3 Keys To Capture Attention Of Hiring Managers (With Concrete Examples)
There are great roles open everywhere, It’s a myth that there are very few high-quality roles around, even with Covid.
The only difference between the people who land these roles, and the people who don’t, are that the people who do, know how to use words that capture the Hiring Manager’s attention.
In this post, I’ll break down 3 keys to do that and give you concrete examples of how it’s done.
Key #1: Convey your specific personality, quirks and all.
With the right words spoken to the right hiring manager, they will be magnetized to you, instantly knowing you could well be the right candidate for them.
This can only happen when you showcase your uniqueness and allow your personality to shine through the words on your resume & cover letter.
Example 1:
“I have a passion for data and analytics – I enjoy spending (a little too much time) geeking out in Google Analytics, advertising platforms, and BI tools (Tableau & Looker) digging deep into data to identify opportunities that can be leveraged to drive growth and inform testing strategies for campaigns, website, and product.”
(The above phrasing called out to a CEO looking for a Head of Marketing and she was interviewed & hired shortly after! This is a concrete example of stand-out wording. It’s the type of phrasing that jumps out right away to the right Hiring Manager.)
Vs.
“I am well-versed in data analytics, I am experienced with platforms such as google analytics, BI Tools including Tableau & Looker, as well as other advertising platforms. I have a proven ability to inform testing strategies for campaigns for website and product.”
Example 2:
“I’m rather obsessed with my own personal organization. I read 3 organizational blogs in my own time & I’ve organized my towels and desktop folders into colour-coded sub-categories. My friends laugh at me for saying things like “An organized space equals an organized mind” but I don’t like wasting time looking for things.”
Vs.
“I have a proven track record for organization and I have a passion for it. I have proven skill of keeping files organized on an ongoing basis and I have put processes and procedures in place for my department. The bottom line is always my highest priority.”
Do you see the difference?
How can you apply this to phrase your unique qualities and quirks to appeal to your ideal Hiring Manager?
Key #2: Prove your level of dedication to your profession
The second way to stand out is to use words to illustrate specific things about your focus and attention.
In these examples, these candidates showcase their dedication to their profession, proof that they spend a lot of time thinking about driving results in their field, and that they take concrete steps (watch CEO interviews, go to conferences, etc.) in order to be high-quality contributors in their field.
This goes a long way for a Hiring Manager looking at candidates when deciding who to choose.
Example 1:
“I believe that a good marketing strategy requires seeking out the latest trends and staying one step ahead of the competition. I have attended the Traction conference two years in a row. I also completed the 2018 Reforge Growth Series, a highly credible and exclusive course that only accepts 10% of applicants and is built by leaders from Hubspot, Uber, and more. Through these professional developments, I have expanded my mind beyond average marketing methods and I pride myself on thinking outside the box to develop strategies that create sustainable, low-cost customer acquisition loops that lead to long-term positive ROI.”
Vs.
“I have the skills and requirements for this position and I believe I would complete every task asked of me to the highest standard expected. My background and experience make me an excellent fit for this position for many reasons. I am very interested in Marketing and I think I would be a great asset to the team.”
Example 2:
“I’m fascinated by changing customer attitudes. I recently saw an interview with the CEO of your company where he talked about how Americans don’t actually think that smaller bottles of laundry detergent can clean just as well as the huge bottles we’ve gotten used to buying. From my casual obsession with cleaning and organization. I’ve explored how people ’know ‘ they want to live a healthier, cleaner life… yet they continue buying the same products they’ve always bought.”
Vs.
“My current objective is to obtain a position where I can fully utilize my skills and allow me room to grow. I have performed many assignments with a high degree of skill and professionalism. I believe in excellence and have always strived to dedicate myself to it. My talent and creative abilities have always ensured my success towards my goals.”
Key #3 Results = Value
Proven results can’t be ignored. Some form of results will need to be showcased powerfully in any written application for it to succeed in standing out.
Even if you do not have a lot of shiny results yet in your career that’s ok, you can still use words to capture someone’s attention with what you have done.
Example 1:
“I led a project team of 5 students to complete a marketing project, where we achieved an A+ grade.”
Vs.
“Completed collaborative university group projects successfully.”
Example 2:
“I developed several Google Ad campaigns which resulted in high-level customers worth over 500k, as well as through testing and optimization, increased our newsletter sign-ups by over 200%.”
Vs.
“Experience in Google Ad Campaigns, as well as experienced in testing & optimization.”
The two most common mistakes in communicating value effectively to employers are:
A) We tend to assume that they will just believe us. The symptom of this problem is that It shows up with very general and vague writing like the “what not to do” examples above.
It’s the difference between telling someone: “Oh yeah I’m a good fit & I can do the job” Vs. “I know you don’t know me & I get that, so let me show you exactly WHY I’m completely invested, committed & passionate about doing this specific type of work & the specific reasons WHY Hiring ME (out of all the others) would be MOST beneficial to YOU.”
B) We make the communication about what WE want. I.E. “I’m looking for a full time position that will fully utilize my skills.”
So…
If you want to dive deeper on the topic of your career mindset & become the person that knows exactly how to land your dream job offer, listen to me coach you over on Get a Six-figure Job You Love the podcast.
Click the button below to listen NOW!!!
Do you know one person who could benefit from the information and learn from this post? If so, do your friend a favor and share this info with him/her.
And remember, the current system isn’t perfect, but you can outsmart it. I’m here to prove to you that you do have what it takes.
I’ll see you next time and I can’t wait!
In Work & Life
I’ve got your back
– XO Natalie
