles we could simply adjust the square to fit the person – leaving room for growth – but this often is not satisfactory as the original square is the job we wanted filled. Another error encountered in the thinking process of HR is when looking at candidates being over impressed with past test performance. If a student often scores 100% with little effort then even if offered a post would continue to act as they did before and make very little effort in the job. However the student who constantly scores 80% and has to work extremely hard to achieve this would probably continue to make the same efforts in the workplace. Who would you recruit?

The Problem Revisited

Recruiting and retaining staff is a major concern to all companies. How can we improve our selection rather than continue to deselect candidates? Questions need to be asked at the job assessment stage. How can we attract the right person for growth and future potential, while still retaining, skills, education and personality requirements?

The Answer

Think of the job as your SQUARE.

What person will stay in this post for at least two years?

What can we offer a candidate in the way of training, on the job support and counselling?

Your CIRCLE – needs scope to grow.

Most candidates through deselection come to the job with an aspect of psychological fear from day one as to the requirements they are expected to fulfil. Apart from the 100% circle all the other candidates will worry about short-comings to the task and even the over-qualified candidate (130%) will worry about being seen as too expensive perhaps for the job in hand and feel they may only be a temporary employee at best.

Conclusions

Human Recourse managers and companies spend huge amounts of money every year on recruitment and re-recruitment to the detriment of the profits, the moral of existing staff who suffer as constant witnesses to disgruntled colleagues leaving their posts and the reputation of the company that is known as having a high staff turnover. A little more thought about the construction of “squares” and the fitting of “circles” could make all the difference. A note should be made to the validity of the above model and that is that of course recruitment is a much more complex procedure than expressed in this paper. The author recognises that powerful aspects of personality can make an enormous impact on the recruitment process and that every tool at the HR manager’s disposal should be used to identify the right candidate including, psychometrics, interviews, references from past employers and skill demonstration if required.

End…..

Professor Stephen F. Myler PhD
Shanghai

Note: This paper was originally presented in power-point to HR managers and companies during training sessions conducted by Dr. Myler. Of course, in the power-point, the squares and circles were illustrated to emphasis the model and psychological under-pinning. Anyone wishing to see the original power-point may contact Dr. Myler for a copy, subject to strict copywrite, as this is an original concept.

By: Stephen Myler

About the Author: