media update’s Adam Wakefield spoke to Cath Jackson, managing director of Cathy Findley Public Relations, about what newcomers to the industry need to do so they can crack the nod for an interview.

What are the challenges facing applicants looking to make an impression?

As a small niche agency, our requirements are often very specific and we appreciate it is difficult for applicants to differentiate themselves. We literally receive hundreds of emailed CVs when we place an advert. My top six advice tips would be to:
  • Never send your CV without a covering note;
  • Always address your covering note to the correct person so it does not look like a “cut and paste” you have forwarded to five different companies;
  • Make sure you have read the job specification correctly. There is nothing more frustrating and time consuming than having to trawl through hundreds of CVs that do not meet the job spec. I would appreciate it if in your cover note if you specifically mention why your skill set would be appropriate for the position and why you feel you would fit into our environment;
  • Go the extra mile and research the company where you are applying for a position. We always like to see that a potential applicant has taken the time to find out a little about our business. It demonstrates interest and seriousness of their application. We can see they have invested time in doing their research;
  • Always carefully check your cover note. A cover note with spelling or grammar errors will never make it past the front door; and
  • Gauge if it is appropriate to attach samples of your work;
What do you look for in a CV when assessing a potential candidate, and why would you decide to interview a candidate after seeing their CV?

We look carefully to see if the candidate has the right skill set and experience for our business. We also look at personal attributes as these qualities are just as important as the actual skill set. For us, a strong culture fit is imperative. Personal endorsements and references are key so if the candidate includes these it saves time. As a lot of our work is content driven, we always like to see examples of work or links to articles before we see the candidate.

When a candidate sends you a CV, what mistakes immediately stop you from reading further, and why?

The two cardinal rules are: Always check there are no spelling or grammatical errors, and never send a blanket email without a personalised covering note.

Once a candidate gets an interview, what two key pieces of advice would you tell them in preparing for it?

Try and read up as much about the consultancy and its clients as you can. This gives you good talking points when you have your interview and shows a genuine interest and commitment. Proactivity is very important in our business so we expect to see that from any candidate right up front as well.

Before you come to the interview, check if there is anything specific the consultancy would like you to bring to the interview or forward prior to your interview.

For more information, visit cathyfindleypr.co.za.

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